“Challenges?” I picked my wine back up and drained it. I didn’t like the sound of this. Challenges were for video games and side quests. Not for a very busy vet who didn’t want to attract undue attention around town.
“More like challenges of the heart,” Sophie said.
“Or character,” Archie added.
“Explain.” I shook my head when Hilda offered me more wine. A commotion at the door sounded and Hilda left the room, as barking could be heard from outside.
“The Stone of Truth needs to know you’re pure of heart in order to protect it. It doesn’t present challenges like in a Highland Games or something, you’ll just know if you passed because a symbol will show up in your weapon.”
“Aye, this weapon you keep mentioning?” I gave Sophie an exasperated look. “Weapons and challenges and all that sound pretty intense.”
“A symbolic choice, really. It’syourweapon of choice. It should matter to you.”
“My scalpel,” I said, automatically. Not only was it a lethal weapon if wielded as such, but it was a symbol of my skill as a surgeon for helping animals.
“Perfect. So you take your scalpel in the ritual and once you pass a challenge, something will show up. For some it has been jewels, others gold bands in the handle …” Sophie trailed off and gave Lachlan an exasperated look. “I’m bungling this, aren’t I? You’d think after having to explain this several times over, I’d be better at it.”
“Several times over? How many are there?” I asked, not having considered the others in this ritual.
“There’s myself. Lia. She’s a kitchen witch and owns Grasshopper. Shona. She’s a garden witch.”
“Shona?” I asked, surprised. Now it made sense why she wanted to speak with me after I came to see Sophie. Iwasgoing to be a part of her club now.Shona.So easy to like with her mild-mannered personality, garden witch knowledge, and definitely someone I’d like to be closer friends with.
Friends. Even the idea of growing close with people was a touch off-putting, but I could almost hear Eriska screaming in my ear to be brave.
“Yup, Shona. Whom you’ve met, of course. Then there’s Orla, Kaia, and Willow.”
“Seven. Including me, that is.”
“Correct. We need nine.” Sophie gave me a pleading look. “You’re certain you’ll join? We lucked out by you coming here and didn’t have to search down the next in line. But the Kelpies are escalating. It’s why the last vet ran, I believe. We had quite a showdown right on your doorstep. In broad daylight.”
“With the Kelpies?” My mouth dropped open. So that was why Dr. MacAllister had turned tail and ran. It wasn’t because he was covering up some scandal of sorts, it was because a mythological water beast had come knocking on his door.
It all made much more sense now.
All his nervous looks out to the loch.
His insistence on me staying inside at night.
His absolute refusal to show me around town.
Feeling calm for the first time since I’d moved here, now that someone had finally let me in on the secret, I let out a small sigh of relief.
MagickI could handle.
Even in the form of massive water horses.
They were just another type of animal, weren’t they?
“Yup, with the Kelpies. They’ve been quiet since. Kaia got the bridle off one, and we think it freaked them out, though I suspect they’ll only lie dormant for so long. The sooner we close our Order, the better.”
The sooner the better.Well, that part made sense now. But getting a bridle off a mythical creature? The fact they wear bridles was surprising in itself. A horse can weigh anything from 300 to 1000 pounds, so a mythical version could be even more.How did Kaia manage to get the bridle off the beast?It was all so fascinating, and I wanted to be a part of this, especially if it placed charming Loren Brae back on the map.
“I’m in. Let’s do this. What’s the ritual involve? Do you need my blood?” Blood didn’t make me squeamish and I smiled when Sophie made a gagging sound.
“Gross, no. We can do it when you’re ready. You’ll need your weapon.”
“I’ll just pop home and get it.”
