Spell Stone

Book 3: Merry Magic

by Shelley Russell Nolan

Genres: Contemporary Fantasy; Epic Fantasy; Young Adult

Synopsis

Meddling with magic comes with deadly consequences

The magical world of Tirana is on the brink of revolution. After losing control of her Earth magic, Merry never wants to cast another spell. With three more charms to collect before she can return to her world, she may not have a choice.

Renegade lords, rogue mages and guild enforcers will be the least of her troubles as she makes her way to the Water focal point. For treachery is not the only poison spreading through the land, which leaves Merry and her friends short on options as well as supplies.

Pushed to the limit, she will come face to face with the deadly consequences of using magic. With time running out to protect the portal from witch hunters, she will be forced to face her fears and decide what is worth dying for.

Can Merry learn to trust herself and her magic? Find out in this magical portal fantasy adventure!

Release date: December 10, 2020

Print pages: 196

Sample

Chapter One

Merry twisted her long hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, grimacing at the unfamiliar colour. Ellen had used a herbal concoction to dye the normally light purple strands a dull brown the night before. It was patchy in places, some of the original colour showing through when she was in sunlight, but Merry wound her black gauzy wrap around her head to help disguise it. From a distance, no one should suspect she was the purple haired witch that was wanted by both the guild and a renegade lord bent on turning himself into a king.

Once her hair was done, she smoothed down the skirt of the long white dress that was the second part of her disguise. She had been given the dress by one of the villagers thankful for her help saving those trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Guilt had thrummed through her at accepting the dress and the other supplies the people of Jeriton had insisted she and her friends should take with them. Not that she begrudged anything the villagers wanted to give Ellen. The healer had worked long days and well into each of the three nights they had been in town to heal the injured, using her newly strengthened heartstone to aid her. Sadie the black cat, her own familiar, had also done her part by entertaining the young patients, smooching up against them, her purr a soothing rumble, as they were treated. They both had more than earned the villagers’ gratitude.

It was Merry who didn’t deserve their goodwill. She’d been the one to cause the earthquake that had damaged their homes, and trapped and injured many of their people, when she had lost control of her Earth magic at the focal point. If Ellen hadn’t intervened, stopping her from causing even more damage, the results would have been disastrous. It was fine for Ellen and Sadie to say it wasn’t her fault, blaming the Earth tree instead, but they hadn’t been the ones to cause so much pain and suffering to innocent people.

Her inexperience had caused her to create the earthquake when they’d been attacked by Fowler, the renegade Spirit mage working for Lord Andel. In her fear, pain and anger from his mental attack, Merry had let the Earth tree, the physical embodiment of the focal point, channel its power through her and lost the little control she had over what she had wrought. Fowler had been swallowed up by a crack formed in the ground at his feet, but the Earth tree had not been content with his death. The earthquake increased in magnitude, using Merry as its conduit, until the mountains surrounding the focal point rumbled and shook.

Fowler’s death had been horrific. He’d been trying to kill Merry and her friends, but to be sealed up in the earth was brutally extreme. It made her stomach churn to think of how he must have suffered, no matter how quick it had been.

The only positive to come out of the nightmare had been her heartstone becoming one of the charms she needed for the transportation spell that would return her home. She couldn’t wait to leave Tirana. This world may have provided a safe haven for the witches who had fled persecution in her world hundreds of years ago, but magic and the demands it put on her made it a deadly place to stay. The sooner she could find the next three charms and get out of there, the better.

‘Master Roberts is waiting at the Southern gate for us.’ Ellen stood beside the door of the small bedroom they had shared last night, the previous two having been spent in a tent while the people of Jeriton worked to make their homes liveable again. Her smile was strained as she looked at the laden pack sitting on Merry’s neatly made bed. It was another gift from the people of Jeriton.

Merry was tempted to leave the pack behind, but to do so would insult the generosity of their hosts. With a sigh, she heaved the pack over her shoulder. Then she picked up the wooden staff she had magically carved with a pattern that represented the movement of wind. Not that she’d been aware of what she was doing at the time she’d transformed it from a simple branch to a staff that helped to focus her magic…

She managed a brittle smile for Ellen. ‘I’m ready.’ She headed for the door, sucking in a deep breath as she made her way to the common room of the inn. They had said their goodbyes to the innkeeper earlier, and she hoped to be able to slip out without notice now.

The common room was empty, and her sigh of relief was heartfelt but short-lived. 

As soon as they stepped out of the inn loud clapping began. Shielding her eyes against the glare of the morning sun, Merry avoided the gaze of the villagers as they lined the street. Good natured and heartfelt thanks felt like stones being slung at her, and she winced as each one struck. She wanted to shout at them, tell them the truth, hands gripping the staff so tightly her fingers ached.

Her jaw also hurt as she clenched it against the torrent of words that wanted to spill out.

She was grateful for Ellen at her side, graciously accepting the thanks but not slowing her pace, while Sadie darted ahead. Together they made their way down the short main street, to the gate at the southern end of Jeriton, where three wagons waited. Master Roberts sat in the driver’s position in the first one, his hired drivers on the other two. The villagers escorted them to the gate, and it was all Merry could do not to scream as she hurriedly scrambled into the back of the last wagon alongside Ellen and Sadie.

The wagon quickly set off, but Merry kept her head down, not wanting to make eye contact with any of the villagers. She ran her hands along her staff, concentrating on the feel of the smooth wood and the contrast when her fingertips caressed the swirls her magic had carved into it.

‘It’s okay. We’re clear.’ A soft touch on her arm accompanied the words and Merry looked up to see Ellen watching her carefully.

The town of Jeriton was receding in the distance, the people still waving from the gate now indistinct figures in dust churned up by the wagons on the dirt road. Behind the town loomed the mountain range that hid the Earth focal point, the mesmerising tree that had used Merry as a conduit.

At the Air focal point, she had been forced to battle a wind golem. At the Earth focal point, she had faced an enraged Spirit mage. Or had her challenge been to resist the lure of the power contained in the Earth tree? If that was the case, she had failed. No, Ellen had said it had been her use of the elemental Earth magic, the earthquake she had created, that had turned the heartstone given to her by the Singers into the charm she needed to make the transportation spell.

Merry had been pleased to receive the heartstone, and to have it attuned to her and her bloodline, after using it to chase Lord Andel out of the Cavern of Heart Songs. That had been her reward for helping to end the illegal and wanton mining of heartstones. That pleasure had turned to dismay after the events at the Earth tree. She’d been determined to never use the heartstone or her Earth magic again, until she was creating the transportation spell that would help her and Sadie get home.

Then Ellen had persuaded her to use her stone to help the villages, to show it was capable of good as well as bad. It had helped to ease some of her guilt, but Merry was still reluctant to use it again. She was reluctant to use any magic. It came with a price she was not sure she would want to pay if she had a choice. The choice that had been taken from her the moment she accidentally triggered the spell to open the portal that brought her and Sadie to Tirana in the first place. That spell broke after she had used it.

Merry now had to complete a quest to get all five elemental charms before she could make a new transportation spell to return home. Only then would she have a say in her future. She could choose to destroy the portal and forget magic existed or renew the wards at the beginning of each season to keep those who intended harm to Tirana and its inhabitants from using it. Yet even those choices had claws.

The portal on Merry’s world existed within Merry Magic, the bookshop she inherited from a grandmother she had never known existed until a week ago. Her grandmother had used the portal to escape the guild that was even now after Merry. Soon after she found out she was the sole beneficiary of her grandmother’s will, Merry had been approached by Huntington Inc., a company who had caused her to lose her job and her home two weeks earlier, with an offer to buy the bookshop and solve all her problems.

Despite her misgivings about the company representatives and their actions, Merry had been tempted to take the money. Since arriving in Tirana she had learned Huntington Inc. were witch hunters determined to complete the eradication of all those with magic that their ancestors began in the Middle Ages. If they gained access to the portal, they would use enslaved witches to open it so they could destroy every witch and mage in Tirana, including Merry’s friends. 

Even now, the wards were waning. She had to get home before the start of winter, to renew the wards, or to let the guild know where it opened so they could destroy it, trapping her in Tirana forever.

Merry had two of the charms she needed to make her spell. There were Air and Earth. She had to get three more; Fire, Water and Spirit, and then meet up with Ellen’s mentor, Debra Mallory, to learn how to make the transportation spell and how to either renew the wards or destroy the portal once she was back in her world.

The next closest focal point was Water. According to their map, it was in Marshland Province, and the fastest way to get to it would be by ship. That was where Master Roberts and his merchant train came in. The goods on the three wagons were destined for Marshland. He was on his way to the harbour at Greystone to load them onto a ship that would deliver them to a harbour in Marshland. Merry, Ellen and Sadie hoped to hitch a ride on that ship.

‘Do you really think the captain will agree to take us to Marshland?’ Merry asked Ellen. ‘What if no one on the ship needs healing?’

That was how they had been bartering for goods and a roof over their heads during their travels so far, except for those nights they’d been stuck in one of the forests that seemed to cover most of Tirana, curled up in a tree hollow or on the flattest and softest piece of ground they could find. Those nights, especially the one where they had been soaking wet after running through the forest in a storm, had not been comfortable. Merry had never been on a sailing ship before but imagined space would be at a premium. They’d need to barter the equivalent value to get passage.

Ellen gave Merry a sheepish look. ‘I was hoping the captain would take one look at your dress and jump at the chance to have you as a passenger, especially after we tell them you are stronger than the average Air witch.’

Merry stiffened. ‘That’s why you asked if anyone had a white dress they could spare.’

Ellen’s sheepish look deepened. ‘Using wind to speed the ship would be a fantastic barter. All merchants, captains and such, are obsessed with speed. If you promise to get the ship to Marshland faster, I’m sure the captain would eagerly welcome us aboard.’

The captain might like it, but not Merry. Her use of Air magic may not hold as many bad memories as her use of Earth magic had, but still…

‘I have no idea how to use wind to speed a ship. For all I know, I’ll end up starting a cyclone and smashing us to bits.’

‘You’ll be fine. Most magic works on instinct. All you need to do is focus on what you want your spell to achieve.’ Ellen leaned in and grasped Merry’s hand. ‘What happened at the Earth tree was the result of extreme circumstances that are unlikely to happen again. No one will be trying to kill us. It will be like when you were helping the Singers get Lord Andel and his men out of the Cavern of Heart Songs. You didn’t lose control then, and you won’t on the ship.’

The healer is right. Sadie lifted her head, her yellow eyes slitted against the morning sun as she gazed at Merry. You need to trust in yourself and in your magic. I understand why you might be hesitant, but you did not lose control while at the Air focal point, even though you were under attack. You will not lose control when merely guiding the wind into the sails of a ship.

Merry gave a nod, wishing it were that simple. With a sigh, she reached into her pack and pulled out the spell box that contained the broken elements of her grandmother’s original transportation spell. She had added the two charms she had so far collected to the pile— a feather from a legendary silver falcon, and her heartstone. Despite coming from a live bird, the feather felt more like metal in her hand. Her heartstone was a blue and purple gem the size of her thumbnail, the colours swirling in constant movement. It was twice the size of the stone Ellen used to augment her magical abilities, and even when it was packed away Merry could feel it, her connection to it a constant presence in her mind. While she always got a sense of power when she held the feather, the heartstone was on a whole other level. 

Was it the power of the heartstone that caused her to lose control of her Earth magic or was it because these stones were used to amplify the magic of the one who was holding it?

The stone was a means of connecting you with the power of the Earth tree. You feel its presence more strongly than the feather because you are stronger with Earth magic than you are with Air. All mages tend to have one dominant ability. Your grandmother was strongest with Fire, but like her you have the potential to master all five elements.

Merry narrowed her eyes as she stared at Sadie. Sometimes she forgot the familiar could hear what she was thinking. Many of her thoughts lately had not been meant to be shared.

I spent years advising the most powerful mage Tirana had ever known. Privacy is not a priority when it comes to imparting that wisdom to her granddaughter. Especially when not taking that advice could mean both of us stuck here for the rest of our lives.

Sadie’s ears twitched. As much as I love the land of my birth, there is something to be said for electricity. Winters in Tirana are not kind, and I have become accustomed to indoor heating that does not leave my fur smelling of smoke.

For the first time in a while Merry gave a genuine smile, imagining Sadie luxuriating in the warm blast of air from a heater. Then her smile faded. The weather had already cooled in the week since she had accidentally transported them both to Tirana. If they didn’t get the charms and complete the transportation spell soon, they may not make it back to the portal in time to have the choice of returning. There was no way Merry would risk the lives of her friends and all the other magic users in Tirana. If she could not return to her world, she would have to tell the guild where the portal was so they could destroy it from this side. Then both she and Sadie would be stuck in a world far less technologically advanced than the one she’d been born in.

Indoor heating was just one thing Merry would miss. A proper bathroom was another. She shuddered at the thought of always having to bathe in the draughty sheds that were used as bath houses in Tirana in the middle of winter. It snowed here, whereas the part of Australia she came from barely had a winter at all. What she wouldn’t give for a real bathroom, with a steaming hot shower and proper flushing toilets. If she were listing impossible wishes, she’d also ask for a full kitchen equipped with a coffee machine. Her car, too, to make travelling so much easier than walking or being lumped in with piles of goods in the back of a wagon.

Before the guild had destroyed all the portals they could find, when travel between the worlds had been possible, some technology had made its way to Tirana. Lord Andel’s manor had a bathroom that would not have looked out of place in any home built in the 1920s back in Australia. But from what her friends had said, only nobles like Andel, rich guild mages, and some of the more prosperous merchant families had been able to afford such luxuries as indoor plumbing. As a witch on the run from the guild, she would have to make do with living rough until she completed the transportation spell and was able to go home.

Merry packed the spell box away and tried to find a more comfortable position against the side of the wooden wagon tray, relieved when the driver called back that they would be taking a break soon. The sun was shining overhead, warming up the day, and her stomach was starting to regret only picking at the breakfast provided by the innkeeper.

Her muscles, after lack of movement for a number of hours, protested as she clambered down. Once she was on the ground, Merry grimaced at the marks she had already garnered on the once pristine white of her dress. White was not a practical colour, but as an Air witch guild law required her to dress in the colour that signified the element. She looked over at Ellen’s green dress, still in immaculate condition. But then, the healer would probably manage to keep a white dress just as clean.

Merry surveyed the clearing the three wagons had pulled up in, walking around to stretch her legs as Master Roberts directed his drivers to arrange a place for them to take a meal.

Tirana was beautiful, the lack of technology meaning no pollution marred the pristine sky. The grass underfoot was lush and green, springing back after she walked across it. The clearing was lined with towering trees, their shade a welcome relief from the heat of the sun. While the weather was cool, the sun still had some bite to it.

‘Here,’ said Ellen, handing out a mug brimming with water.

Merry’s tongue did not tingle when she took her first sip, meaning it was not magically imbued to give them extra energy. That was how Ellen had kept them going when they’d had to tramp through forests and run from those seeking to capture them. Lack of food had made them weak, but the spell the Earth witch used on the water kept them on their feet long after they should have collapsed in a heap. They could not rely on magic water too often or it would lose its effectiveness, and their current leg of the journey required no real exertion on their part.

A creek ran along one side of the clearing and Merry wandered over to it, sipping at her mug of water, gazing at the rocky bottom visible through crystal clear water.

Water.

The next elemental focal point she was to visit involved water. She stretched out her senses to see if she could connect with the magic. All she felt was a cool breeze brushing against her, the only sounds the soft burble of the creek and the hum of insects as they skittered over the waterway and through the trees on the other side.

‘Merry, the food is ready.’

Merry turned away from the creek and stepped over to where Master Roberts was perched on a cask of ale, munching on a thick slab of meat. Ellen kneeled on a blanket, holding out a much thinner piece of meat sandwiched between two slices of dark brown bread. Merry sank down beside her before taking her first bite. Sadie was perched on the edge of the blanket, nibbling on a small pile of meat that had been shredded and placed in front of her.

In minutes Merry’s sandwich was gone and she watched as Ellen handed out the dainty sweet pastries the innkeeper had supplied them with. She also had a jug that contained the chicory favoured coffee commonly brewed in Tirana. It was not as nice cold as it would be hot, and lacked the jolt of coffee back home, but Merry still drank it down.

Then, once the meal was done, they packed up and headed to the wagons. Before they got there the thud of many hoofbeats sounded. Master Roberts, closest to the wagons, took the last few steps at a run, his drivers at his back. He called out for Merry and Ellen to get behind them as they fanned out around the wagons.

A moment later four men on horseback arrived in the clearing. The horses were lathered, sweat mixed with dust from the dirt road dulling their glossy brown coats, the men on their backs slumped over the reins. As one, the men swung down from their mounts and led them to the creek to drink. But even as they took care of their horses, Merry noticed they were also keeping a close eye on Master Roberts and his drivers. One handed the reins of his horse to the man beside him and stepped closer.

‘Where are you headed, merchant?’ He scanned the laden wagons, and then looked over to where Merry and Ellen stood behind Master Roberts.

‘What interest do you have in our destination, good sir?’ Master Roberts crossed his arms in front of his chest, chin lifted as he eyed the man. To either side of him the two wagon drivers spread out.

The man lifted his hands. ‘I mean no harm. Just a word of warning if Greystone is your intended destination. There’s been trouble of late with the guild. It would not be a good time to visit, especially with two young witches in your group.’

Merry and Ellen shared a startled glance.

‘What kind of trouble?’ Master Roberts asked.

‘The kind to be avoided. If I were you, I’d find another town to sell your wares.’ With his warning given, he gave a nod to Master Roberts, and then bowed his head in Merry and Ellen’s direction, before striding back to his horse.

Master Roberts turned to face Merry and Ellen once the man was out of earshot. ‘I’ll be continuing on to Greystone. I have to. These goods are already spoken for. But if you choose to heed this warning, I will delay my journey long enough to return you safely to Jeriton.’

Merry shook her head at the same time as Ellen said, ‘We thank you for the offer, but like you we need to continue on.’

‘Very well. We shall get going then, and hope this trouble is not as dire as that fellow seems to think it.’ With that, he led them to the last wagon, waiting until they were settled in the rear before making his way back to the lead wagon.

The four men watering their horses watched on as the wagons pulled away and, like Master Roberts, Merry hoped they had exaggerated the trouble they would find in Greystone. But if the guild was involved, she was afraid getting the captain to allow them passage on the ship to Marshland Province could be the least of their worries.

 

Chapter Two

With the warning they had received, Merry was surprised to find it was not the guild who offered the first obstacle when they arrived at the Greystone town gates later that day. The wooden gates were closed and a group of men wearing black trousers and grey shirts with a white anchor embossed on the front stood across the road before them, with forbidding expressions. Given the warning about the guild causing trouble, Merry and Ellen had put on dark brown woollen cloaks given to them in Jeriton to hide their coloured dresses. Fortunately, the afternoon had turned chill, a wind whipping up for the last leg of their journey, making it reasonable they would be covered up. They hoped.

From the looks of the men barring the way of the lead wagon, this was the local militia.

‘Greetings,’ said Master Roberts in a booming voice. ‘I have urgent business at the harbour. Would you kind sirs be so good as to step aside and allow safe passage?’ His tone was even, but there was a hint of forced gaiety to it.

‘Greystone is closed to visitors. You’ll need to turn around,’ called out one of the militia guards as he stepped in front of the line of men, a hand going to the hilt of the sword hanging at his hip. ‘By order of the Greystone Council, no outsiders are allowed to enter.’

Master Roberts gave a nervous chuckle. ‘Surely that does not apply to merchants such as myself? As you can see, I have goods to deliver, and a captain no doubt impatient to set sail. These goods are due in Marshland the day after tomorrow. If I miss the evening tide, my client will be sorely aggrieved.’

‘Your client will be even more aggrieved if your goods are confiscated on account of you declining to obey a direct order.’ This was said with a flash of teeth. ‘Turn your wagons around, and if you hurry you can get those goods to your client overland within four days.’

‘Four days might as well be four years. The client will never buy goods from me again, and will surely blacken my name, if I fail to deliver as promised.’

‘That is a problem, indeed.’ The militiaman rubbed at his chin; eyes gleaming. ‘But it is your problem. Not that of me and my men. Our job is to safeguard the good people of Greystone, and only those that have paid the appropriate council dues can be considered citizens.’

Master Roberts was silent a moment, and his voice was subdued when he finally spoke. ‘If it so happens that I were to pay these dues now, to you, would I then be considered a citizen?’

The greed in the man’s eyes gave the answer before he said, ‘Why then, as a citizen of Greystone, it would be my honour to open these gates for you, good sir.’

Master Roberts climbed down from the lead wagon and strode over to the man, pulling a pouch from his pocket. Coins clinked as they were handed over. The militiaman pocketed the coins and then ordered his men to open the gates. He stood to one side, watching on with a cruel smile as Master Roberts and the wagons passed him.

‘Enjoy your stay,’ he called after them, giving a low chuckle.

There was something in the tone, a hint of maliciousness, that made Merry wonder if they and Master Roberts might have been better off to chance the overland route to Marshland after all. But it was too late now. The gate clanged closed behind them and the wagons rattled over the cobbled road that comprised the main street. Like all the places she had been in since arriving in Tirana, Greystone appeared to be set up in a straightforward manner, with the streets in neat lines, though this street sloped downward. In the distance she could see the harbour, the masts of docked ships swaying gently in the swell of the ocean. As they drew closer, she saw the harbour was sheltered on either end by tracts of land, making a horseshoe shape. Buildings were crammed in every available space on the sides of the horseshoe, warehouses from the looks of them, but though there were at least a dozen ships docked there was little activity.

The wind tasted salty, the tang of the sea mixing with a strong fishy scent as Master Roberts led the wagons along the left side of the horseshoe road that ran around the harbour. He pulled up at an empty berth with a number nine made of metal hanging from a signpost. He got out of the wagon and strode to the side of Merry’s wagon with a puzzled expression.

‘It appears Captain Higgins is late,’ he said.

‘She’s not late,’ a gravelly voice said behind them. ‘She was just smart enough to get out before the blockade went down.’

Merry twisted around and found a dour faced man with wiry grey hair and a neatly trimmed beard standing on the deck of the ship in berth number eight, arms crossed in front of his chest as he gazed down at them.

‘Blockade?’ Master Roberts stepped closer to the end of the pier.

The man pointed past his ship, and Master Roberts cursed fervently.

Merry craned her neck and soon discovered what had him so upset. A metal gate was strung across the opening of the harbour that led out to open water. Rusted and covered in barnacles though it was, it still looked sturdy, and from the way it spilled into the water she guessed it went a fair way beneath the surface.

‘They pulled up the gate after martial law was declared at midday. No ship is allowed to enter or leave the harbour, until the Greystone militia have completed their investigations into the events of two days ago. Captain Higgins must have got wind of what was happening and sailed at dawn, avoiding being stuck in here like the rest of us. Knowing her, she’s found a nice cove to shelter in until this all blows over.’

Master Roberts shook his head. ‘Any idea how long this investigation will take? These goods need to be in Marshland in two days.’

The man snorted. ‘No hope of that. They’re hunting witch folk, and not having an easy time of it. If I were you, I’d forget all about getting your goods delivered and find a safe port to hunker down until the militia have had their fill of terrorising the citizens.’

With a sour expression, Master Roberts banged his fists against the side of the wagon. ‘Bloody militia, they knew I’d never get my goods delivered by ship. Not with this blockade of theirs. Looks like we’ll be heading overland after all.’ He heaved out a deep sigh. ‘I just hope Lady Marsh doesn’t blacklist me for not meeting the terms of our agreement.’

‘Lady Marsh?’ Merry tilted her head.

‘Lady Beatrice Marsh. She inherited the title after her father died a year ago and is the ruler of Marshland Province. She ordered all this,’ he waved a hand to indicate the three wagons and the carefully wrapped and bundled goods, ‘and paid a premium to have it delivered sooner. I will have to return that when I arrive late.’

Merry gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘Maybe she’ll understand when you explain what happened.’

‘Perhaps.’ His glum tone suggested he didn’t believe it would turn out that way. But with no other choice, he turned the wagons round and they headed back along the main street.

With the words of the sailor in mind, about the militia hunting witch folk, Merry and Ellen kept their cloaks wrapped tightly around their bodies as the wagons approached the gate. A different group of militia guards waited on this side.

‘Where do you think you’re off to?’ one of them called out, stepping forward to bar their way.

‘I need to get these goods to Marshland,’ said Master Roberts, a hard edge to his words. ‘With your blockade preventing me from reaching the ship I had booked to carry them I must take them overland myself.’

The guard gave a harsh laugh. ‘The blockade works both ways, merchant. No one enters Greystone and no one leaves.’

Master Roberts gave a splutter. ‘What do you mean, no one leaves? I just arrived, not more than an hour ago. Now I wish to leave.’

‘See now, I’ve been on duty here all day, and I don’t recall seeing any wagons enter town.’

Master Roberts gaped at him for a moment, and then shook his head. ‘But I paid for entrance. You can check with the outer guards.’

‘Did you now? Well then, if that’s the case, it appears we have a problem.’ The guard straightened, one hand fondling the hilt of his sword.

‘I’m glad you—’

‘Any caught attempting to bribe those employed in upholding the law of Greystone face imprisonment and seizure of any contraband they may have on their person. So, if you did bribe a guard to let you enter, then that is a very serious offence. Shall I call the outer guard, to determine if such an offence has been committed?’

Master Roberts’ face blanched of all colour. ‘Ah… no, that will not be necessary.’

With a sly grin, the guard said, ‘I suggest you find yourself lodgings, merchant. Once we have rooted out all those who conspired against our fair town, the blockade will be lifted and you will be free to ship your wares.’ He let go of his sword hilt and strutted back to where the rest of the militia waited with equally sly grins.

With that, there was nothing for Master Roberts to do but turn his wagons around once again and head back to the centre of town. He pulled over in a side street out of sight of the militia.

‘It appears we are stuck here for the foreseeable future,’ he said as he approached the wagon where Merry and Ellen waited. ‘I have a warehouse near the docks and that’s where my drivers and I will be staying while I wait for the blockade to be lifted and for Captain Higgins to return. It isn’t comfortable and the amenities are limited, but you are welcome to stay there if you cannot find more suitable accommodation in one of the inns.’ He leaned in closer, scanning the street in either direction before adding, ‘the gate is not the only way in and out of Greystone, though it is the only one suitable for wagons, unfortunately. Perhaps you can find another way out that will not see you stuck here for the duration of the blockade.’ His expression darkened. ‘If what we were told is true, and they are hunting magic users, it may not be safe for you here.’

Ellen thanked him for his advice as she stepped down from the wagon and rearranged the cloak around her, tying it securely at the waist. It didn’t completely hide her green dress, now that she was standing, but it obscured most of it. Merry did the same, grimacing at seeing the hem of her white dress peeking out from beneath the thick folds of the cloak. Maybe she should dirty it even more than it already was or find somewhere to change into the green dress Ellen had loaned her the day they’d met.

As Sadie lithely jumped down from the wagon and sauntered over to sit in the shadows of a nearby building, Merry and Ellen grabbed their packs and shouldered them.

‘Be careful,’ said Master Roberts, and then he gave them directions to his warehouse in case they needed it.

They said their thanks and goodbyes and waited until he had regained his seat on the lead wagon before heading towards the main street to search for a place to stay. They reached the end of the alley and stopped to assess their options.

Greystone was much bigger than any town Merry had been in since arriving in Tirana. There were what appeared to be six inns in the main street, some looking more reputable than others. The disreputable ones were closer to the docks and from where they stood Merry could hear raucous laughter coming from that direction. There were dozens of people about, with the attire of those closer to the harbour a match for the rougher surroundings.

It would be best if I were to wait here, until you secure us lodging. Sadie peeked out from behind Merry’s skirt, whiskers twitching as she scanned the busy street. With all the unwelcome interest in those with magic, it would not do to let the militia or anyone else who may be watching know that you have a companion with you.

Only those with mage potential were able to hear the mental voice of a familiar, or companion, as Sadie preferred to be called. The black cat had managed to pass herself off as a pet or a stray before, to avoid unwanted attention towards Merry, but that would not be possible in this situation.

Though reluctant to be parted from the familiar, who had acted as her mentor and guide from the moment they arrived in Tirana, Merry knew Sadie was right. I’ll let you know as soon as we find somewhere to stay. As she filled Ellen in on what Sadie had said, Merry hoped it wouldn’t take long for them to be reunited.

Sadie slunk into the shadows lining the alley while Merry and Ellen entered the busy main street and turned right, starting their search in the better kept section. Shops were interspersed among the inns, selling everything from clothing to food supplies, and even one displayed the healer’s leaf. Ellen tried there first, but the door was locked, with no sign of life in the window, and no response when she knocked.

People dressed in a mix of drab greys and browns, with some black and cream mixed in, eyed them as they waited outside the healer’s shop, faces grim, bodies tense. Merry saw more than one of them look down and from the dark and suspicious expressions they then shot them she guessed they had seen the green hem of Ellen’s dress and the white of hers.

She tugged on Ellen’s arm. ‘Let’s try one of the inns.’ If magic users were distrusted, she didn’t think they would be able to barter Ellen’s healing skills for room and a meal. They did have some of the food given to them by the villagers in Jeriton left and could spend the night in the warehouse with Master Roberts if all else failed. But it would be even better if they could find someone who would be willing to tell them how to get out of town. It would be worth having to sleep in the forest again if they could avoid getting caught up in whatever was going on in Greystone.

They hurried across the road to the first of the inns, one that had a gleaming sign proclaiming it Greystone’s finest. It certainly looked to be well established, the taproom gleaming as bright as the sign and the staff and patrons well-dressed.

But well-dressed did not mean well mannered. The innkeeper took one look at them, with their coloured dresses peeking out from the hems of their cloaks, and chased them outside before Ellen managed to get a word out. Their reception at the next two inns was similar, while in the fourth inn they tried the innkeeper allowed Ellen to say her piece before sneering as he told them his inn didn’t accept their kind. Then he spat on the floor at their feet and turned his back on them.

Dejected, they trudged outside and approached the second last inn, one with raucous laughter and the sound of loud conversations spilling out through cracks in the rickety wooden doors. Ellen entered first, and then Merry followed on her heels. She blinked against the sting of smoke and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the dimness inside the crowded taproom.

The volume within lowered for a few seconds when their entry was noticed, and then it got even louder. Merry vainly hoped they weren’t the new topic of conversation for those sharing a drink. She wrinkled her nose against the smell of so many people who clearly had an aversion to bathing. Even if the innkeeper was willing to give them a room, Merry didn’t think they should stay there or risk asking if anyone knew a way out of town. It was beginning to look as if staying in Master Roberts’ warehouse was going to be their best option.

From what she could see, there were no meals in front of the inn’s patrons. This was clearly an establishment meant for serious drinking, and from the stickiness of the floor beneath her boots she figured lots of spilling went on too. Ellen sidestepped the tables clustered through the taproom, making her way to the counter, so Merry followed her. They did not want to be separated by this lot.

At the bar, Ellen tried in vain to get the attention of a man in a cream shirt covered in wet splotches as he stood behind the bar, pouring tankards of a foaming drink and handing them to waitresses in equally wet and stained dresses to hand out to the customers. One of those waitresses scanned Ellen and Merry as she headed back to the bar with an empty tray.

She stopped to stand beside Ellen. ‘This is not the place for you, miss. You’d be better off finding Old Clary. If she hasn’t gone into hiding like the others.’ She leaned in close and whispered something in Ellen’s ear, while Merry kept a wary watch on the patrons at the tables closest. Some of them seemed to be taking far too much interest in her and Ellen.

Her gaze skimmed over them, avoiding eye contract as they leered back at her, and then she froze on a familiar face. It was the black-haired driver that had driven a wagon for Master Gin, when they’d left Pillingston. Travis. She ducked her head and turned away, hoping he had not recognised her or Ellen.

With her hair dyed brown, and in a white dress, albeit one mostly hidden under a cloak, maybe he wouldn’t realise who she was, even if he did recognise Ellen. As the waitress finished whispering to Ellen, her friend turned around and pointed back towards the door. Merry wasted no time in skirting through the tables, keeping her body turned away from Travis. She did not take a breath as she wended her way through the smelly mass of patrons and was lightheaded when she finally reached the door and burst out into the fresh air.

Loud laughter chased her down the stairs to the cobbled main street, and she took a deep breath to steady herself, before turning to make sure Ellen was right behind her.

She was. But so was Travis, a wide grin on his face as he bounded down the stairs and came towards her as she hurriedly backed up.

‘Imagine my surprise at seeing you here. Thought you were supposed to be learning how to heal in Cambleyn?’ His eyes narrowed as he looked her up and down. ‘Since when do Earth witches roam around in white dresses?’

Ellen bustled to Merry’s side, an easy smile on her face. ‘Travis, how nice it is to see a familiar face. What brings you to Greystone? Is Master Gin here? We would love to see him and his lovely wife, to thank them for their assistance.’

Travis never took his eyes off Merry, Ellen’s patter of words not seeming to register until she shifted to stand in front of him.

He leaned his head back. ‘Never mind what I’m doing here. It’s you pair who are going to be in trouble once the militia realise what you are. This place is not welcoming to witches at the moment. And how is it Merry was dressed as an Earth witch last time I saw her, and now she’s an Air witch?’

‘As I told you before, Merry has only recently begun to discover her abilities. Her use of Earth magic was the first to surface, but it appears she is actually stronger in Air. As I have no aptitude for that element, we have been searching for an appropriate mentor and had heard there was an Air witch in Greystone that may be willing to take her on as an apprentice. We were unaware of the current situation or would have gone elsewhere.’

Merry was impressed with the story Ellen had concocted so quickly. It even sounded plausible. Travis certainly appeared taken aback.

Then his eyes narrowed again. ‘That might explain the white dress, but not why she’s changed the colour of her hair.’

Merry leaned back when he reached for her head scarf, shooting a glare at him. ‘Don’t touch me.’

His lips curved into a smirk. ‘Happens there are those here who would pay good money to know a witch with odd-coloured hair is in town. From what I discovered in Blackstone, the guild is very interested in you, Merry.’ He rubbed the fingers of his left hand together. ‘They paid a pretty penny to learn you were headed to Breezeway, and not Cambleyn like you said.’ His smirk changed to a grimace. ‘Master Gin fired me when he found out I’d told them where you’d gone. Ruined my reputation while he was at it. But if I were to sell the information of your whereabouts to this new lot, I’d have the coin I need to start fresh.’

He loomed closer. ‘Even better, if I can take you straight to them.’ He reached for Merry’s arm. Before he could touch her, his eyes glazed over and he staggered, a hand going to his head.

Ellen wrapped an arm around his waist and guided him into a narrow street, where she made him sit on the ground with his back propped up against a pole. Then she clasped her heartstone and murmured a quiet spell as his eyes closed over and a loud snore erupted from his mouth.

She straightened up and met Merry’s eyes. ‘Let’s hope anyone who finds him thinks he’s just had too much to drink, but we need to be well gone by then. Even better if we could be out of this horrible town.’

Merry heartily agreed and they set off down the street, away from the town centre. She sent out a mental call to Sadie, letting them know where they were, and the little cat was waiting for them by the time they reached the next crossroad. Before they rounded the corner, Merry glanced back at the sleeping Travis.

Putting him to sleep may have solved the immediate problem, but as soon as he woke he’d be sure to tell whoever it was he thought would pay him for the information that she was in Greystone. From what he’d said, it had to be someone from the guild, and she couldn’t rely on it being Gabriel Fairweather. The handsome young mage was the only guild member she would trust not to try to arrest her on sight, though he would no doubt urge her to return with him to the guild tower.

Her cheeks warmed at the memory of standing so close to him while they were hiding from Lord Andel’s men that she had felt each breath he took, and the reluctance he’d shown to let go when he’d held her in his arms. Despite them being on opposite sides, she would not be averse to seeing him again. But he had travelled in the opposite direction when leaving the Singers’ mountain.

Whoever Travis was going to report her whereabouts to would not be so friendly towards her. They had to find somewhere to hide while they figured out how to get out of Greystone before the guild came looking for them.

 

Chapter Three

‘The waitress back at the inn said a woman named Old Clary might take us in,’ said Ellen as she led the way through the back streets, stopping every now and then to check street signs. ‘She’s a retired healer. The shop we saw was hers and is now run by her granddaughter.’

‘Did she know why they are hunting witches?’ Merry kept her voice low, conscious of hard stares being sent their way by people they passed on the streets. Not that they were the only ones being looked at with suspicion. The people of Greystone seemed to be just as watchful of their neighbours as they were of Merry and Ellen. Still, the sooner they found somewhere to hide out the better. Travis could wake up any minute and run straight to where the guild people were staying to tell them Merry was trapped in town.

‘Other than directions, and urging me to get off the streets as soon as possible, there wasn’t time for more questions.’ Ellen huffed out a sigh as she stopped at the corner of a crossway, looking in all four directions. ‘If I remember right, that should be a saddle maker.’ She pointed at the shop on the left corner.

The window display was filled with a variety of unlit candles, some in fancy metal candelabra. No saddles in sight. Merry scanned the shops on the other corners. No saddles were visible in any of their windows either.

‘We must have taken a wrong turn,’ said Ellen, looking back the way they had come, brow creased. ‘Or maybe we missed it.’

Merry didn’t remember seeing any saddle places as they’d walked, but then she had been more focused on the people.

I believe we are lost. The black cat had kept pace with them, slinking along in the shadows cast by the rapidly darkening afternoon to avoid unwanted attention. Even knowing she was there, Merry found it hard to pick her out.

While she agreed with Sadie’s words, she didn’t repeat them for Ellen’s sake. The young healer looked distressed enough as it was. ‘Maybe if we backtrack, we can start again.’ Not that she liked the idea of returning to where they had left Travis sleeping in the alley. But maybe a few streets would be sufficient for Ellen to find her way.

Ellen shook her head. ‘We don’t have time for that. It’s going to be dark soon. If this healer doesn’t give us a place to stay, or know someone who might, we will have to keep going. I do not want to be roaming the streets once night falls.’

Merry didn’t like the sound of that either. ‘If we can’t find her, we’d be better off heading to Master Roberts’ warehouse. At least then we would have somewhere to hide if the guild come looking for us.’

Ellen straightened up and strode into the path of a middle-aged couple heading their way. ‘Excuse me, would you happen to know where we might find Mistress Clary?’

The woman gave a start, hand coming up to cover her mouth, eyes wide, while the man put his arm around her and glared at Ellen. ‘Get away from us, girl. We don’t consort with the likes of you,’ he said, casting a glance at the others on the street before pulling the woman around Ellen and then scurrying off.

Others in the street moved to the other side of the road, gazes averted, clearly not wanting Ellen to approach them next. Her shoulders slumped, and she turned back to Merry. ‘You’re right. We should head to the warehouse.’

Merry gave a nod and then looked down each of the crossroads, trying to determine which one would lead them closer to the harbour. They’d taken so many twists and turns to get where they were, she wasn’t sure what direction it would be, and it was clear no one would help them.

She could no longer hear the noise from the disreputable inn where they had stumbled across Travis, and with shadows darkening the street it was getting harder to see. But she thought she could hear the cry of gulls and gestured for Ellen to follow her as she walked in the direction of the sounds.

The street they were in took a turn, narrowing as it split into a series of alleys. The buildings on either side were smaller, constructed from timber rather than stone, their walls jutting against each other, the window displays a jumble of goods. Clearly, this was a less affluent area, but she was heartened by the noise from the gulls getting louder, and the sea salt tang rising in the air. They had to be heading in the right direction.

Merry picked up the pace, turning into the next alley, grinning when the buildings started to increase in size. This must be the beginning of the warehouse section. Down the end of the alley, she could see the mast of a ship gently swaying in the ebb and flow of the harbour and the fishy scent she’d noticed before was back.

‘We’re nearly there,’ she said as she glanced over her shoulder to Ellen.

Look out.

At Sadie’s warning Merry spun to face the alley again, and then scrambled to a stop as five men poured out of a doorway to block the narrow alley. Ellen clutched her arm and Merry turned around, only to discover another four men standing behind them.

They were trapped between the two groups, and an angry mutter rose from the men.

Merry sucked in a breath, hands gripping her staff as she prepared to create a wall of wind to ward off an attack. It warmed beneath her fingers, and she could also feel a hum from the heartstone tucked away in her bag. Energy from the stone flooded through her as she turned sideways, backing up to the building behind her, so she could keep an eye on both groups and no one else would be able to sneak up on them, with Ellen close beside her.

Dark expressions covered the men’s faces as they closed in.

‘Who are you? What do you want?’ Despite her intention to sound cool and unafraid, Merry’s voice shook. She didn’t want to use her magic to hurt anyone. What if her Earth magic lashed out at them and she lost control? The rickety timber buildings in this area would not fare well if she accidentally set off an earthquake, and even with her heartstone Ellen would not be able to put all nine men to sleep.

Merry wished she’d thought to get Ellen to teach her that spell while they had been travelling to Greystone, instead of stressing over the damage she had caused back in Jeriton. Rendering their foes unconscious would be far preferable to using her Air magic to force them back and risk her Earth magic slipping off its leash. Even now, the hum was intensifying, the thrum vibrating through her body, seeking an outlet.

She sucked in a deep breath, pushing down the urge to lash out with her Earth magic and make the ground shake beneath the feet of the men.

‘Look at you two, thinking we’re too stupid to notice you’re both bloody well witches.’ The man in the lead spat on the ground, the gross globule landing perilously close to Merry’s boots. ‘You act as if you’re better than us, just because you have magic and we don’t,’ he said as he waved a hand at the men at his back. ‘It’s your stinking magic that has us locked up in our own bloody town. How are we supposed to make a living, feed our families, when we can’t bloody well take our boats out to catch fish to sell at market? We’re going to starve, and it’s you bloody witches’ fault. You should be the ones in lockdown. Not us.’

From the smell of his breath, the reddened eyes and the sway of his unwashed body, not being able to catch fish to sell hadn’t stopped him from drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Merry pushed that thought aside when he leaned in close, looking as if he was going to spit directly in her face this time. No way was she going to stand there for that.

Wind whipped around her, ruffling her headscarf and blowing the edge of the cloak covering her white dress aside.

Merry’s eyes widened. That gust of wind had not come from her, but the goose bumps sweeping over her body said it was magical in nature. She gasped as a second group of people, twice in number of the ones accosting her and Ellen, stepped into the alley. They were all dressed in nondescript clothing, no coloured shirts or dresses among them, but at least one of them had to be an Air witch.

‘Get out of here, Darren,’ an old woman at the front of the newcomers said, her face a mask of determination. ‘Stop harassing these girls or I’ll set a pox on your backside that will have you itching and unable to sit down for a month.’

The man who had spat towards Merry blanched, hands moving to cover his rear. Then he recovered his bluster. ‘You can’t tell me what to do. I’ll call the militia, and tell them you threatened me. I’ve got witnesses.’

‘Witnesses?’ The old woman snorted. ‘Witless as you, the lot of them. I’ll pox them as well, if they breathe a word of this. Don’t think I won’t.’ She turned her glare onto each of the men in turn. ‘Now get out of here, before I decide to do it anyway.’

The nine men slunk off down the alley, though the one called Darren sent a dark stare at both Merry and the old woman as he went. Threat of an itching pox or not, Merry was sure he would run straight to the militia and report them.

‘Clary,’ said one of the people who accompanied the old woman, ‘you can’t keep threatening to pox everyone who doesn’t agree with you.’

The old woman glared at the woman who had spoken. ‘It’s the least they deserve, after believing the lies those militia are spreading about us. I’ve healed the good people of Greystone for sixty years, and this is the thanks I get. Forced to hide in my own town, forbidden from practising magic, all because some idiot decided it would be a good time to start a witch hunt. ‘Tis not right.’

So, this was Old Clary, the healer the waitress had told Ellen to find. Not that she appeared to be in a position to help them if she was in hiding, as her words suggested. But then, she had run off Darren and his friends.

Old Clary waved a hand at Ellen and Merry. ‘Don’t know how you girls wound up in this mess, with the town gates locked and guarded, but you’re here now so we’ll have to make the best of it. Come along now, before Darren and those other idiots remember what a backbone is for.’

She turned around and set off, not stopping to check if Merry and Ellen were following along. But then, what choice did they have. It was either go with her or try to find Master Roberts’ warehouse and hope they didn’t encounter any more townspeople with a grudge against witches.

They set off down the street after Clary as the people with her crowded around them. A cool wind was still whipping through the streets, and Merry could see some of their escort were murmuring things under their breath. Spells, she was sure, from the goose bumps still washing over her. She had no idea what the spells were meant to do, other than someone having wind at the ready, but no one accosted them or even glanced their way as they hurried through the rapidly darkening streets.

Merry remembered when she had been hiding in the tunnels with Gabriel, hoping the guards for Lord Andel wouldn’t find them. Gabriel had said she’d created a spell, with the litany she’d been saying in her head. Maybe one of the people around them was doing the same thing. Either way, she was glad no one paid them any attention as they reached yet another alley and were ushered through a door to narrow steps that led below ground.

One of their escort gave a startled gasp as Sadie shot between his feet and darted down the steps ahead of him. He was quickly shushed by Clary, who gave Merry and Ellen a considering look as they followed the familiar.

Light flared ahead of them. Not bright, but enough that Merry didn’t stumble on the uneven stone steps. She reached the bottom, Ellen at her side, and entered an equally narrow hallway that led to a stout wooden door. A large man, holding a staff three times as thick as Merry’s, stood in front of the door. He was so tall his head nearly brushed the ceiling of the hallway as he stepped aside and opened the door.

Despite his intimidating size, the broad smile he gave was welcoming as Merry, Sadie and Ellen were ushered through into yet another hallway. This one was wider, with numerous doors on either side of it. Most of them were closed, but Clary led them to one that was open on the far left, gesturing them to enter ahead of her. Inside, a blonde woman wearing a flowing purple dress sat at a large square table. She looked to be around Merry’s mother’s age, and her eyebrows rose as first Merry and then Ellen entered the room.

The woman gasped when Sadie jumped up on the table in front of her, and then she eyed Clary with a wry grin. ‘Well, this was not what I was expecting when Bethany sent word that you’d found trouble. Not that I didn’t expect you to find trouble. Just not a guild mage.’ Her eyes narrowed as she looked from Ellen to Merry and then to Sadie. ‘Whose familiar are you, then?’

I prefer the term companion, as you should well remember, Donna Syphera.

Sadie’s mental voice was tart.

The woman, Donna, gave a start. ‘Sadie?’ Hope blossomed on her face. ‘Is Meredith with you?’

It was Merry’s turn to give a start. This woman had known her grandmother, and she had to be a mage, not a witch, if she could hear Sadie’s mental voice. Only a strong mage would be able to converse with a familiar not her own.

I am afraid Meredith is no longer with us. I am here with her granddaughter, Merry. Her first visit to Tirana is not turning out as I imagined when I arranged to bring her here. Being stuck in a town while witch hunts are taking place was not part of the plan.

‘Wait. What?’ Merry shook her head, not sure if she had heard Sadie right. ‘You arranged this?’

The black cat’s body stilled for a long moment, and then she twisted her head to gaze at Merry, her yellow eyes unblinking. I did not plan to have us stuck here with a broken spell box. Or get us involved in ridiculous witch hunts. The idea was to gently introduce you to your heritage. Not to have us traipsing all over Tirana to get the charms needed to make a new transportation spell, while being chased by guild enforcers or imprisoned by lordlings who would be king.

Merry gaped at Sadie as she thought back to when the spell box had suddenly appeared on the table in her grandmother’s kitchen, and how the familiar had tripped her as she’d gone to investigate it. Merry had cut her palm on the brass lock of the spell box, her blood triggering the transportation spell. She’d thought it had been an accident. But it had been Sadie’s intention to bring her to Tirana all along.

Sadie’s left ear twitched as she continued to gaze at Merry. You should never have been raised ignorant of your heritage. I was merely seeking to remedy that deficiency. Her tone was matter of fact, unrepentant.

‘By transporting me to another world against my will. You had no right.’

I had no way to get your permission. Not then. I needed you in Tirana before the familial bond would connect. But if you hadn’t let go of the spell box it would never have been broken. We would have been able to return to your world once I was able to communicate with you.

‘Oh no, you do not get to blame me for this.’ Merry glared at the little cat. ‘We’re stuck here because of you.’

Sadie narrowed her eyes and glared back at her. Better to be stuck here, and know the truth of who you are, than to live with no idea of your potential. Your grandmother should have been the one to instruct you in the ways of magic. Your father’s stubbornness robbed her of that chance. Her promise to him, to not have any contact with you, made the last years of her life miserable. To know you were so close but to be unable to reach out to you was a nightmare for her; a nightmare I watched unfold year after year. Meredith wanted nothing more than to lavish you with all her love and share her knowledge of magic with you. Instead she was forced to watch you grow up from a distance, forbidden to talk to you or to even let you know she existed. You have no idea what that was like for her, how each passing year crumbled the hope your father would relent. In honour of her memory, I decided that when you were finally made aware of your relationship to her, I would do everything in my power to ensure you fully understood all you had missed out on.

Merry reeled at the blast of words coming from Sadie, a torrent of emotional pain coming with it and a grief so overwhelming it choked her. She swallowed heavily and then cleared her throat, voice raspy as she said, ‘I’m sorry for what happened to her, but that was not my doing. Yet I’m the one being punished because of your decision. I’ve been ripped from my home, and I have no idea if I will ever be able to return. How is that supposed to honour her memory?’

Before Sadie could respond the woman named Donna held up a hand. ‘How you both came to be here and who should be blamed is a discussion for another time. We have more important things to worry about. The militia are rounding up every magic user they can find. We need to free the ones they’ve already caught and get out of Greystone before they come after the rest of us.’

‘You know a way out of town?’ Ellen moved to stand beside Merry.

Donna nodded. ‘There is a smuggler’s tunnel that leads to a cove a short distance away. We have a ship waiting there to take us to Marshland Province. But we are not leaving without the rest of our people.’ She looked behind Merry. ‘Did you find where they are being held?’

Clary pushed past Merry. ‘The militia have them all locked up in the gaol. They’ve tripled the guard and may increase them again if Darren and his fellows tattle about how we rescued this pair,’ she said, jerking her head to indicate Merry and Ellen. ‘But it couldn’t be helped.’

‘Are the militia working for Lord Andel?’ Merry asked, forcing down her anger at Sadie and the situation the black cat had landed them both in to focus on their current problem.

Donna frowned. ‘Why would you think that? Andelmine is a long way from here.’

Merry told her about the magic users going missing in Andelmine and being forced to swear oaths to obey Lord Andel. ‘He won’t be able to make the oaths binding, without more heartstones, but there are some mages and witches who are working for him willingly.’

Donna’s frown deepened. ‘This is troubling news indeed, but I’ve seen no sign of any of Andel’s men. Though I doubt he is the only lord to have an eye for taking a throne. No, we’ve had trouble with enforcers instead.’

‘Enforcers?’ Merry and Ellen shared a glance.

‘Aye. Stirring up trouble. As if we didn’t have enough of our own. Though it does make me wonder who the instigator of our current woes might be.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘There was an accident.’ She shook her head, sorrow darkening her expression. ‘Innocent people died, and from the circumstances it appeared magic was involved. While the militia was looking for someone to blame, our brethren caught the brunt of the backlash. People who have known us all our lives turned their backs on us, sure we’d used magic against their neighbours. We were working to uncover the truth, to find out who really caused the accident, when the enforcers showed up and started throwing their weight around. Next thing we know the militia had declared martial law, put Greystone in lockdown, and were rounding up any magic users they could find. Those of us that could escape fled here, but others were caught. Now it is up to us to see they aren’t punished for the doings of others. But mark my word, once I find out who dared besmirch the good name of these people, there will be a reckoning.’

From the hard tone and the militant glint in her pale blue eyes, Merry didn’t doubt her sincerity.

Donna’s face was tense as she looked to Merry. ‘Getting our people out from under the noses of so many guards will not be easy. The cells themselves are warded against magic, so our brethren will not be able to assist us until they are freed. You are a Meadows witch. If you have half the potential of your grandmother, you would be a valuable member of the rescue party.’ She was silent for a moment, and then she said. ‘I will help you get to Marshland so you can find your next charm. In return, I want your help to rescue our people.’

Merry grimaced at the offer. But she had no choice. ‘Fine. I’ll help you.’

The lines on Donna’s face eased and relief shone in her eyes. ‘Thank you.’ She smoothed down her purple dress, a dress that marked her as a witch and not a mage.

Merry waved a hand at Donna’s dress. ‘If you can hear the mental voice of a familiar not bound to you, why aren’t you a guild mage?’

‘Like your grandmother, I did not agree with the direction Ophelia Fairweather was headed. But unlike her, I was not at Ralinin when the enforcers came to force obedience. By the time I learned what had happened, it was too late to help them. Meredith and many of my friends had been captured and taken to the tower, imprisoned, while I hid, donning the dress of a witch to hide my identity. Am I proud of that, no, but when opportunity arose I made amends by helping her and those who had managed to resist swearing an oath escape from the guild tower. For that I have been hunted by those I once considered friends, always running, always hiding. But that will bear us in good stead now, as I never enter any town until I am sure I have a way to leave undetected if needed.’ She gave a bitter smile. ‘Turns out being born to a smuggling family has its advantages.’

Donna appeared confident, but would those advantages be enough?

Merry hoped she would not regret getting caught up in the rescue attempt. She just had to hope nothing went wrong.