Nine
Since, as Oliver says, we have no other choice, and after searching their emotions and finding nothing but genuine delight, I decide to trust Oliver and Em. And since everyone in the Order seems to view me as some great guardian of awesomeness—they’re obviously unaware I’ve only recently graduated—this means they also decide to trust Oliver and Em.
The two strangely cheerful guardians lead us to their base in Fireglass Vale, one of three safe locations the Guild Council built centuries ago in case the Guilds were ever attacked and compromised. I have a vague memory of learning about these safe locations in second or third year—not where they were, of course—and thinking they were unnecessary; how could the Guilds ever be compromised? Their protective charms were meant to be impenetr
