Before Kieran could open his mouth, Sebastian straightened from where he’d been leaning on the banister.He tucked a loose piece of inky black hair behind his ear.“But I should get to bed.I take it we’re speaking to the village witch tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.”Kieran sighed.“Hopefully she doesn’t try to kill us on the spot.”
“Well, I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”The corner of Sebastian’s lips lifted in a quarter smile.“See you tomorrow, Kieran.”
In that moment, Kieran caught sight of a small reddish stain beside Sebastian’s mouth.
Without a second thought, Kieran reached out, brushing his thumb over the smudge to wipe it away.Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up as Kieran pulled back and explained, “Sorry, it’s just—you had a little wine stain by your lip.”
Sebastian, for a moment, froze as if he’d been hit.Then his shoulders relaxed, and he rubbed his sleeve across his mouth.
“Thank you,” he said, voice muffled by his sleeve.“I’ll, ah, wash up.Good night, Kieran.”
Kieran barely had a chance to wish him good night before Sebastian rushed back to his cabin.
The village witch’s shack sat on the other side of the Lake of Whispers, and it took Kieran and his friends nearly forty minutes just to skirt the edge of it.The air was cold enough that they could see their breath, and Kieran wrapped his arms around himself to keep in the warmth.Frost turned the pine trees’ needles a silvery green that sparkled in the light from the rising sun.
Kieran probably would have appreciated the beauty of the wintry scene if he weren’t running on less than three hours of sleep.He’d spent the night tossing and turning, considering everything that could go wrong.He felt unprepared, exposed, and extremely nauseated.
But I can’t fail him,Kieran reminded himself, thinking of Ash’s smiling face.I can’t.
As the sunrise turned the sky pink and orange, they came upon the witch’s home.It was nestled among a copse of towering pine trees—easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it.Smoke rose from the chimney, so it was clear someone was inside, even though the windows were dark.Frost coated the stone pathway up to the front door, and Kieran took care not to slip.
As they came to the door, Kieran spotted a wooden sign nailed to it.It read:Magical services discontinued until further notice.Sorry.Come back later.
Kieran stood with arms akimbo.“At least she’s polite enough to put out a sign.People like that don’t usually begin interactions by trying to kill you.”
“The sign is, however, explicitly telling us to leave,” Briar pointed out.
Kieran waved his hand dismissively at his twin.“Semantics.Anyway, let’s get this over with.”
Before his nerves could get the better of him, Kieran reached up and rapped on the wooden door.He immediately took a step back—part of him was afraid that simply touching the door might trigger some sort of poison needle or fireball to shoot out at him.
Nothing happened.
She’s clearly inside,Kieran thought, crossing his arms.She can’t ignore us forever.
Once again, he knocked.“Hello?Is anyone home?”
“We’re closed!”a voice called back.It was feminine but hoarse, as if she hadn’t spoken to another person in days.“No magic until further notice!”
Kieran called, “We’re not here for spells!We just want to talk!”
“Did you hear me?I’m not taking clients!Go home!”
Kieran leaned back on his heels, frowning.There went his theory about the village witch being polite.He glanced over his shoulder at Briar and Delilah, hoping one of them would provide some advice, but they both looked just as perplexed as he was.He took a breath before turning back.Should we bust down the door?She has no choice but to talk to us if we break and enter—
Kieran felt a hand on his shoulder and found that Sebastian had come to his side.He cleared his throat and called, “We’re here about the lake!We might be able to fix it, but we need your help.We think it has something to do with a magical artifact.Please—there are lives at stake.”
This time, the witch didn’t immediately respond.Kieranshot Sebastian a sideways look, cocking an eyebrow.In response, Sebastian whispered, as if reading his mind, “Something tells me she’s not going to take kindly to our beating down the door, hmm?”
Kieran opened his mouth to argue but closed it as he realized Sebastian was right.You’re telling me he has nice hairandcommon sense?The nerve.
Just then, the door let out a smallclickand opened the tiniest sliver.A single green eye appeared in the gap, a dark thumbprint beneath it from lack of sleep.
“Y-you know about the artifact?”
Kieran’s eyebrows shot up.“You mean the Hilt?Yes.We were sent here to get it.”
