CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE #3
“It can be dangerous to lead a coven in Adrasea. Only a coven leader can call upon another witch’s abilities.
It’s a powerful privilege. My mother was betrayed by a trusted friend and killed for her position.
I fled the kingdom that same night at twelve years old.
Maybe some small part of me understood the danger we faced.
Maybe that’s why I was drawn to the owl’s shadow that day. I don’t know.”
“I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through,” I replied. “And for the loss of your mother.”
“Thank you. My broomstick is the only thing from my past that I still carry with me. It’s gotten me out of trouble too many times to count,” she said fondly.
“Yes, well, your skill with a broomstick certainly saved my life in that cavern,” I remarked.
Zorana’s voice was solemn. “It’s a skill that’s served me well.” She surveyed the island with another sweeping gaze before continuing to speak. “I can sense old magic, old spellwork permeating your island. Old…and very, very powerful. I wonder—do you have to renew its enchantments somehow?”
“I’m not certain. But my predecessors have all been laid to rest within the island cemetery,” I confided.
“Are you saying we’re surrounded by dead people?” Tercel interrupted, earning a playful shove from Farryn as they patiently listened in on our conversation.
Zorana scrunched her nose at Tercel before turning back to me. “This island is special. You’re lucky.”
I crouched down, laying my palm against the ground.
If the land could cling to spellwork and spirits and magic and vows—what exactly did my island hold on to?
Perhaps it clung to people’s dreams. Their pleas for help when there was nowhere left to turn.
That was meant to be my burden, not just the history books lining my shelves.
I was sure of it. “You must all think I’m a fool,” I murmured.
“Living here with no clue about the island’s history. ”
“I don’t think that,” Zorana said, looking at me kindly.
“You shouldn’t blame yourself. My mother always used to tell me that ‘the magic doesn’t come from planting the seed; the magic comes from nurturing its growth.
’ You’re building something here. You should be proud about that. If it takes some time, that’s alright.”
“I think you’re quite brave, trying to figure it all out on your own,” Farryn added.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly, my throat thick with emotion as I continued our tour of the island.
As we passed by the iron gate, I picked up my pace, knowing I had nothing to share about its purpose.
“What’s behind the gate?” Tercel inquired. So much for that plan.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t have the gate key.” It was embarrassing how little I could explain about my own home.
“You lost the key to the only gated area on your island?” he asked quizzically.
“Tercel!” Farryn and Corvin chided at the same time.
He held up his hands. “Sorry, Elvira. I didn’t mean anything by it. You really don’t know what’s inside?”
“The shrubbery is a dome. You can’t see inside at all,” I said a bit defensively.
“Maybe I can peek through,” Tercel responded, shifting his falcon wings in the blink of an eye. He soared above the gated fence. One pass, and then another.
“I could sprinkle you with some pixie dust if you want to take a look yourself,” Farryn offered.
“Pixie dust? What does it do?”
“It can help you fly for a short time. And bring you luck. Humans tend to get a bit dazed when they’re exposed, or euphoric with positive emotion. But you should be fine, given your ancestry. Oh—never mind. Here comes Tercel now.”
“Nothing,” he said, returning to the ground. “The shrubbery is too dense.”
“Thanks for checking,” I said, disappointed he hadn’t uncovered any clues indicating the gate’s purpose.
We strolled for another hour, making a full loop around the island until they’d seen my garden and the cemetery as well. I took the longest possible path back home to the cottage, reluctant to have the night come to an end. My guests followed me back to the cottage door.
“Thank you for the tour,” Farryn said with a smile.
“You really live here all by yourself?” Tercel asked, a small frown on his face. “Doesn’t that get lonely?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “It does. Less so now that I have Nix living here with me.”
Farryn smiled at me with gentle eyes. “Then we’ll have to visit you again soon.”
I blinked, the simple kindness making me unexpectedly emotional. “I’d really like that.”
“It was great to meet you,” she said cheerfully, reaching out for a hug goodbye.
I instantly stiffened at the contact. When was the last time somebody other than Corvin hugged me?
Zorana hugged me next, followed by Tercel.
Corvin approached me last. The moment his strong arms wrapped around my body, it finally softened, embracing the contact.
We stood like that for a while. A polite clearing of the throat drew us apart.
I stepped away, breaking Corvin’s hold. He seemed reluctant to let me go, his arm lingering on mine until the last possible moment.
“Thank you all for sharing a meal with me. And for the company. It was wonderful.”
“It was a pleasure to visit your island,” Zorana expressed.
“I’m sure we’ll be back,” Tercel added. “And if you change your mind about that chicken…”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Farryn seconded, shaking her head at Tercel.
Corvin lingered a moment longer as his friends stepped away from the cottage.
“I’ll contact you in the mirror. Kygraw can’t hide it from me forever,” he promised.
“And I was thinking, when you return home from Solaris, maybe we could spend some more time together. If there’s anything I can help you with.
Anywhere you want to go. I would gladly accompany you. ”
“I was planning to distribute some of my moonstones throughout the realm soon,” I replied, smiling up at him. “I would like to find a local jeweler who might take them. How does a trip into Sivell sound? The Whitebridge Marketplace? We could go together?”
“Sounds great.” He grinned back at me, his shoulders dropping. “I’ll be there. Let me know when you return. And safe travels to Solaris.”
“I will. Safe travels to you all as well.”
As my guests took flight into the sky, a blissful sense of contentment took flight within my heart.