Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I closed my eyes as Gabrielle's excitement came to me. This was important to her, so important she'd risk calling me when she knew I was trying to figure out what new danger I had to deal with.

"I'm so sorry, Gabrielle. I might not have time for this one?—"

My words faded as my grandmother's voice sounded loudly over Gabrielle's. "You will make time, Janet. If her team wins this game, they win all of the finals."

"No, if we win, we'll be in the finals," Gabrielle corrected her. "I explained?—"

"The team will need you there, as will your sister," Grandmother continued. "Where are you now?"

"Santa Fe," I said weakly.

"Good, then you are close to home. Tell Mick to bring you here within the hour."

"Say you will, Janet!" Gabrielle sang. "Wait, I'm not finish?—"

Her voice cut off abruptly, and the phone went dark .

I knew I'd have to go. No choice. The fate of all dragons and possibly the world would have to wait until Gabrielle's basketball team made it through the semifinals.

I pocketed the phone and returned to the meeting room. I heard raised voices as I reached it and paused to listen before I entered.

"The egg stays where it is," Drake was saying in a hard voice.

"At that hotel?" Farrell scoffed. "The one that can be crumpled like paper in a light rain? If the Phantomwalkers don't already know about the Crossroads Hotel, they will find it. They will take the egg without the Stormwalker being able to do a thing about it."

I jerked open the door. "First of all," I proclaimed loudly. All the dragons but Mick started—Mick always knew where I was. "I never said the egg was at the hotel. Second, there's plenty more magic guarding that place than you understand. Now that I know what I'm up against, I'll add to it. We gotta go, Mick."

Mick rose immediately without question. I wondered if he'd heard my grandmother's command ringing down the passageway, or whether even Grandmother's voice had been drowned out by arguing dragons.

"Did you give Gabrielle my message?" Colby asked.

"No, sorry. Didn't get the chance."

Colby looked hurt, but he shrugged. "It's okay. I'll tell her myself." His good spirits returned as he anticipated that.

Mick paused to issue a command. "Drake, Titus, please do some research on the Phantomwalkers. We need to know their weaknesses, and exactly how to eliminate them. This is bad, my friends. "

Though the dragon council members scowled their fury, Drake and Titus nodded without arguing.

"What do you want me to do, Micky?" Colby asked.

"Help me guard our secret weapons." Mick sent me his fond smile. "We'll need them."

Colby jumped to his feet. "Now, that I can do. Let's go, Janet. I know where you're headed, and I'll be there too. If I miss it, my hide might get burned off, and I like my hide. Laters, Drakey. Tites."

Both he and Mick pointedly said no farewells to the dragon council. Colby's wicked grin when he turned to follow us made me want to laugh.

With the rapid way Mick flew, we reached my motorcycle and then home in plenty of time to make it to the school where the basketball game was being played. Colby had landed in the darkness near Many Farms and was waiting for us at the gym's door.

The three of us entered the warm building to find bleachers full of the girls' families and friends, plus the teachers who'd come out to support the team.

Gabrielle, in her black sweats striped with the team's colors, chatted with a woman holding a clipboard. My little sister looked so adult and responsible discussing whatever it was they were talking about that I had to stop and watch her in admiration.

Also with fondness, I realized. Gabrielle and I had been through a lot, both apart and together. To see her so enthusiastic about something as real-life as coaching basketball was gratifying .

I heard my name being called from the crowd. Scanning the bleachers, I saw my family, and I mean my entire family. Not only Dad, Gina, and Grandmother, but my three aunts, my grown cousins, and their kids. They'd come to cheer the Begays on the team.

Gina hefted the bowling bag, which I assumed still carried the egg, so I'd see they hadn't left it behind. I nodded at her in thanks and lifted a hand to wave at my dad. He smiled a little, as undemonstrative as ever, but the smile warmed me all the way through.

Nitis wasn't there, as far as I could tell. I wondered whether he saw no need to attend a basketball game or had something else to do. I'd like to know what, if so.

The woman with the clipboard hurried into the locker room, and Gabrielle spotted us.

"Janet! Colby! Mick! You made it!"

Girls from both teams were already bouncing balls around the court and taking practice shots. Gabrielle skirted them with easy grace and bounded toward us. She moved past me and launched herself at Colby, who caught her in a tight embrace.

"No hot stuff, here," Gabrielle admonished good-naturedly when Colby tried to kiss her. She eased his arms from around her. "I have to set a good example." She winked at Colby, who let her go, not offended.

"So glad you made it," Gabrielle said to me, and I could tell she meant it. "Sit down here with me, okay? Everyone's all right with that because you're my sister. Sorry, babe," she added to Colby.

Colby laughed as though Gabrielle had made the best joke ever. "Not a problem. Micky and I will be cheering you in the stands. Right, Micky? "

Mick, who hadn't said much since we landed, shook his head. "I'm going to scout around a little."

"Have a good time," Colby told him. "I love these games, and I love watching my lady doing her stuff. Yell if you need me."

Colby gave Gabrielle's shoulders a squeeze, gave mine one too, and headed for the bleachers. "Pete," he called up to my dad. "Good to see you."

My father nodded at him without worry. His life had changed drastically in the last couple of years, including becoming friends with dragons. Dad took it all in his calm stride.

Mick sent me an understanding smile before he faded through the watchers still trickling into the gym and departed. While I'd have preferred his comforting warmth next to me, I liked knowing he'd be on guard outside.

Gabrielle led me with enthusiasm toward the folding chairs that constituted the coach's area. As I took my seat, I recalled my own days in this school. I hadn't been on any teams, because my burgeoning magic had either made me fumble everything or cause small explosions. Or I'd miss the try-outs because I'd be walking the land, attempting to forget my troubles. I hadn't been the best student, needless to say.

Some of the teachers I'd driven nuts were here tonight. I hoped they didn't recognize me or were too excited by the game to be in a condemning mood.

The gym was nearly full as starting time ticked nearer. Most of the girls were out on the court, their anticipation rising to a fever pitch.

"You know what the best thing about this job is?" Gabrielle raised her voice to be heard over the growing noise. She stood and pulled a gleaming silver object from under her jacket. "They let me have a whistle."

Smiling gleefully, she put it into her mouth and gave three shrill blasts.

Immediately, her girls stopped dribbling balls and gathered around her like ducklings to their mom.

Strong, agile ducklings, I amended my assessment. Young women growing up. A few of the girls were already quite tall, though my second cousins were not. No one in our family had any real height.

Gabrielle drew them in close for a last-minute pep talk. "Like I say every time, remember it's just a game." The girls nodded, eyes fixed on her. "And like I say every time, it's not just a game. Everyone's counting on us. So, give it all you've got."

The team absorbed this confusing advice without a blink.

Gabrielle then gave them pointers like watching for openings, or to remember their formation but not be afraid to break it if necessary. To make sure their best long thrower got the ball if she had a chance at a shot—same for their good inside shooters.

Then they got in a huddle, arms around each other.

Gabrielle counted down. "Three, two, one … Go, Lobos!"

The team erupted in screams so bloodcurdling, that two hundred years ago, they'd have sent any colonizing Europeans racing for the hills. Maybe they should have let the girls be in charge back then.

Gabrielle gave more blasts on her whistle, for no reason I could tell. The refs gathered the players for the tip-off, a horn blew, and the game was on .

I settled in to watch. Gabrielle was on her feet, yelling and gesturing. The opposing team's coach watched her in sour disapproval.

I wasn't familiar with all the moves of girls' basketball, but Gabrielle obviously was. She'd played when she'd been younger, she'd said. I'd never heard her mention that until a few days ago, but obviously she knew her way around the court. She kept a sharp eye on her team, calling for time-outs when she knew they needed a break or to regroup.

The crowd yelled and cheered for the home team, and I found myself jumping from my chair, shouting my encouragement. The girls played with focus, taking shots only when they were certain of making them. They were especially good at interception. I saw Gabrielle's hand in that because they were sneaky yet well within the rules.

Not until after half time did I sense anything amiss.

I assumed a wind had rushed up outside, as it often did in spring in northern Arizona, because the gym roof started rattling. However, my storm magic didn't tingle in anticipation of a coming tempest.

Mick was out there patrolling, I reminded myself. He'd alert me if anything was wrong.

The moment that thought formed, the mirror shard in my pocket started to keen. I heard an identical noise at the court's edge, and realized Gabrielle carried her shard as well.

Gabrielle jerked around to glare at me. "What the hell?" she bellowed, as though the mirror's warning was my fault.

The roof shivered again, and I looked up in time to see it dissolve. No beams or shards of steel or fiberglass—or whatever the roof was made of—fell on us. The ceiling simply ceased to be.

It resolidified in the next instant, but not before a dozen beings I'd never seen in my entire weird life descended to hover beneath it. The ghostly apparitions had elongated skulls with empty eye sockets, and long bony bodies covered with ragged gray cloth.

A player on the other team missed a shot. She grunted in frustration, then she looked up, her arms sagging to her sides when she saw the floating wraiths. The ball bounced away, tap-tap-tapping into the abrupt silence.