I’d done it before when Sorcha and my father’s tracker had been unsuccessful in locating Raewyn as she traveled with Pharis.
Caitriona’s eyes lit up. “Exalting glamour would be most helpful. Thank you, Your Majesty. And in return, we will gladly do you a service.”
“All I want is Raewyn,” I said. “Help me find her, and you can exact any other price.”
“You’ll allow us to take one of the girls?” the Earthwife asked, sounding surprised.
“If that’s what you want,” I said.
Of course I had no intention of allowing the witches to take one of Raewyn’s little sisters. Once I found her, I would use all my royal resources to protect herandher family.
Even if the Earthwives managed to take one of the children somehow, I could retrieve the little girl in short order.
The witches had power, but as King, I had more.
I just needed Raewyn back, no matter the risk or temporary collateral damage.
“Very well, we have a deal,” Caitriona said with a satisfied expression. “When do you want to do it?”
“As soon as possible,” I said.
I’d spent far too much time apart from Raewyn already.
“Meet me outside the castle gates at sunrise,” I said. “I’ll have troops mounted and ready to protect us as we travel.”
And to make sure Caitriona and her sisters didn’t try to pull a fast one on me and take Raewyn when we found her.
“Oh we are fully capable of protecting ourselves,” the woman said. “But Your Majesty is welcome to bring along whatever support he needs for his comfort.”
At dawn the next day, I stood in the center of a circle of Earthwives, exerting my Exalter glamour as they cast the location spell.
My troops stood around us, ready to act on my signal should the witches fail to uphold their end of the bargain and try to withhold Raewyn’s whereabouts from me.
The group stopped their strange humming and opened their eyes all at once.
I turned to Caitriona. “Is it done?”
She smiled. “It’s done. She’s in a village called Sandy Point at the southern tip of Marinus—withher family. I’ve never seen a location spell work at such a great distance. Your Exalter glamour performed beautifully.”
“Excellent. We’ll ride at once. Do your sisters need horses?” I asked.
“My sisters will stay here,” Caitriona said. “I will go along with you to collect our payment.”
“You trust me that much?” I asked in surprise.
The Earthwife laughed, clearly not worried about her own safety.
“I trust in my magic, Your Majesty. Let us ride south.”
Chapter 27
Only One Person
Raewyn
I couldn’t deny that I loved Pharis, either to Kem or to myself.
But going back to him now felt impossible. He’d had the chance to stop me from leaving Stormcrest and had chosen not to.
