A tall woman with long silver-blonde hair and brown skin stepped forward. “Savyn was our leader.”
She pointed at the bonfire that had consumed the rat-phobic witch.
“I was her emissary to the Fae Courts. Now I am the elder of our coven. Caitriona of Hill Town,” she introduced herself to me. “The King and I are already acquainted.”
She sent a glare in Stellon’s direction. “And I’m not sure I can trust any truce that rests upon his word. He’s already violated one agreement with me.”
“You may rely onmyword,” I said. “Are you empowered to negotiate on behalf of all the Earthwives?”
“Those in this region, yes,” she said, gesturing at the women around her. “But I’m not sure why I should.”
Her tone was cautious but not afraid. I was going to have to step up the intimidation tactics.
“Not only can I create illusions in your mind, I can lift your body and move it anywhere I please, as I did with the child’s.”
Exerting my Levitation glamour, I raised Caitriona from the ground without moving a finger. She hovered there as I went on, looking around meaningfully at the other Earthwives who were slowly getting to their feet.
“I can hide myself in the night, bend your will to mine with only a few words,” I told them. “I have ways of seeing anyone anytime I wish, so I’ll know exactly what you’re up to. You Earthwives may be powerful, but we Elves are more powerful and always will be.”
“And we outnumber you,” Stellon added.
Hopefully having made my point, I set Caitriona down.
“But I have no intention of abusing my power,” I told the assembly. “as long as we can agree to a few simple ground rules.”
Caitriona was clearly not pleased, but she seemed convinced.
“Very well. What kind of ‘rules’ do our King and his powerful brother have in mind?” she asked.
“There are only a few. You will not seek revenge on King Stellon for your broken agreement or target either of Raewyn Hennessey’s sisters for inclusion in your sisterhood. Raewyn herself is under our protection as well. You will declare Sorcha’s bargain with her settled and done.”
“An Earthwife always exacts her price,” the woman argued, but I shut her down.
“Not this time. Youwilllet it go, or we will have a problem. Understood?”
Caitriona nodded slowly, looking around at her Earthwife clan. They were all looking at her anxiously.
“I understand that we have lost this battle,” she said.
Then her tone changed, growing more defiant. “But we willnevergive up the war.”
Looking around, I realized all the Earthwives were now on their feet. Some of them had moved behind us, surreptitiously surrounding us.
They’d formed a circle again.
“Pharis,” Raewyn warned.
“I see it,” I said, wishing for a bit of Evanescing glamour. My mind raced, searching for a solution.
Caitriona smiled. “Soon the tables will turn, andyouwill be outnumbered. There will befarmore humans than there are of you, and we will be there to lead them.”
Raising her voice, she yelled, “Now!”
The Earthwives linked arms. Just as before, their eyes rolled back in their heads. The sight was even more frightening up close.
They began chanting loudly, their words rapid and unintelligible to my ears.
I reached for my sword, speaking to Stellon silently.Get ready to fight. We may not be able to take them all out,but maybe striking as many as possible will limit the group’s power.
