Wynter huddled to her side, shivering, her head dipped, her hands clasped together, so Scarlen cuddled her closer, their drenched clothing freezing, the ice in the air entering their bones, their marrow.
On and on, Bear and Raven rowed, fighting against the tide, the wind, their jaws tight with determination.
‘There,’ said Elbar, gesturing to her left where a tiny flash of light twinkled for all but a moment, reaching her senses.
The noise of the horn was muffled, the sound of the weather dominant as the rowing boat was tugged to land by two men who Scarlen had never seen before. Their dark cloaks and woollen hats helped conceal them in the night.
‘This way,’ said Elbar, no walking aid, just her power alone guiding her now she had no Rings to shackle her magick.
They were led to the back of a wagon and shuffled inside, the horses taking off at once, the road bumpy and the journey long. Raven had Wynter in his arms the whole way, but Bear sat close to the entrance, peering out of the canvas, watching the trail, though there was nothing to see but a forest.
Scarlen sat still, the patter of rain above soothing her somehow. She had no idea where she was being taken or why she had agreed to escape with them. It was still such a blur, and Bear had hardly said a word to her, let alone look her way.
Something squawked, or someone, and the horses slowed. Bear jumped out, and Scarlen scooted forward to peer outside, jolting back when Elbar appeared.
‘We’re here. Get out.’ Elbar touched Scarlen’s arm as she climbed down. ‘I thought you might come.’
‘Well, that makes one of us.’
Bear was back, hurrying everyone towards the trunk of a large tree where an opening appeared, a glow of light coming from inside.
‘It’s all right,’ Elbar told Scarlen. ‘It’s safe.’
Scarlen entered the tree, not having the energy or time to dissect that fact. The ground was earthy and soft, and when the opening of the tree closed behind them, the noise of the rain disappeared altogether. Sparkles of gems bounced off the walls, a pink mist swirled above, and the scent of sage came in waves deeper down the spiralled route.
‘What is this place?’ Scarlen whispered, brushing over the embedded jewels, feeling no roughness.
‘Some earth witches have homes like this,’ replied Elbar. ‘Deep into the land. Hidden, secure. This one belongs to my friend, Ulafe.’ She thumbed to the tall man with long grey hair behind her.
Ulafe raised a hand in greeting. ‘You will stay here for two days, then it will be safe for you to return home.’
Scarlen figured he didn’t mean her home, but she did know it meant she was heading north, if she wasn’t in Borough North already. ‘Where are we?’
‘Borough Mids. Top side,’ replied Ulafe, obviously not wanting to reveal more than that. He passed Elbar and opened a door, its hinges creaked as the arched wood went inwards. ‘Welcome to my home.’
A small square hallway held bookcases and wall lights filled with witch magick. Flowers sat in vases upon two side tables, one either side of a staircase that led down, and three closed doors, all light-wood, were in view.
‘Bed and wash chambers downstairs,’ said Ulafe. ‘Up here, we have a kitchen, sitting room, and my potion room, that one is not for visitors.’
Scarlen was the only one to nod.
‘First, let’s remove those Rings,’ said Elbar, and Ulafe rubbed his hands together, steam rising from his fingertips.
Raven was the first to have his Ring turn to dust in Ulafe’s hands, the white powder vanishing as soon as it touched the wooden floor. Wynter was next, then Bear.
‘You have no Ring?’ Ulafe asked Scarlen, looking a little baffled.
She shook her head as Elbar replied, ‘She’s not a shapeshifter.’
He noticed the blood on her sleeve. ‘You have a wound?’
‘A small slice,’ she told him, even though it throbbed as though not small at all.
‘Allow me to fix that.’ He hovered a hand over the cut, and it healed at once.
Scarlen thanked him. ‘So, you’re a healer as well.’
His grey eyes twinkled. ‘I get called many things, but I’m just me.’ He gestured at the stairs. ‘Let me show you to your room. You need to get dry and sleep. We’ll talk come daylight.’
