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She turns to the healer. “Klara, take Agnes home to rest.” Now, she turns to Alienor. “And you get on the broomstick with me.”
While the healer places her half-conscious daughter on her broomstick and collects the one resting against the wall, Alienor waits by the second stick with her lips trembling.
I recognize the expression. It’s impotent rage, but nothing compared to what I suffered for nearly a millennium. She and her grandmother wait for the other two witches to fly away before making their move.
“Look at what you’ve done to me,” Alienor snaps. “My family thinks I’m crazy.”
My lips curl into a smile. “If I had known you were so powerless, I would have visited you during the day.”
The grandma sits side-saddle on the end of the broom nearest to the tail twigs and beckons Alienor to sit in front. “Are you talking to him?”
“Would it make any difference if I said I was?” Alienor takes her seat on the broomstick, which soars into the air.
I bend my knees, leap toward the sky, and unfold my wings.
As I fly a few feet beside the witches, Alienor screams.
“Careful.” Her grandmother wraps an arm around her waist. “I almost lost you for a moment.”
“He’s following.” Alienor’s voice trembles.
“Where?”
The instant Alienor points, her grandmother whips out her wand and aims it between my eyes. I stretch out my wings as beams of white magic pass through me like a breeze.
It’s probably a detection spell, which won’t work against me because of my bargain. Getting through Alienor’s locket is another matter. It’s enchanted to protect her from all threats—not just to repel me. There’s a nuance to their spells that comes from centuries of cunning.
“There’s nothing there,” her grandmother says. “Not even a disturbance in the air.”
I chuckle. “That magic worked against me once. It will never hurt me again.”
Alienor’s features harden before she turns her head away. It looks like she’s determined to ignore my presence.
Smirking, I fly as close as I can to their combined barrier. “You will never shut me out,” I say, my voice giddy with glee. “I will haunt you until you break my curse.”
“What happened to Eleanor of Aquitaine?” Alienor asks.
“You already know that story,” her grandmother replies.
“Please.” She sighs. “I need to hear it again.”
“Your mother’s dying breath as she delivered you was that her daughter would wield the power of our ancestor and never have to suffer the pain of being an underpowered witch.”
My wings slice through the air. This is most interesting. I had thought Alienor had remained alive all these years, but perhaps her mother’s fervent wish had brought my wife’s spirit forth. If that is so, then why did I only notice her presence three years ago?
“Do you think that’s why I’m seeing things?” Alienor asks.
“Let’s focus on the history lesson, dear,” the grandmother replies with a grimace.
Before Alienor can protest, the older woman speaks. “You know the basics. After annulling her marriage to the King of France, she then married the King of England and became his queen consort.”
“Of course,” Alienor says.
“I should never have taken that unworthy wench for my wife,” I growl.
“Their marriage was typical of the era. King Henry had a mistress named Rosamund Clifford—”
“Rosamund was my devoted servant!”
