…after the small feasting and the surprise of honeycakes we retire for the night with full bellies, warm covers and light thoughts.

A few hours pass and I know dawn is yet hours away. I slip out from Sean’s arms, grabbing my cloak and making sure Toad is safe in a pocket. Quickly I move to wake Baine. It was time to meet the witch. In the dark, the leftover food is hastily packed along with the scant belongings. There would be no time after the spell was cast.

Baine scoops up Fiachra and bundles his sleep limp body warmly and with haste we go to the witch’s tent. I only hope Sean would stay fast asleep until we came back. If not. I wasn’t sure what he’d do. Lasair still hadn’t come back.

Muriel meets us in the dark, no night lamp or candle to lead the way as we follow her through a secret door in the wall. The gates were closed at night, especially on the nights of the new moon. These were the kind of nights where secrets are kept hidden. These were the sort of nights where secrets were made. These were the kinds of nights to stay hidden.

We come down a well trodden path, the clouds hide even the stars that try to shine in the absence of the moon. The witch had been here sometime earlier. Old and unknown symbols to me were scored in the hard earth. Baine grasps at a few of them. This was a mortal magic unfamiliar to me. She balks when the witch ushers us into the center.

The witch’s white raven drops down from nowhere. It caws and hops after its’ mistress, clutching something in one of its claws. Soon it stops and waits. The witch asks for blood, from us three. Without hesitation I offer my hand first a swift pass of the athame over a finger and it’s done. Sharp enough to split a hair. Baine offers her hand, then we take a drop from Fiachra’s tiny foot. Luckily he doesn’t wake and only utters a little whimper.

Muriel removes her eye patch as she begins her circle of power around us, chanting. I toss a small pouch of the payment I owe her outside the circle before she finishes it. The hair on the back of my neck rises as the power does. Old magic weaves to my magical sense. Baine can sense the gathering as well. As soon as the wind begins to whip around the outside of the circle the witch takes a commanding position to direct the energy flow.

It comes up from underneath us, both cold and hot at the same time, but blindingly bright. I drop down first to my knees, then Baine joins me just seconds after. We’re both panting even though we’ve not done a thing. Fiachra is wailing at the top of his lungs. Cackling the witch is sitting not too far away. It looks as though she too was knocked on her behind.

“Did it work,” Baine asks me.

“Of course it did,” comes the reply from the witch. “I added a bit more to the cloaking, won’t last long mind you, but you knew that elf.” I try to eye her, but my eyes haven’t adjusted to the power surge.

“What did you do?”

“You’re hidden elf,” she grins at me, “anyone or thing that takes to looking for you…magically, will get a nasty surprise.” She motions to us three before going her way and us ours.

Gathering our wits about us, we make off like the thieves we are in what’s left of the night. I take Fiachra from Baine and go to wake Sean while she goes to rile up the others at the stable. It was time to go now…