Shattered: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book Seven by Kevin Hearne Page A

anything.”
    “I can brew Immortali-Tea if you want,” I say. “Return your body to its twenties and give you more time to wait on the tree.”
    “You can? Mr. O’Sullivan taught you how to do this?”
    “Yes. You’ll need to set aside a block of time to get it done, because there are side effects, but it’s not insanely difficult.”
    “Let us speak of it later, then. You are here for your father.”
    “Yes, where is he?”
    “I do not know. I cannot divine his location. The raksoyuj possessing him has defenses.”
    Orlaith, who is unable to squeeze under the canopy of the umbrella, shakes herself and sprays water in all directions. She has an excellent point, and I pet her and shoot her a quick private apology.
    “Might we be able to find someplace dry to talk more?” I ask Laksha.
    “Of course. This was simply a convenient place to meet. You found it easily, yes?”
    “Yeah, it’s quite a landmark.”
    “Good. Follow me.” Laksha begins to walk away from the entrance of the shrine, and I’m faintly disappointed that we won’t get to talk inside. But then I remember that Atticus will come here looking for me.
    “Wait,” I say. “Can we leave a message somehow for Atticus? Tell him where to find us?”
    She looks over her shoulder at me. “Mr. O’Sullivan will be coming?”
    “Yes. I don’t know when, precisely, but I’m sure he will get here eventually.”
    “You have not gone your separate ways?”
    “Well, no, I never wanted that. I had a crush on him, if you remember, even before you told me he was a Druid. Turned out the feeling was mutual.”
    “I see.” The rain falls uninterrupted by our voices as she digests this, the susurrus of the earth’s business always continuing, heedless of human concerns. Then, “Can you not simply call him? Text him?”
    “He’s not on this plane right now.”
    “Surely he will call you when he returns?”
    I grin and shake my head ruefully. “Nothing is sure with Atticus.”
    “There is no way to guarantee he will get any message at the shrine,” Laksha says. “Is there no other way to contact him?”
    “I’m not sure … Oh! Duh. Yes, there is. Hold on a moment.” Looking down at my feet, I see that we are standing on a cobblestone path, but an expanse of grass waits a few yards away, flirting with the edges of the temple walls. “Let me talk to the elemental for a minute, and then we can go.”
    “I will wait here,” Laksha says, and I nod my thanks and skip over to the grass. Orlaith follows, shaking herself again.
     she asks.
    I’m going to speak to the earth and then we can go someplace dry
.
    
    I will do my best
.
    Since I’ve never spoken to this elemental before, I feel a bit nervous about introducing myself without Atticus around. But I access my Latin headspace and speak through my binding to the earth: //Greetings / Harmony / New Druid visits//
    The reply fills me with euphoria but also inspires some introspection. //Welcome / Fierce Druid / Harmony / Enjoy my lands//
    I blink. Atticus told me that the elementals were calling me something like Fierce Druid, but I had yet to hear it—or feel it, I suppose—until now. Elementals don’t use words, of course, but I could feel that the image or concept of “Druid” had been modified to imply ferocity when applied to me specifically. Did they know something about me that I didn’t? Why wasn’t I Nice Druid or Mellow Druid with a Lovely Singing Voice?
    //Druid comes here soon// I say, using the unmodified concept that they employed for Atticus. //Must see him / Query: Tell him my location upon arrival?//
    //Yes//
    //Gratitude / Harmony / Query: What shall I call you?//
    //Self is of the river humans name Kaveri//
    I smile in recognition. Thanjavur was in the delta region of the Kaveri River. //I will call you Kaveri / Harmony//
    After that detail is attended to, Laksha leads us through a maze of narrow streets