“Time to go.”
She allowed herself one moment to wonder if she’d ever be back in this stall, then set any doubt aside and led her horse out.
She found Fin waiting outside, and the sleek black he called Baru saddled.
“I’ve kept you waiting.”
“Not at all. There’s time enough. Odds are Branna’s just getting her wits about her by now in any case. I see Boyle gave you the saddle.”
“It’s wonderful. You knew?”
“When you live and work so close with another, secrets are hard to keep.” Fin linked his hands into a basket to help her mount.
“You look a picture, the pair of you,” he said when she sat the horse.
“We’re ready for what’s coming.”
“It shows.” He mounted Baru, turned so they could walk down the narrow road together.
***
IN THE WORKSHOP, CLOSED, LOCKED, SHIELDED FOR THE DAY,Iona listened to the plan—its step-by-step progression—to the spell she was charged to make, the words to be said, the actions to take.
“You’re quiet,” Fin commented. “Have you no questions?”
“The answers are on Sorcha’s ground. I’m ready to go there, and to do what I’m meant to do.”
“It’s a complicated spell,” Branna began. “Each piece has to fit.”
“I can handle it. And as you’ve said, I won’t be alone. You’ll be there, and so will Boyle and Meara. If I pull this off, on my own, he won’t know that, won’t see that. Advantage us. Then you come in from here, here, here,” she said, tapping the map Branna had drawn. “That distracts him, throws him off balance, and takes the heat off me. All non-witches inside the circle, and Fin, too. They’ll need you to keep the protective circle strong,” Iona said as temper flashed into Fin’s eyes. “So will we. We’ll need that time when he tries to get to you for the three of us to finish it. Finish him.”
“You’re bloody calm about it,” Connor muttered.
“I know. It’s odd. Why worry when it’s meant, right? And still I should be jumping out of my skin, but I just feel... right. Maybe I’m saving the jumping for when it’s done. Then I’ll probably babble like an idiot until you want to knock me unconscious. But right now, I’m ready.”
“If you’re so ready, tell me all the steps, from the beginning,” Branna ordered.
“All right. We gather here, an hour before moonrise.”
Iona walked her way through it as she spoke, envisioned it, every step, every motion, every word.
“And when Cabhan is ash,” she concluded, “we perform the final ritual and consecrate the ground. Then comes the happy dance and drinks on the house.”
Gauging her cousin’s expression, Iona reached for Branna’s hand. “I’m taking it very seriously. I know what I have to do. I’m focused. I trust you, all of you. Now you have to trust me.”
“I’d wish for more time, that’s all.”
“Time’s up.” To demonstrate, Iona rose. “I want to change, and get everything I need from my room. I’ll be ready.”
When she walked away, Connor rose as well. “I’d take some of her calm just now, but I’ll have to make do with too much energy. I’m going to check on the hawks, yours and mine, Fin, and the horses as well.”
As the door closed behind him, Branna got up to put the kettle back on. Though she doubted a vat of tea would drown the anxiety.
“You think we’re asking too much of her?” Fin asked.
“I can’t know, and that’s the worry.” One that ate at her, night and day. “If I try to see, and he catches even a glimmer, all could be lost. So I don’t look. I don’t like putting the beginnings of it all in her hands, even knowing it’s the right choice.”
“She asked for trust. We’ll give her that.”
