10. Blood Ties

Brother Colin, my battles are usually of the spirit, but today I had one of the flesh. On the road home from Atherton to Barra Head, I saw three roadside bandits set upon Nuala Riordan.

I commanded them to unhand her, and two of them immediately set upon me. God forgive me, Brother Colin, but it was as if I were a lad once more, wrestling with you and Derwin. You'll remember that I always trounced you both at wrestling and I trounced both those sorry louts today. As for the third, he fell into some sort of fit; with no warning he fell to the ground, writhing in pain. At last he fainted, and Nuala and I left with all haste.

Thanks be to God, she was unharmed. When I suggested that perhaps she should not leave the village, she looked at me oddly. Then boldly she told me she had no husband, nor a lover either.

My cheeks burned at her frankness, Brother Colin, I admit is. Then, as soft as a dove's wing, she said my name–Sinestus–and it was as if her very voice was weaving a spell around me. I left her as quickly as I could, for to speak the truth, I feared the temptation of sin.

It is time for vespers, Brother Colin, and then Brother Edmond is taking the post. I must finish this letter another time.

–Brother Sinestus Tor, to Colin, September 1768

" Well, I'm fine, " I told Aunt Eileen the next day. So far. I checked her name off my list of phone calls.

" Are you sure? " she asked. " Why don't you come spend the weekend here? "

" Oh that's okay, " I said. " I'm just going to stay home and study. I need to pull up some grades. "

" You? Pull up them up to what? What's past an A? "

I laughed nervously. We chatted for a few more minutes, then hung up.

Next I called Mary K. at Jaycee's. It turned out that Jaycee's parents were taking the girls skiing for the weekend. I felt relief. I'd spent most of the night lying awake, dreading Ciaran's arrival. I wanted Mary K. away from here–I didn't want her associated with whatever happened between me and my blood father. I told her to be careful and not to break her leg and asked if she needed money, which she didn't. She was a chronic baby‑ sitter and consequently as rich as Midas.

" Take care, " I told her. " Use your good manners. "

She laughed at my Mom imitation.

Next on my phone list was Hunter. " I haven't heard from Killian yet, " I reported. " I don't know when Ciaran's coming in. "

" All right. Listen, I just got a cell phone. Write down this number. "

I did.

" Now I need you to come to my house. Eoife is here, and we need to talk to you about plans and also teach you some spells you'll need to deal with Ciaran. "

I sighed. So much for hitting the books today. " Okay, " I said. I'll be there soon. "

" Try to hurry. "

" All right. " We said our good‑ byes, and I went to take a shower.

Hunter let me in half an hour later. When I saw Eoife perched on the couch in the living room, my mood darkened. She looked paler, more fragile than the last time I had seen her, as if she were carrying a heavier weight. She gave me a faint smile.

" So you where successful, " she told me.

" Well, Killian say's he's coming. We'll have to see if he does or not. " I said.

" He'll come, " said Hunter, already pouring tea. " Now, tell us again everything Killian has told you. "

I did. I drank my tea, feeling its warmth slide down my throat, soothing me from the inside out. I told them about Killian finding the power sink at the cemetery and met Hunter's eyes. His expression betrayed nothing. I told them any snippets of conversation I had remembered, anything he had mentioned about his family. I felt disloyal to Killian, doing this, yet that had been the plan. That was that I signed up for.

" Anything else? " Hunter said, his eyes on me.

I thought about the hawk spell and closed my mind to Hunter. I didn't even know why, except I didn't want to get Killian in trouble. He didn't seem evil to me–just irresponsible. I wondered if he even understood the abuses that knowing someone's true name might lead to. When I looked up, Eoife's eyes seemed to look right through me, and I prayed I didn't blush. I wasn't fooling either one of them. Was I already the inherent test in all this, my choosing good over evil not just sometimes, but every time? I felt so inadequate.

Hunter expelled his breath and sat back in his chair. He ran long fingers through his short blond hair, and to me it seemed like he only became more attractive every time I saw him. The bastard.

" Right, " said Eoife, sitting up straighter. " So let's talk about Starlocket. Suzanna Mearis has come out of her coma but has paralysis on her left side. They're continuing to work healing spells but since they don't know exactly what spell Amyranth used against her, they haven't been successful. In the meantime smaller things continue to happen: Rina O'Fallon's car lost its steering, and she had an accident. Someone's cat was found dead of no apparent cause. Someone's winter garden wilted overnight in its cold frame. "

I digested this silently.

" The noose is closing, " Hunter murmured.

" Why can't they disband? " I asked, wanting it clarified.

" It's traditional not to, in times of trouble, " Eoife said, her eyes sad. " The bond between coven members is considered unbreakable. Only in very rare, extraordinary circumstances do members separate during dangerous times. " Her glance flicked towards Hunter, and I remembered again that his parents had fled along with the rest of their coven before it was destroyed by a dark wave. I wondered what that extraordinary circumstance had been, but Hunter's face gave no clue.

I felt that if I were in Starlocket, I'd be in Tennessee by now.

" They're determined to fight evil in all its forms, " Eoife added. " But I did tell them that we're still working to infiltrate Amyranth, and they were much cheered by this news. "

I looked at her blankly, then gulped when I realized that their only hope was me. If something happened to Alyce and Starlocket because I wasn't strong enough, good enough, how would I ever live with myself? Assuming I'd survive.

" Anyway, " said Hunter briskly, " we need to teach you some sigils of concealment and more wards of protection. "

" Yes, " Eoife began, but then we were distracted by Sky's angry voice coming from the kitchen.

" Dammit, that's not what I meant and you know it! " she was practically shouting.

" Who's here? " I asked. I hadn't picked up on anyone else's presence.

Hunter shook his head. " No one. She must be on the phone. "

" Anyway, Morgan, " Eoife went on, " one of the first things I want to teach you is a simple concealment spell. It doesn't literally make you invisible, of course, but most people, animals, and even witches won't notice you're there. "

I nodded. " Like a you‑ see‑ me‑ not spell. "

Eoife looked startled. " You do this already? "

" Um, only occasionally, " I answered, wondering if I had just stepped on more Wiccan toes. " You know, if I don't… uh want to be seen. "

Eoife shot Hunter a glance, and he sort of threw up his hands, as if I were an unhousebroken dog he'd tried his best with.

" Raven, I'm talking about last night! " Sky interrupted us loudly.

We all felt embarrassed to be hearing this conversation. Then Eoife focused again.

" This spell should get you into and out of most situations, " she said. " If Ciaran knows you quite well, if he's familiar with your vibrations and your aura, he may be able to pick up on it, but not right away. "

" He knows some of that, if not all, " I said thinking back to New York. He'd tried to steal my magick, so yeah, he probably knew my aura.

" We'll have to do the best we can, " Eoife said. " Ciaran is quite adept at knowing one intimately, only to use that knowledge to destroy. He enjoys destruction in and of itself, not just the dividends. He is the opposite of a creator. "

I hated hearing this about Ciaran but knew immediately it was true. What had happened in his life to make him that way? How much of his legacy had he passed on to me, to Killian, to his other children? Knowing he was evil the way I did, how could I still remember our odd connection with longing? What did that say about me?

Eoife moved to sit cross‑ legged in front if the fire crackling in Hunter's fireplace. Gesturing to me to sit across from her, she said, " We'll bolster this with other spells of protection and attack. With your inherent strength, I feel it will work. If you learn it perfectly. "

Sitting across from Eoife on the floor, I tried to clear my mind and relax my breathing. I could still hear Sky in the kitchen, her voice rising and falling in anger. I tried to block it out. Hunter stayed where he was, in his chair, but I felt his eyes on me unwaveringly.

“We’ll start with the words, ” said Eoife, starting to murmur them.

Leaning closer, I let my mind expand to envelop the softly spoken words. I loved spellcraft. There were so many different kinds: ones using crystals, oils, incenses, herbs. Ones using only words, ones combining words and gestures, ones made only within a circle and some you could make anywhere. This one has three parts: words, runes written in the air, and the casting of a glamour.

Ten minutes later I had the words and runes down pat and felt confident I would remember them. The casting of a glamour I would have to work on. It was odd, but unlike school learning, which could sometimes go in me like a stone sinking in water, never to be seen again–magick seemed quite different. I had never forgotten a spell. Once learned it, it seemed part of the fabric of my being, another colored thread that made up the complete Morgan.

I almost jumped when Sky raised her voice again.

" No, " she shouted, " That's not what I'm saying. You're twisting my words. "

I really didn't want to hear anymore and had stood up to ask if we could go work in the circle room, when Sky stalked out of the kitchen, her black eyes shooting sparks of anger. She saw us sitting there, and her gaze lasered in on me.

" He is your brother, " she said acidly. " You brought him here. He's a total bastard, and Raven's thick enough not to see it. But she should know better–after all, he's Woodbane. " This last was spit at me, and I felt the blood drain from my face as she grabbed her black leather jacket and slammed out of the house. Outside I heard the roar of Sky's car as she peeled out, braked squealing.

It was true: I had brought Killian here, and Raven was making a fool of herself over him, with his enthusiastic help. But I had brought him here at the council's wishes and for the greater good. I sat there feeling mortified, not knowing what to say. Hunter looked tight‑ lipped and withdrawn, but Eoife was calm as she arranged the tea things on their tray.

" This is all part of life, my dear, " she said in her soft Scottish accent. " Even pain and embarrassment are part of it. "

With a heavy sigh Hunter reached over and patted my knee.

" Sky's just really angry. Not every Woodbane is evil, " he said. " Your mother wasn't. Belwicket wasn't. I'm half Woodbane. There are many, many good Woodbane out there. "

" But not Killian, right? " I asked somberly. " And not Ciaran. "

Neither Hunter nor Eoife spoke, and silently I reached for my coat and let myself out of that house. Once again my heritage was catching up with me.