Despite the occasional weariness I sometimes saw in her eyes, Grier carried herself with an otherworldly confidence that enchanted all who knew her. I was fairly certain that everyone I’d ever known was at least halfway in love with Grier. Everyone that is, except my father. He detested my mentor. If not for Grandmother’s insistence that she stay and teach me how to use my magic, he would’ve sent Grier away long ago.
It wasn’t that Father didn’t find her attractive. I knew that he did. Sometimes, I would catch him looking at her in the same way that Alasdair and every other male in the castle did. He simply hated that anyone might have more power than him. I suspected he hated me for the same reason.
“Grier…how old are ye?”
This time her smile was genuine, and my body released tension I hadn’t even known it carried. That was Grier’s power. In her presence, her mood quickly became your own.
“Do ye know how often I get asked that? How many times do ye imagine I’ve answered it?”
Grier almost always answered questions in this way. Never really answering anything, she could masterfully redirect a question.
“If it has to do with magic, ye should tell me, even if ye’ve never told anyone else before. Ye are the only other witch I’ve ever known. Ye are the only person I have to learn from.”
Her eyes shifted again—back to the saddened, distant gaze of before.
“I’m verra old, though I’ll never tell anyone just how old, for ’tis truly of no importance. My soul is still twenty and always shall be. Aging, or the lack thereof, is not what we are discussing today. All I will say is this, witches doona age in the same way as everyone else. One day, ye will be able to decide just how old ye wish to appear, and ye will be able to keep yerself that way for as long as ye like.”
Every day the new wonders of magic astonished me. How could I have been so fortunate to be blessed with it when no one else in my family had ever had magic before? My great fortune amazed me.
“No. Ye canna mean it. If ’tis true, why canna we discuss this today? I’d much rather learn about this than discuss my getting a husband.”
Grier sighed and the exhaustion in it washed over me, making my limbs heavy and tired.
“Ye needn’t worry about getting a husband right now. Ye are only twelve. Even though many are wed at yer age, yer own father—bastard that he is—wouldna marry ye off so young. When ye are wed, he can no longer control ye, and he derives too much pleasure from that to rid himself of ye so soon. I only mean to make certain that the man ye do marry is the man ye wish to.”
I smiled in awe. Everyone shared her sentiment about my father, but none save her would ever dare say so. She was the most fearless person I’d ever known.
“If I am not to be married, why should we concern ourselves with this now?”
“I’ll tell ye after we cast the spell. We’ve not much time. This is far too important to leave unattended. Now, while I believe that ye doona want a husband now, someday ye shall want someone with whom to share yer life. I’ve already seen the sort of man yer father would choose for ye, and I willna stand for it. Sit quietly and close yer eyes.”
Begrudgingly, I did as she asked.
“What am I meant to be thinking?”
“Shhh.”
Grier laughed softly as she silenced me. I could sense her moving closer. While my eyes remained closed, she took my hands. Slowly, she turned them over and began to trace patterns on the soft flesh of my palms with her pointer fingers.
“Ye doona need to think a thing. ’Twill be easier for me to see what ye will need if ye quiet yer mind.”
For a long while, Grier said nothing. Eventually, ever so slowly, my thoughts began to settle as I was lulled into a quiet, peaceful trance by Grier’s soft touch.
When she spoke, her voice was soft and smooth. My entire body warmed through. I felt as if I could float away. I was as calm, safe, and happy as I’d ever been in my life.
“Look how lovely ye will be. I wouldna have thought it possible for yer hair to grow any thicker. Do ye feel that stubborn fire rising inside ye? Ach, I’m glad to see that it remains after what is coming for ye soon.”
Something at the edge of my mind prickled uncomfortably at Grier’s warning, but I was too comfortable underneath Grier’s spell to pay it any mind.
“As I feared, yer father will do everything in his power to discourage yer power. Ye will need someone who encourages ye, who is not afraid of him, who gives ye a purpose to move forward.”
In my mind, I stood in front of mirrored glass, but my reflection was different. I was older, more womanly in shape, and my face was less soft and childlike. I smiled and was secretly pleased to see that my teeth hadn’t twisted as I’d grown.
“Morna, each of us with magic has our own special set of gifts. Mine is to teach. A rather boring gift in the realm of what we do. Ye possess a gift that is far more interesting and, indeed, far more rare. It is within yer skill set that I’ve found the man who can help ye.”
I wanted to call out and ask her what she meant, what my skill set was, but I couldn’t move from the place inside my mind. My voice remained silent.
“I’ve never done it before, but I believe I can. I’ll simply pull from the untapped power within ye. Allow me to stay here just a few moments more. I need to get a clear picture. I need to find him in time.”
