No. Faye needed more than that.
She had been practising summoning both the elements of water and earth, using the wands and the sigils that she had been given. She had become adept at both, but she had also founda mention of Morgana Le Fae in the reverend’s book, with an intriguing prayer.
Morgana Le Fae, Queen of all fae creatures, Mistress of the Moon
She who resides in the Crystal Castle
She who bestows the gift of seership
She who is the light of truth in the darkness
She who knows the deepest secrets of magic
She who heals the soul after death
She who is Mistress of Dreams
Morgana Le Fae, Queen of all fae creatures, Mistress of the Moon
You do not ask for bargains
You do not ask for gifts
You only ask for obedience and adoration
In the silence we listen for you
In the darkness we call to you
At the lowest ebb, we draw to you
When our bodies are at their weakest, our souls may fly to you
This is the mystery of the moon
This is the entry to the Crystal Castle
At the gates of death we call to you
At the gates of life we call to you
Morgana Le Fae, Queen of all fae creatures, Mistress of the Moon
Teach us the secret magic of the Crystal Castle.
Faye was intrigued by the idea that there was some correlation between physical weakness and the ability for humans to connect with Morgana. It seemed counterintuitive. Surely, connecting with the fae took energy, skill and strength. Not least, being in the fae realms – Murias, at least – depleted humans. It had depleted her, and she was half fae.
And yet, it was that weakness that somehow allowed access to – what? To the castle? To something else? To some kind of secret, arcane knowledge that only Morgana could bestow?
At the gates of death we call to you.
At the gates of life we call to you.
Faye mulled the words. What did it mean?
One night Faye lay staring at the ceiling of her room. She was just a few weeks ahead of her due date and dread had started to seep into the corners of her daily life. She’d heard very little from Rav recently – the phone calls and texts had dissipated reasonably quickly when she didn’t reply. But the fear that sat at the edge of her awareness, like a toad, wasn’t about Rav.
Moronoe had reassured her that with her protection, Finn and Levantiana could do nothing to her child, but only if Faye gave her the baby to raise in her part of Falias. There was no guarantee of safety.
