“It doesn’t really matter,” Solomon said. “Thaddeus’s ambitions, or lack of them, don’t play into this. Not right now, anyway. Instead, we go put a stop to this Malachi.”
Chapter 77
To Solomon’s surprise, Thaddeus laughed.
“That easy, huh?” Thaddeus said. “I know you’re you, and all. And I have no doubt that you’d find some way of taking him out, but I don’t think you know what you’re dealing with.”
“Okay, then,” Solomon replied. “Tell me.”
“Malachi is the Head of House Subtle Hemlock because he is the most powerful magic user there. Or anywhere, as far as I know. And don’t forget, there are other members of the House still loyal to him. Most of them, as a matter of fact.”
“So, we bring in the might of Towering Oaks,” Solomon said.
“Horrible idea,” Darius said. “The only way in is going to be through a portal that one of us will open. It would be horrifically difficult to leave it open long enough to let a whole army through. Plus, even if it was possible, Malachi has failsafe’s in place. He’d take off before we were ever close to him.”
“Really?” Thaddeus was nonplussed. “I didn’t know that. I had intended on getting Jocasta and a host of Whispering Pines soldiers.”
“Wouldn’t have worked,” Darius said.
“Then a few of us. Who goes?” Solomon asked.
“No,” Thaddeus said. “You really don’t get how strong he is. He’ll kill any of us and do it easily. The only way we beat him before was because Melanie was able to get into his mind and shut him down…”
He faltered, glancing over at Celia, who was now seated in a chair by Solomon’s side, still no more responsive than when she first came into the room.
Solomon didn’t say anything. He still felt horribly guilty about letting Celia stay in that condition, but Melanie was right. With the way she’d been acting even before they left Dunfield she wouldn’t have listened to him, or anyone else.
This was something that she was never going to forgive him for. A part of him that thought maybe he should tell Darius to let her go. If she went back to Whispering Pines, so be it.
And then he’d never be able to live with himself if something happened to her.
He looked around as Thaddeus continued to speak about the power of Malachi and how cautious they needed to be around him. Solomon understood. Still, he was only a man, and any man could be broken.
Case in point was Orlando. His normally upbeat friend was a shell of himself. He sat at the table, contributing nothing. His downcast gaze stayed fixed on the polished wood in front of him and he offered no suggestions, asked no questions. Solomon wondered if this was because of Shireen, or if Orlando was starting to feel the effects of what was happening.
That, more than anything he’d seen so far, spoke to the urgency of their situation.
“Enough,” he finally said. “Thaddeus, I understand what you’re saying. Malachi is bad news. You’ve convinced us. We still need to confront him, though; you’ve said as much yourself. On to a plan.”
“Good,” Thaddeus replied. “I’m glad I got through.”
“Plan,” Solomon repeated.
“Our original thought was to get Jocasta near him. He’ll try to control her, but he won’t be able to.”
“Why not?” Jocasta asked.
“There’s something about you,” Melanie answered. “Neither I nor Darius can get into your mind. And in that one area, I’m as strong as Malachi. If I can’t do it, neither can he.”
“Again, why not?” Jocasta said.
“No idea.”
The answer didn’t seem to satisfy Jocasta, but for now, that wasn’t important either.
“So, we go in and get Jocasta near Malachi. Then what?”
“Then she forces him to tell us what we need to know,” Thaddeus answered.
“Just like that?” Solomon didn’t believe it would be that easy.
“No, not just like that. Mind control is only one of Malachi’s strengths.”
“He’s as capable of hurting people as I am of healing them,” Willow said quietly.
Well, that was something to consider. Solomon had great respect for the healer and her abilities, having been on the receiving end of her ministrations many times in his life.
“But,” Thaddeus said. “If we can keep him distracted, keep him on the defensive, then maybe we can get to him.”
“What stops him from controlling the rest of us?” Darius asked.
Melanie shrugged. “Us. You and me. We’ll have to counter it if he tries.”
“Me?” Darius laughed. “You’re out of your mind. I’m not strong enough to hold off Malachi.”
“Yes,” Willow said. Her hand covered his. “You are. And you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you.”
“And it’s Willow that we’ll need to protect most of all,” Solomon said. “We might need her skills before this is through. Anything else?”
No one replied.
“I think we’re settled then. And there’s no sense in waiting. How soon can we be ready to go?”
“I need a bit,” Thaddeus said. “I have to find a healer and rest for a few hours, or I’ll be no good to anyone.”
Solomon waited for Willow to speak up, but to his surprise, she stayed silent.
“Fair enough,” he finally said. “We’ll meet back here in three hours. It will be starting to get dark then. Orlando, I want to talk to you about that.”
Orlando nodded, not seeming to care one way or another.
“One more thing,” Solomon said. “Darius, stay also.”
When the rest had left the room, Willow remained by Darius’s side. Solomon smiled to see it.
“Celia,” he said, keeping his voice low as he took a seat on the other side of Darius. “How long will she stay… like this? If you’re not here, I
