“If this is a Wild place, shouldn’t it be more obvious? You could say that these are magic trees, covered in magic moss, growing out of magic dirt, and it’s all the same to me.” Bree asked, “Can’t you conjure up a pixie or a dragon, or at least a wisp of foxfire?”

“I’m afraid not, but we’re definitely in the Wilds,” said Jovan. “Since there’s a town nearby, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a wake forest.”

“Awake?”

“Wake,” Jovan corrected. “Like a ship’s wake. When colonists enter the land without making peace with the wilderness, the wild parts retreat. Only a little magic is left in its wake. Just enough to hide some surprises.”

“Nope, this isn’t wake.” Zane peered around the woods from Hobo’s saddle. “Whatever these people did when they settled, they did it right. Magic runs deep around here.”

—Byways #12, In the Middle: A Zane Johns Adventure

Tar Heels and Blue Devils. A feud on the fringes drags Zane’s teammates to opposite ends of town. Both sides are convinced Continue reading COVER REVEAL: In the Middle →