‘The warships may be planning to capture key ports along the Straits and secure the sea route,’ Caden says, ‘thinking strategically, given what we know of the Rexilium brothers, their goals and their past …’
‘Agreed,’ Eli says. ‘But in case we are one such location to “secure”, we must be ready. Let us assume they plan to divide the armada between multiple locations, relying on the strength of their weaponry and new vessels.’
‘You mean, let us assume they are arrogant enough to believe they can secure multiple key ports and isles all at once?’ Mira says with a smile.
‘We cannot underestimate them, but yes.’
With Brielle gone and Merryam and Joby somewhere aboardPhantom, scouting the waters surrounding the ports, it does not take long to make decisions on next steps. Messages are sent to call everyone back to Ennor, to ready themselves for those warships, in case the ruling council intend to send them here first before moving on to the continent. And a message is sent to Sember, calling in her promise of help, even if it is not a full Skylan offensive on the horizon. The promise of her help alone could be enough to stave off an attack. Ennor Castle is quieter than usual, more sombre in the week that follows the meeting. But, Lowri reasons, all she can do is prepare as best she can for these warships that may be sent to Ennor’s shores.
‘It’s been some time since a Tresillian witch graced this library,’ a voice says from the shadows as Lowri crosses the threshold.
She smiles, running her fingertips along the books on the shelf nearest her, watching Tanith as she walks down the spiral staircase. ‘It’s been some time since I’ve met a drake in their human form,’ she replies.
Tanith blinks quickly as she reaches the bottom of the staircase, facing Lowri. ‘You’ve met another like me?’
‘One other,’ Lowri says. ‘She visited Coven Septern some years ago. I was twelve or so, and Mother wouldn’t let me speak, only listen. But she, the drake I mean,was there to discuss relations between creatures and witches with members of a coven of the Spines. They wanted to set up continent-wide laws on hunting, and a list of creatures prohibited from being hunted.’
‘And was the drake successful in her endeavour?’
Lowri scrunches her nose. ‘Sadly not at our coven. Mother wouldn’t lend her support. She distanced herself, as she always does. Claimed a list like that would be political and so she would not lend her voice, or that of Coven Septern.’
Tanith sighs, her scales catching the light from the windows that face out to sea. To anyone human, it would be hard to discern, but Lowri, being witch, can recognise it instantly. The shifting scales; the timeless beauty; her scent, all amber and wild, dusting her skin.
‘But you say a drake in their human form, as if the forms are interchangeable?’ Tanith says. ‘As if we can shrug off skin and don scales instead?’
‘Well, from my studies of drakes in the wild north, it does seem that way.’
‘I …’ Tanith swallows. ‘This knowledge. I’ve been searching for answers for so long. I have always lived alone before coming here. I was captured, trapped in the Spines. I’ve had very little interaction with my own kind.’
Lowri frowns. ‘But the research is all kept at Coven Septern. Is it not duplicated and kept here?’ Then realisation dawns. ‘Of course not. Mother will have removed anything remotely interesting from this library when Caden and Eli were brought here. She will havehad a keen eye on Eli, even then, given who his father was. Knowledge is power.’
‘And power in the hands of anyone but a Tresillian witch residing at Coven Septern, benefiting the coven … I see,’ Tanith says, trailing off into a whisper. ‘When this is all over, when we are safe, perhaps you would be able to discuss what you have learned with me. Anything you might remember reading. I always thought that if I gave up my human form I might forget everything. I might forget … someone.’
‘It would be my pleasure to help you,’ Lowri says warmly, ‘but I’m assuming you didn’t summon me for this?’
Tanith shakes her head and indicates two chairs near the windows, and they both sit down. ‘We need to talk about the wards on Ennor Castle and how they work. Who they’re tied to.’
‘They’ve always felt strange to me, the wards here. Like none I’ve ever sensed before.’
‘That’s because the wardsareAmma.’ Tanith smiles, taking in Lowri’s confusion. ‘I know, not something I’ve come across anywhere else before either. Certainly not something that seems possible, from my research in this library. But Amma protects more than the walls of Ennor Castle. She was created by Elena, Elijah’s mother, to protect the Tresillian line within its walls, especially her son. So, when Eli was sent here, she became more than a spell. She became a guardian, a protector. A tangible presence that took the form and voice of Elena herself.Amma raised Eli and Caden, kept them safe and well, and Elena’s greatest spell, the final one she cast, means that she lives on here for as long as the wards are not breached or broken.’
Lowri sits back, contemplating this. ‘But Amma’s influence, the wards, extend only to cover the castle. What of the island, the town?’
‘There are other wards on the town, but none as strong. Hillary Tresillian did try to destabilise Amma in revenge for what was taken from the coven, but I was able to nurse her back, thanks to the knowledge in the grimoires, left behind here in the library. Perhaps they were not interesting enough for your mother to remove.’
Lowri smiles sadly, looking around. ‘I will work to strengthen the wards on the town. All those people …’
‘If there’s time,’ Tanith agrees. ‘Otherwise, we will be facing a siege, if they have to retreat to within the walls. But that’s not what I needed to discuss with you. We need to talk about if Amma fails.’
‘If she dies?’
Tanith nods. ‘As the Tresillian witch bound most closely with Ennor and House Tresillian – even more so than the Malefant, given her loyalty to Coven Septern – it is foryouto carry the load if Amma should fall. If the wards on Ennor Castle fail, you will need to embody them, to be the life force, the source of magic that creates the wards until we can separate you from the wards created by Elena and forge something … new.Amma has spoken at length about this, especially after the blow your mother dealt to her. And now you are here and whole and well.’
Lowri blows out a breath at the thought of the risk, not only to her magic, but to that of everyone around her should she fail to be strong enough. This goes beyond Amma’s death. If she is to carry the wards in Amma’s absence, her own life would be forfeit if the wards are breached – if they should fail, ifsheshould fail. For a moment, the responsibility, the enormity of it, overwhelms her. She is only just past becoming a full witch, but spellwork takes a lifetime to master. Magic potent enough to be worthy of becoming a Malefant takes decades to command. Is she even worthy of this? Is it more than she is capable of?
‘Will you guide me?’ she blurts, her gaze meeting Tanith’s. ‘If it comes to it, will you stay by my side?’
‘I will guide you as best I can,’ Tanith says. ‘I am bound to House Tresillian out of choice, but you should know that if Amma dies, if the wards fracture, I will lose my human form. I will become drake once more and I may not remember you. I may not remember any of this. Unless of course …’ She blinks. ‘Unless there is another way, as you have spoken of. A way I have not come across in my lifetime or in any of my studies.’
