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"And the rest of me, as well. "
Grace's lips twitched; I didn't find any of this funny.
"How is that possible?" I asked.
"Easy enough," Grace murmured. "With the right spell and a little bit of power. "
"A lot of power," Mal corrected. "She had so much more than me. "
"Should have told her what she wanted to hear," Grace said. "Saved yourself centuries of trouble. "
"I couldn't tell her that I loved her if it wasn't the truth. "
Grace snorted. "He's definitely from a different century. "
"Where is this witch?" I asked.
"Dead. "
"Yet you're still alive. "
He dipped his head, though his eyes had gone dark and haunted.
Grace stared at him with a speculative expression. "She cursed you to immortal wandering?"
"Yes. "
"And what about your people?"
"We were a kumpa'nia. A caravan and a family. I would not leave them behind to be with her. " He glanced at me again. "Just to touch her was forbidden. But she was beautiful, and I was weak. "
"Sounds like you were human," Grace said.
Mal's lips twisted, both a grimace and a smile. "She made them jel'sutho'edrin, companion animals, bound to me. They cannot leave me, ever, and neither can I leave them. " His words and manner became more formal, more old-world, the longer he spoke of the past. "If it wouldn't have been for my own magic, I would have been completely alone, without human companionship, for eternity. "
"But you were able to change them back?"
"My magic can only hold them in human form for a few days at a time. "
"They take turns," I said.
"Yes. "
"How did they become different animals?" Grace asked. "I'd think it would be easier to curse them all to be one thing. "
"The spell gave them a choice of which animal they wanted to become. Most chose a beast they resembled in life - like Hogarth and Moses, brothers and twins. Many husbands and wives, like Molly and Jared, chose the same animal. "
"Molly is the cougar you called Mary?"
" 'Molly' is an Irish nickname for 'Mary. ' She prefers to be called the English form of her name when in her animal shape. " He shrugged. "Some do, to remind both themselves and the others that they are two natured. "
As if anyone would forget.
"Where's your horse?"
"Far away in the forest. He doesn't care to be around so many animals at once. "
"He's not cursed?"
