I considered the question.Finally, I said, “There’s a park near our house—right in back.The gyanatar would have to search them out to go there, and maybe from there, we can help them leave the area permanently.But this will do in a pinch.”
“Good,” Morgana said.“Herne, I don’t want you helping her.”
“Yes, Mother,” he said, a smile forming on his lips.“I promise.”
“What should I do?”Viktor asked.
“Go stand near the gyanatar.Both you and Herne.It might scare it off, since it’s manifested into this realm.”Morgana waved them to the side.
They headed over in the direction of the gyanatar and sure enough, it scuttled back beneath the cover of the ferns it was standing next to.For a moment, we heard the rustling of leaves, then all was silent.Another moment and raindrops began to splash down from the cloud cover above.I grimaced.The rain here was beautiful, but cold.But another rustle and the gyanatar had gone even further into the thicket for better cover.
“All right, now for the portal.”Morgana turned to me.“You have always been able to connect with the element of water.And, to some degree, the land.Well, creating a portal into another place—in the same realm—requires connecting to the area that you want to open the portal into.I want you to think of a place in that park that you know so well that you can smell it, see it, touch it.Begin to forge that connection now.”
I closed my eyes, bringing to mind the clearing shortly after the trailhead behind Herne’s house.Not five minutes away, there was a small area that had been cleared for picnics.It was the size of our backyard—not large—but it had a firepit that had been built of natural stone, two half-log benches, a picnic table and benches, a water spigot, and not far off trail was a modern-day outhouse.The area was safe—as much as the woods ever could be safe.Since we had returned to Seattle, we often took the girls there.It was an easy walk, even carrying the triplets, and it was always comforting.Nightshade, especially, loved it.
Inhaling, I could smell the soil and rain and the petrichor that filled the air, and for a moment, I felt like I was actually standing in the campground there.
“All right,” Morgana’s voice was soft and distant, yet crystal clear.“I can tell you have made the connection with that part of the land.I want you to stretch out your right hand and summon up the spell of Opening.Remember—it opens the locks to doors, both seen and unseen.As you cast the spell, focus on the space in the air where your hand is, and open the space that separates this park from that park.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant, but I had often found that just following instructions led to success.I held out my hand and began to whisper the incantation, focusing on the area surrounding my fingers.
The way is closed, doors are locked.
I call to you, now unblock,
Open the way, let results speed,
The path is open, now I may lead
You through the gate, now unbarred,
Let this spell cast, free and unmarred.
What was closed, now shall open,
The spell is set and unbroken.
Another moment and I opened my eyes to see a ripple forming in the air.It grew larger, and—as I turned—I saw the Whispering Lights heading toward it.I was afraid to speak, afraid of disrupting the magic.I didn’t want to break the spell, so I just watched as the lights gently bumped against my hand, then headed straight into the rippling waves of energy, vanishing from our sight.
Another moment and the last one vanished.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the gyanatar hurrying out of the bushes, trying to follow them.Before it could reach the portal, I closed my hand, swiping it through the portal, closing the opening with an abrupt “No!”
Another second, and the creature stopped, staring wistfully at the direction in which the lights had gone.It seemed to sense that its prey was no longer in the area, because with an audible sigh, it seemed to sag a little, turned tail, and headed the opposite way.
“Did it work?”I asked, daring to hope that I hadn’t screwed anything up.
“It worked,” Morgana said.“They probably won’t come back to the area.Now that the gyanatar has been here, it left an energy signature that other Whispering Lights can sense.They’ll avoid it because of the danger to their existence.”
Relieved, I let out a long breath.The Whispering Lights were safe, the gyanatar was still alive, and now Nalina wouldn’t be their target.
As we returnedto the office, I called Ginty and told him he could let Nalina and Muffin go home.She could catch a ride home from one of his bouncers, or she could call a taxi.I asked him to tell her that we’d be in touch later today, but that it was safe now and she shouldn’t have a problem with the lights again.
Talia had ordered lunch—I’d also texted her—and it was waiting for us.As we gathered around the table, it occurred to me that I might learn more about being a goddess over here, in Seattle, than back in Annwn.
“So, now that we’ve got that out of the way,” I said.“I have another issue to ask you about.”
“What is it?”Morgana asked.
I told everyone about my dream.“He was a kelpie, that much I know, but I have the feeling he was also a messenger.He told me his name was the God-Killer.”
