Kem looked up at the distant fire. “I’ll do my best. Hopefully I can land us within the treeline nearby where there’s some cover. This whole long distance thing is still rather new to me.”
We joined hands, and Stellon and Kem both closed their eyes in concentration. Once again I experienced the disorienting sensations of the world around us blurring and then focus returning to reveal a whole new place.
Her aim wasalmostperfect.
We ended up in the clearing just outside the treeline— in plain sight of the group of Earthwives.
There was a shocking number of them gathered here on the mountaintop, at least a hundred. Pharis immediately cast a shadow around us as we ducked into the cover of the forest.
Do you think anyone saw us?I asked mind to mind, my heart thudding painfully.
There was no reaction from the women, no cries of alarm.
I don’t think they spotted us,Pharis said.
When I looked closer at the Earthwives, the reason became clear. Though their eyelids were open, their eyes were rolled back in their heads. All that showed were the whites.
A shudder went through my whole body, and the hairs on my neck and arms lifted as if there was an approaching thunderstorm.
The women stood in a huge circle around a roaring bonfire, linked arm in arm, chanting. Their matching red robes swayed side to side with their synchronous motion, and a strange hum filled the air.
My gaze darted around, searching for Turi.
There.Sitting in the grass, just inside the witch-circle at Caitriona’s feet.
My sister looked frightened, huddled in a ball with her arms wrapped around her drawn-up knees. She was whipping her head back and forth, looking from one Earthwife to another, clearly confused about what was happening.
I had no idea what they were doing either, but it stood to reason it had something to do with her, which meant we had to stop it.
The urge to dart out there and snatch her up into my arms was almost too much to resist, but obviously that was out of the question. There were alotof Earthwives in that ring.
All of them together added up to some considerable power. We had to be strategic about this.
“What should we do?” Kem asked, sounding as dismayed as I felt.
Even Pharis looked a bit worried.
“Our first order of business is to get Turi out of there.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said. “But how?”
“Remember when you tried to impale me with your steak knife at Stormcrest?” he asked.
I nodded, recalling my surprise when the blade had left my hand and buried itself in the wall instead of his smug face.
“I’m going to do the same thing with your sister… only a bit more gently,” he said. “Stells, I’ll need your Exalting glamour.I’ve never attempted to levitate a person before. She’s a little one, but I want to get this right.”
“You got it,” Stellon said.
Pharis nodded, watching the witches through slitted eyes.
“Hopefully I can just float her over here, and then Kem can Evanesce us before they catch on and realize we’re here. As soon as Turi’s away from the firelight, I can throw a shadow over her, and they’ll have no idea which direction she’s gone.”
As he spoke, I watched my sister go still and her eyes roll up in her head until I could only see the whites of them.
Oh no.
“Hurry,” I urged. “Whatever they’re doing to her, it’s happening right now.”
