Stopping when Cressida came between him and the boy on the bed, Blake raised an eyebrow. Did she truly believe he meant harm to Barclay? Would Ms. Menides have Looked him in the eyes and let him down into the infirmary if his intent was to make the situation worse? No, Blake told himself, Cressida knew that wasn't his intent. This was something else, something instinctual. A motherly instinct, perhaps. Or maybe that of a teacher who has had to deal with the likes of Ashton and Barclay on a daily basis.
A small curve of amusement touched his lips and the Dragon slayer took a step back with a nod of respect, giving her the space and the right to protect her student. "Of course." Blake produced the disc, reaching into his jacket for the inner protective pocket - spelled for safety - to retrieve it. "My own magic - I bet you didn't know I could work magic," he added with an amused grin. "Isn't strong enough for the kind of power it will need. It's from Mexico. The Aztecs keep a lot of mysteries buried, including their magic relics, and a friend of mine down there dug this up."
Blake held it out for Cressida to look. The disc was round and flat with a hole carved into its center in the shape of a hexagon. On each of the six sides was a different carving depicting an Aztec great spirit. They had names, long ago, and now, placed all together in a flowing circle, formed the symbol for the cycle of all life.
"Wherever Barclay's mind is - the forest, Ashton tells me? - he'll be summoned back and restored to his body. Whatever the cost is from his sojourn, well..." Blake shook his head. "We won't know until he's back."