“I think it’s alpaca wool,” I said.
“Neat. So! Speaking of neat, I have a proposition for you.”
I hesitated with my tea halfway to my lips.
“Not that sort of proposition. Well, not that I’d say no. Your rain check still stands. But it has more to do with your situation. Not being able to stay anywhere for long. I think I know a place where you could. Stay, I mean. For longer than a few days or a week. Forever.”
I couldn’t conceive of such a place. Thus far, anywhere I went, the wraith followed, peeking out of the shadows and into my nightmares whenever I lingered long enough to make a connection, whether they be friend or lover.
I didn’t cave to hope, but I still had to ask. “Where’s that?”
“A place called Coill Darragh.”
Chapter 9
I’d never heard of Coill Darragh. According to Kessian, it was a little island village, best known for the wild magic of its forest and its powerful wards, which prevented any outsiders from visiting without permission from the alderman. An invasion of witches plundered the forest for its magic nearly twenty years ago, causing it to drain the townsfolk and lay curses on people. That event made the locals wary of strangers. Coill Darragh had only risen to prominence when a couple discovered a curse cure made from a flower that grew exclusively in those woods.
“You’ve been on the road a while, so I thought, maybe this is a place you could stay. If the wards can keep anything out, they can keep the wraith out, too,” Kessian said. “Or maybe the curse cure would get rid of the wraith altogether.”
It should have made me hopeful, but if cynicism was a muscle, mine had been exercised well.
I had Lunaris warded against the wraith, but it always managed to break through. I only continued the practice because it afforded me time. My wards couldn’t measure up in strength to those cast in wild magic by a forest to protect an entire town, but I still had more questions than I had hope.
“If they’re wary of outsiders, why would they accept me?”
“They give tourists temporary passes, and it’s a very artsy village. Lots of local artisans. You make pottery. I’m sure they need … pots.”
“I mostly make tea sets.”
“Even better! I never went anywhere without being offered a cuppa. I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“You know the whole town, do you?”
“Well, no. I don’t get aroundthatmuch. But I do know the alderman and his husband. I can introduce you. If you tell them about your wraith troubles, I’m sure they’ll let you in, at least temporarily. Maybe extend your stay if you behave yourself.”
If the place was so reclusive, it struck me as strange that Kessian knew anyone there, let alone the alderman. “How did you meet?”
“I visited a few years back. I must have made a good impression because they gave me this.”
He pulled a bracelet from his pocket and set it down on the table between us. A stone carved with a rune was twined between the leather cords.
“Only the alderman can make these. It conveys protection from the wards to one person.”
“Then it won’t work for me.”
“No, but they trust me, right? I can talk to them on your behalf.”
I considered it. My plan otherwise had been to roam until the day I died, so I didn’t have much to lose by investigating another option. “All right,” I said. “I’ll give it a go.”
Kessian beamed. “I’ll write to them right away.”
“Or you could come with?”
“Not that I don’t love the sound of a road trip, but I unfortunately must labor and pay taxes.”
My imagination ran away with the image of us driving along country roads singing old pop songs, and I’d reach across to put my hand on his thigh, and he’d smile over at me looking more beautiful than any dream destination we could conjure.
I needed a reality check, but reality had checked out a long time ago.
