Meanwhile, Skye-voice, high up on the cliffs, stayed deep in thought all the rest of that morning and afternoon. He'd won over Ciara, which meant he now had a Proxy. He must inspire her with courage. And he trusted; if he thought long enough, the right idea would come.

He became deeply absorbed—listening to 'feelings' he had about what might happen—in this way or that. What was the best way? He must find it. Forcing ideas wouldn't work. Patience would hatch one!

Of course! He had the patience of ages, of tall trees growing from tiny seeds, of a narrow river cutting its way through deep rock. He watched over the camp below his new mountain as he turned over ideas.

And ages later, an idea did come.

Perfect! So straightforward.

˜˜˜

Ciara stared at the map, blinking back tears. I'm totally lost! I'm not supposed to be here. I don't even know where "here" is. I just want to go home.

These kids all have magic. They're in circles with their friends, where they can all practice their skills and strengthen their magic. They all have gifts, and I don't have any of those!

I can't stay here! What do I do?

Some of the magicians straggled into the fortress, but most of the searchers began to hike in the very direction of the upper camp Liv had marked on the map.

Perhaps I can just sneak closer and find out where it is after they've gone? I'd feel better knowing.

Led now by Alphonse, the band of three headed right past Ciara, past the circle camp and on toward distant hills and the rainbow valley she and Skye-voice had made.  If I don't find my way home by tomorrow I might need to come back here.

The Guild fortress rose imposingly in the background. With the mountaintops covered in snow, the Spire looked like it blended as part of the mountain itself. None of the magi were in sight any longer.

Ciara slipped along below the rim of the plateau. I could at least find it and be sure where it is. She hid behind boulders as she moved, determined to remain unseen.

She could just make out where the camp circle looked like it should be—on a sloping field below the Spire mountain. The grasses were shorter. It looked mostly the same as the camp down below. This one seemed to be empty too. She couldn't stay where she was. The choice was either to leave or move in closer.

Ciara kept quiet a while, but her secrecy didn't last long. "Caw!" The crow spotted her and flew overhead.

"Don't you tell, Magtha!" She ducked down and skittered sideways, trying to avoid him. His cawing could alert Robesaille or anyone else.

"Caw!" The crow twisted his head to look back and then he followed the group far ahead of him. "Cawcaw," he cried.

Now, who can I talk to? Libree Liv? She sighed and planned her decent to the Vault. I have to ask Liv where—where this place is. How do I ask her a question like that? I don't know where I am.

˜˜˜

By the time Ciara—now extremely tired from descending the mountain—arrived at the heavy shack door, she knew she had already completely changed her mind. But even though she was certain, she couldn't admit it.

What if she wasn't welcome here? Home felt so far away. She had no way of reaching it. She was stuck. She couldn't tell Liv , or anyone else, that she was an outsider, and that she knew nothing about magic. Do I keep it a secret? How long?

Liv greeted her, "You're back! How did that group seem to suit you?"

"Uh—the school is pretty."

"You'll fit in in no time! I see you've added more to the map."

Ciara had made some additional notes, using the small folding pen that she'd found in her pocket. She'd added some landmarks, scratched what she saw when paths that branched away suddenly reappeared, and noted flowers she might want to come back to.

She tucked the paper away in her pocket. "Yes, I like to know what is what, and where I am—" But she couldn't say why that thought bothered her so very much.

"You are a studious girl."

"Could I borrow a book?" Maybe I should try to find familiar things in the index, but I don't know what to look for. I always go home down the lane from the bus. Bus. How do I know about buses? I've seen nothing bus-like.

"Sure. Lets have your 'skry'—"

Ciara looked at Liv, mystified.

"Your 'skry-dee'—your bookmark symbol."

"Oh, I don't have one, I don't think." Is this going to be bad?

"Well—just one book for the moment, until you get yours. I'll sign it out for you, as a guest. Do you want to try 'navigation' next? You were good with the map." Liv went to get her something about winds and currents and the lay of the land and handed her a cloth bag with the book already in it and then bumped a pile of books. They fell to the floor.

"Is there a bus? How do I go and talk to a teacher?"

"Oh, you should have done that at the top. What is a bus?" Distracted, Liv was picking things up and answered automatically in her singsongy way. "Well, go to the circle below—along the hill path and then cross the main trail coming down and keep going—a little bit lower, but it's straight ahead from there, and in the tall grasses. Can't miss it—well, if you're looking. And ask for TJ. He should be able to help you. Dictionary is over there."

"That's where I came from before," Ciara tried to explain.

Liv didn't look up to see her disappointment.

"Thank you." Ciara had so many more questions, but she didn't feel comfortable asking any of them. Instead, she just left.

≈≈≈ /