“I came to request the services she offered.”
“You smell of desperation. Nothing but trouble. Take your business elsewhere,” Nasera said tartly.
“You don’t understand—”
“I understand perfectly.” Nasera leaned forward, her gaze shrewd. “I made you that tea out of respect for you as a fellow woman. Nothing more.” Her voice grew dangerously soft. “I will not be cruel enough to deny you the only contraceptive tonic you can purchase within fifty leagues. But outside of that, I do not want your business. Another woman disappeared last week. From a port village, not far from here. Friends of demons are no friends of mine.”
The words hit Elizabeth like a physical blow. Another hunting party—another life taken while she spent the night in his arms.
The shop bell chimed, and Risna entered, immediately taking in the tension. “What’s this all about?” Risna turned to her and said pleasantly, “Hello! Elizabeth, was it?”
Elizabeth levelled a gaze at the daughter. “I was under the impression you would not be back for some time, Risna.”
Nasera muttered something under her breath.
“Hello, Risna ... I have something for you.” Elizabeth patted her pocket. “May I speak to you in private?” She glanced at the woman’s daughter, who was fuming.
Risna gave Nasera a sharp look, and her daughter looked almost abashed. “What is it, child?”
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth collected herself. “I have come to request your help.” Elizabeth hesitated and pulled the envelope from her cloak. There was no turning back now. She handed the letter to the witch and watched her expression turn incredulous.
Then Elizabeth pulled out the strange gold token from her pocket and placed it on thetable beside the letter.
“That is a witch favour,” Nasera interrupted from across the room. “Who do you know in our circle?” She sniffed in her direction, looking skeptical. “You are no witch. What games have you been playing at? From whom did you steal this?”
“I’ve never pretended to be one,” Elizabeth said firmly. “And it was not stolen.”
“May I?” Risna asked. Elizabeth dipped her chin. The older woman picked up the coin and held it to the light, examining it closely. “It is genuine.”
With a pointed fingernail, Risna broke the seal and read the contents of the letter. She re-read the contents several times before putting it down.
Risna’s mouth pressed into a grim line, and she was silent for a moment. Finally, she said, “Do you know what these coins are?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“They are not money,” Risna said darkly, as if imparting some long-lost secret. “They are a token of the creed we abide by and the few rules that govern us. Demons. Witches. Warlocks. If someone gives you a coin who is a part of our world, it is payment for a significant favour.”
The elder witch flipped it between her fingers. “For someone to have them, they must have granted someone from our world a significant favour in the past. It is according to our code that we help the bearer of a coin.”
She pulled out the piece of paper and read aloud: “It is imperative that Elizabeth Ashcroft learn how to use defensive magic.”
Nasera’s eyes darted between her mother, the coin, and the letter. Then she levelled her gaze at Elizabeth. “Who are you?”
“I’ve already told you my name,” Elizabeth said.
Risna inclined her chin. “How long can you be away from that house on the hill?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “A few hours at most.”
“Then we begin now.”
Chapter 34
Magic Lessons
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said genuinely as the two witches gathered supplies to teach her magic.
“Hmmmph,” grumbled Nasera.
