“But isn’t having Alastar an advantage, for me? For us? For our side of this?”
“We’ll see what we see.”
“I don’t understand.” Because they were there, Iona took a cookie, gestured with it. “He’s Boyle’s partner, and his friend, I got that. I don’t see how he could be dangerous if—”
“An easier question to answer. Dangerous Fin is, and always has been.”
“But if Boyle’s such a stand-up guy, how can they be friends?”
“Life’s a puzzle.”
“One thing, it explains how Boyle knew I was . . . you know.”
On a sigh, Branna lifted her teacup. “Witch isn’t a bad word, Iona. It’s who and what you are.”
“It hasn’t exactly been cocktail-party conversation in my life. I’m getting used to it, a little. I should’ve told you before, right away. He knew. I didn’t tell him—why would I?—but he knew. He didn’t seem very weirded out by it, but since he’s friends with a sorcerer—”
“Fin’s a witch, just as we are.”
“Right. It just sounds a little girly.”
“You’ve much to learn, cousin.” She handed Iona her tea.
“I should tell you something else first. I don’t break my word. It’s important. But today, walking back from the stables, I started to go through those vines. I didn’t mean to, but I thought I saw a light, and I heard my name, over and over. It was almost like the dream I had. I felt out of myself, pulled in. Like I needed to go through, to whatever waited. Kathel stopped me—again. I don’t break promises, Branna. I don’t lie.”
“Ever?” Branna sipped her own tea.
“Ever. I’m crap at it anyway, so why bother? But I’d have gone back there if Kathel hadn’t come. I couldn’t have stopped myself.”
“He’s testing you.”
“Who?”
“Cabhan, or what remains of him. You’ll have to be stronger, and smarter. Once you’re both, Connor and I will take you back, as we promised. Well then, let’s see what we have to work with.”
Too delighted to drink, Iona set the tea aside. “Are you going to teach me a spell?”
On another laugh, Branna shook her head. “Did you gallop the first time you sat a horse?”
“I wanted to.”
“Today you walk, and on a lead. Tell me what your granny said was the most important thing about your power, about the craft?”
“To harm no one.”
“Good. An it harm none. What you have is as much a part of you as the color of your eyes, the shape of your mouth. What you do with it is a choice. Choose well.”
“I made the choice to come here, to you.”
“And I’m hoping you won’t regret it. Now then, the elements are four.” She gestured to the worktable. “Earth, air, water, fire. We call on them, use them, with respect. It’s not our power over them, but the merging of our power with theirs. Fire, almost always the first learned.”
“And the last lost,” Iona put in. “Nan said.”
“True enough. Light the candle.”
Pleased to have something to show, Iona stepped forward. She schooled her breathing, focused her mind, imagined drawing up the power in her, then releasing it on a long, quiet breath.
The candlewick sparked, then burned.