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Celeste's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Absolutely!" Goody exclaimed. "Why, restoring the heartbeat and breathing of a body that's been magically suspended for a hundred years is an astonishing achievement! You mustn't think of this as a failure, my dear. You've succeeded very well for a beginner witch."

Celeste smiled, her lovely face lighting up.

"That’s what Garrik keeps saying too, but I feel bad that I didn’t get him back into his body.”

“That may be achieved in time.” Goody was looking thoughtful now. "Tell me something," she said. "Do you still have the Moon Script?"

"Yes!" Celeste reached into her little green purse and pulled out the folded parchment. "It's right here."

"Read me the final lines, if you please."

Celeste unfolded the page and held it closer to the light.

"Um, let's see…" She scanned the writing for a moment and then read aloud.

"If freely offered, heart to heart,

The sundered soul its path shall start."

Goody made a thoughtful little sound.

"Ahhh. There it is."

"There what is?" Celeste asked, frowning.

"The word start, my dear. The spell doesn't promise to reunite the spirit and body completely. It merely sets the sundered soul upon the path towards restoration."

I frowned.

"Do you mean to say that this entire spell was never meant to break the curse completely?"

"Not necessarily," Goody replied. "But it may be only the first part of a much larger enchantment. You've awakened Lord Blackthorn's physical body and established a magical connection between it and his spirit. That's an extraordinary first step, but there may be something else required to complete the binding of the spirit back into the body."

"Something else?" Celeste repeated. "Like what?"

Goody shook her head.

"I'm afraid I don't know, my dear. Not yet, anyway."

I felt a small stab of disappointment, though I tried not to show it. After everything that had happened that night, I'd hoped we might finally have an answer.

But then Goody continued.

"However, I do have several books which might be helpful. There are some very old records concerning the restoration of disembodied spirits once the connection between body and spirit is reestablished. I’ll begin looking through them first thing in the morning."

"Oh, thank you." Celeste smiled gratefully. "That would be wonderful."

"Of course, my dear. I'm delighted to help." Goody smiled at her. "And I must say, I'm extremely impressed with what you've accomplished. You truly are a remarkably powerful Veil Witch."

Celeste blushed.

"Well, thank you. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that I'm a witch at all!"

Goody laughed.