season avatars 03 - chaos season (6 page)

“The plants are dead, Ysabel. I’d swear it on the Four.”

“What about their seeds?”

“Even their seeds.” Jenna stared at the tips of her boots peeking out from under her dress. “But there might be more of them blown all over Challen by now.”

Gwen shook her head. “Freeze it, why didn’t you say something sooner? Maybe Kay could have traced them.”

“If you don’t watch a wind for as long as it’s in motion, you can’t tell where it’s been,” Kay said.

Gwen studied Jenna for a moment. The anger in her blue eyes faded. She must be coming up with a plan to manage the deathbushes. In every life, no matter what the crisis, she took charge. Jenna couldn’t imagine being so serious all the time. That was why it was her task to make sure Gwen took time from duty to enjoy herself from time to time. When would she get that chance?

“You said you don’t know these plants?” Gwen asked. “You haven’t worked with them before?”

Jenna shook her head. “Charles didn’t recognize them either.”

Gwen took a deep breath. “I…I should link with you then, to make sure there’s no lingering toxin.”

“I’m immune to all poisonous plants.”

“But Robbie isn’t. You could pass a poison to him when he—he…” Gwen flushed. “Feeds.”

Jenna gasped. She hadn’t thought of that.

“I’d better check,” Gwen said. “Let me link with you.”

Before Jenna could give—or deny—permission, Gwen touched her. As she examined her, Jenna closed her eyes and forced herself to remember handling the deathbushes, making every detail vivid in her mind so as to block out any other memories. Gwen’s touch, light as a petal, caressed first one of her hands, then the other. Resolve fled. They’d been husband and wife in so many other lives all Jenna could think of was the ecstasy the link could give them….

Gwen released her, flushing scarlet from throat to forehead. “I…I’d almost forgotten about that,” she said quietly. “It would be easier if I’d never remembered it.”

“You would have…eventually.”

“For all the good it would do us.”

As the only child of a noble family, Gwen needed to give them an heir to the estate. She was too concerned about duty to declare herself a Fallswoman, someone forsaking the normal life of a spouse and children. A relationship between her and Jenna was impossible.

“It’ll never be like that with William, or anyone else,” Gwen said.

“You can teach him to pleasure you.”

She shook her head. “Not that one. He won’t care.”

They stared at each other helplessly for a moment before Gwen gathered her skirts and fled.

Jenna took a few steps to follow her, then halted. The last thing either of them needed to do was link as a pair again. She took a deep breath. They would need both Ysabel and Kay in the link next time to chaperone them. Hopefully that would allow her to tame the attraction she still felt for Gwen.

It’s just a memory, an echo of our previous lives.

Jenna hoped that was all there was to it. That was all there could be between them. She didn’t deserve more.

CHAPTER FIVE

The Deathbushes’ New Trick

The next morning, Jenna patrolled the front steps of the Temple, making sure everything was perfect for the summer soltrans. Today, she was forbidden to wear a single stitch of white for her departed husband; everything she wore was green, from her emerald hairpins to her forest green boots. Thank the Four the color suited her. Lex, who was not only the king’s brother and Avatar of the Fip God of War but also Robbie’s true father, would attend the soltrans. Jenna hadn’t had much chance to talk to him at the king’s ball last moon. This time, she hoped to show him his son. Renewing his interest in her would be the best birthday present she could give herself.

The day was warm enough for a short-sleeved dress but not so warm Jenna’s sweat would stain the silk. Her gloves were uncomfortable, but she tugged them up to hide her marriage tattoo and its unlucky white border. Then she opened her moss green parasol to block the summer sun. At least its heat would encourage crops to grow—and other plants. Like the seedling growing through a crack in the ancient stone steps. The scent of thyme, just like the smell of the deathbushes in Tradetown, made her look closer at it. She thought she recognized it, but she couldn’t believe it had spread to Wistica, on the other side of Challen, in less than two days.

Suspicious, Jenna called, “Kay, come look at this!” She was the only other Season Avatar to have seen the deathbushes.

Kay trailed Dorian as he gestured at the cloudless sky. At Jenna’s call, she hurried over. “What is it?”

“Do you recognize this plant?”

“Why are you asking me?” She looked puzzled. “That’s your magic, not mine.”

“This reminds me of the deathbushes I grew in front of Ysabel’s house. They were much taller, though. What do you think?”

“I’d say wait half an hour and see how fast it grows, but it really shouldn’t be here,” Kay replied. “The other plants shouldn’t be here either.

“Other plants?” Jenna rose and glanced around. Sure enough, more shoots had sprung up in every nook and cranny of the Temple, not caring if they stood in sun or shade. Jenna frowned. That seemed unnatural. Most plants had their own set of requirements for soil type, amounts of sun and water, and other things they needed to grow. Weeds, on the other hand, could grow practically anywhere. The deathbushes definitely fit into that category.

A flood of people, each wearing some shade of green, crept up the street toward the Temple. The soltrans would start at noon, less than half an hour from now. She didn’t have much time to investigate.

Jenna snapped her parasol shut and climbed up the stairs to the Temple porch, where the duel would take place. A few deathbushes grew here as well. Despite the thorns, she tugged on them. Her calluses didn’t protect her as much as she hoped they would. Thorns pricked through her silk gloves and stung her briefly before her magic neutralized any toxins in the deathbushes. The roots snapped before she could pull out the entire plant. Frowning, she tossed the plants into a dark corner and continued into the cool interior.

The door to the small anteroom for colored robes and wooden fighting sticks stood open. Sophia and Charles had already dressed for the ceremony and were in the middle of choosing sticks. Sophia looked odd in yellow for the Goddess of Spring instead of red for Fall. Charles wore dark green like Jenna. He swished each fighting stick a couple of times before setting it aside.

“Hurry up, Charles,” his wife said. “If you don’t settle on one soon, the soltrans will be over before we can perform the ceremony.”

“It’s hard to believe this will be our last ceremony, isn’t it?” he said wistfully. “I suppose we should make it a good one.”

“Then why are there deathbushes sprouting all over the Temple?” Jenna asked, stepping forward.

He started. “Sprouts? Where did they come from?”

“I don’t know. You didn’t grow them?”

“Grow plants directly on the Temple?” He shook his head. “By All Four, that wouldn’t be proper now, would it?”

“You know how weeds will sprout up from any space between paving stones, or how ivy clings to crannies of an old house? That’s what they’re doing. I just pulled some.” Jenna pointed to the corner. “Didn’t you see them when you arrived earlier?”

Sophia and Charles glanced at each other. “No,” they both said.

Even if these weren’t deathbushes, Jenna’s recent experience made her wary of other fast-growing plants. “I better examine them more closely. Will you help me, Charles?”

“Jenna, you know we’re not supposed to be seen before the soltrans starts,” Sophia said. “It would spoil the drama.”

Charles set his fighting stick down. “I’m afraid we have to make an exception this time, Dear.” He straightened, shrugging off his lazy posture. “Not when the next Ava Sum keeps finding new plants she’s never seen before.”

Jenna’s skin burned. Did he think he was a better Avatar than her? Both of them had hundreds of years of experience with plants from their past lives. The few decades he had over her in this life didn’t matter. “Well, if you know what these plants are, you can perform the Fall soltrans in my place too.”
And if I’m right, and these plants are invading Challen, you should let me perform this soltrans.
Mouth clamped shut, she followed him back outside, squinting in the bright light.

“Now, where are these strange plants?” Charles asked. He gaped. “Never mind.”

The deathbushes had shot up another couple of thumb-lengths while she was inside, and the scent of thyme was strong enough to make Jenna want to lick the petals. Kay sat next to a deathbush, grinning as if she’d just learned how.

“Kay?” Jenna called. “Where are the others?”

She didn’t answer.

Jenna approached her, feeling dizzy for a couple of heartbeats before her head cleared. It couldn’t be hunger, as she’d hadn’t used magic. Could the deathbushes be affecting her too? She was supposed to be immune to any poison a plant could create, but if the deathbushes were able to affect her, the other Avatars and non-magical people would feel it even more.

“Kay! It’s almost time for the soltrans!”

Still no response.

Heart beating faster, Jenna turned back to see how the older Avi Sum was handling this. By the Four, he had actually plucked one of the leaves and was sniffing it! Even she hadn’t dared that. Either he was braver than he seemed—or as foolish as he sometimes appeared.

“Charles?” she called. “What can you sense about these plants?” She wanted to confer with him in case he’d learned something she hadn’t, but her sister Avatar’s welfare was more important. Of course, Gwen should be the one checking on Kay. If she been affected by the plants, Jenna wouldn’t be able to cure her. All she could do was destroy the deathbushes and hope that helped.

She didn’t wait for Charles to respond. Instead, she went over to the deathbush that had Kay enraptured and grabbed it. She should have been able to yank it out, roots and all, but the slender stalk didn’t snap. What was this plant made out of, stone? She tried again, this time sending her magic down through the plant to weaken it. These deathbushes couldn’t have grown here for very long, but in that short time, they’d sent their roots down deep into the crevices of the Temple, finding weaknesses Jenna had never suspected were there. Even as she watched, the roots extended in all directions until they encountered more of their kind. Then they twined together like lovers embracing.

She followed a few more roots as a horrible idea entered her mind. Maybe these plants had been sent here to disrupt the ceremony. The roots were thin, but stronger than they should be, supernaturally strong. If she didn’t kill the deathbushes down to the roots, they would not only continue affecting people but possibly weaken the Temple foundation.

I can’t let a single seed of these plants live, but I’m going to need help.
Charles would be of limited use, since his quartet couldn’t lend him their strength. Jenna would need to link with Gwen, Ysabel and Kay to destroy all the deathbushes. She hoped all of them would be too busy with the plants to explore Jenna’s memories during the link.

She released her physical and magical holds on the deathbush, grabbed Kay by the arm, and hauled her up toward Charles. The Ava Win was so small and thin she was as easy to handle as a bale of hay. After Jenna helped her up a few steps, Kay blinked and pulled out of her grip.

“What happened?” she asked, looking around. “Did I miss the soltrans?”

“It hasn’t started yet. We need to get rid of those deathbushes first.”

“But they smell so nice…”

“They’re also trying to destroy the Four’s Temple,” Jenna said. “Where’s Gwen and Ysabel? We need to link.”

A pained expression appeared on Charles’ face.

“Destroy the Temple?” Kay clenched her fists, and her ice-blue eyes darkened to gray. “I don’t see how plants could do that, but we can’t let that happen.”

“It’s the roots,” Charles said. “They’re crumbling the foundation. I’ll see what I can do on my own to untangle them. Dorian,” he called, “We need more heat to dry out the soil.”

Dorian tilted his head. A wind sprung up, tugging at Jenna’s hair. Wasn’t that the opposite of what Charles wanted? She glanced questioningly at Kay.

“He’s using the wind to wick moisture up and drive the clouds away.” She frowned as she studied the sky. “It’s a very unruly wind, though. Almost feels like a Chaos Season trying to form.”

“Freeze it, not at a soltrans!” Jenna glanced around, searching for Ysabel’s cat or Sophia’s crow. Anilinks were sensitive to Chaos Season and often provided the first warning one was happening somewhere in Challen. Neither animal came out to fetch them, though, and the tension slowly left her shoulders.

“Maybe I was mistaken.” Kay hunched into herself.

“That’s all right. Do you want to join Dorian or link with me through Gwen?”

Kay swallowed, her eyes bigger, as if she didn’t like either option.

Jenna rolled her own eyes. “The link won’t hurt you.”
You don’t have secrets to keep from your sister Avatars.

“But…if …if Salth can attack the Temple, we’re not safe anywhere!”

Kay had a point, but Jenna couldn’t let herself get caught up in her sister Avatar’s fear. She was willing to use it, though. “We’ll be safe with Gwen. Where is she?”

“Somewhere inside the Temple with Ysabel and Kron. He wanted to show them where he arrived in his water clock.”

“Then let’s find them.” Jenna sprinted back up the steps toward the main area of the Temple, the big room where the altars were. Gwen, Ysabel, and Kron weren’t there. The Temple wasn’t that big, but it was very old, with narrow passages. Jenna hoped they weren’t stuck somewhere.

When Kay caught up to her, she asked, “Can you sense any air currents inside the Temple, perhaps made by them moving around?”

She shook her head.

Jenna sighed. “Well, let’s split up. Call out when you find them.”

She yanked her skirts up to knee length as if she was getting ready to help mow hay. She sprinted past the Four’s altars without pausing to worship any of them, not even Summer. The Four would understand. But she knew it was disrespectful to yell for Gwen while she was in the main room. As soon as she reached the exit at the other end of the room, she called, “Gwen! Kron! Come here! We need you!”