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Though he spoke with his back to me, I took his comment as an olive branch.
Rafe raised his arms and began speaking in a language I did not understand. “Gofynnaf yn ostyngedig i’r Fam sicrhau’r wlad hon a’n cadw’n ddiogel rhag y rhai a fyddai’n gwneud niwed i ni.”
Lord, was he strengthening the shielding spell or was he calling down the Ferox Cor?Tension clawed at my throat as I waited to see what he intended.
Streams of white light flowed from his palms, rising as high as the treetops. The streams twisted around each other and kept moving, one heading toward the water, the other toward the top of the bluff.
The light streams broke free of Rafe’s hands, though their ends seemed to have knotted together, creating an arch overhead. This must be the protection spell, not the Cor. I took a deep breath and allowed myself to relax.
Rafe repeated his invocation, creating two more streams of light. Those rose to the same height as the first, twisted together, then flowed in the opposite direction. The streams broke free of Rafe’s palms, and when the leading ends reached the horizon, I felt a shock. Fear tensed all my muscles.Was this the Cor after all?
The streams of light spread out, creating a shimmering bowl.
No. The feeling of safety created by that dome convinced me the Cor had nothing to do with it. Rafe repeated the words one more time, adding,“Diolchwn i ti, Mam, am dy ofal hael.”
The glowing dome faded from sight, and only then did I notice how hard Rafe was breathing. I dared take a few steps toward him, though I stopped when he held up a hand.
“Give me time.”
His voice was a bare rasp. I did as he asked, waiting until he turned toward me. The amber lenses covering his eyes shone as if they were made of polished brass. Something, some leftover magic, arced between us, washing me in a shower of sparks. I couldn’t have moved if I’d wanted to. Rafe, however, either did not notice or did not mind. He came to me, stopping just outside of my reach.
“No one has ever watched before.”
I didn’t know what to say. Had he truly shown me something he’d allowed no one else to see? His rare moments of vulnerability undid me. My lips parted, though instead of words, I meant to invite a kiss.
Rafe paused, and while his gaze was directed into the trees, he tipped his head as if considering my offer. Considered, and declined. With a slight shake of his head, he started off into the woods. Feeling as if I’d had a bucket of cold water poured over my head, I followed.
The route to the lighthouse was easier as it was all downhill. There was just enough light to keep from tripping over tree roots I kept distance between me and Rafe, though as we drew closer to the edge of the trees, my attention was drawn to a new noise, a soft hum. My shoulders knotted with tension, as if the sound was raking over my skin. I wanted nothing more than to get out from under those trees and into the open sky.
Rafe seemed to share my discomfort. Both of us moved toward that break in the trees. Things grew darker, as if branches were thickening overhead. The hum grew louder, a buzzing I couldn’t escape. “What is it?” I asked, gasping for breathing.
“Come.” Rafe took my hand, moving fast, almost dragging me with him. He used his cane as a cudgel, clearing our way through the underbrush, and soon we broke free of the trees.
He’d brought us a different way, much closer to the beach. The lighthouse buildings were ahead and to our right, and, just visible through the near-darkness, the hawk sat on top of the tower.
“It’s there,” I said, forgetting myself long enough to point. The hawk gave a fierce cry. Still holding my arm, Rafe began to run, his cane held straight out in front of us.
Right before we reached the house, I barked that we were close. Rafe lowered his cane and dragged me under the eaves. There we stood, both of us breathing hard.
The forest noise had faded, drowned out by the steady pulse of waves on the beach. Rafe edged closer to the kitchen window, his back against the wall. He rapped on it, then said, “Mother?”
At first there was no answer, and he rapped again. This time the window opened a crack. “What is it?” Della sounded as if she was torn between fear and irritation.
“It’s on the roof. The Cor.” Urgency penetrated Rafe’s voice. “Get the door.”
Without letting go of my hand, he began to work his way around the house, keeping under the eave. The hawk shrieked. Rafe held up his cane as if it was a shield. Though it likely wouldn’t do much, I found a coin in my pocket and turned it into an actual iron shield, something that would have done an Elizabethan knight proud.
If Rafe noticed my shield, he gave me no indication of it. Instead, we crept around the corner of the house. The hawk screamed at us but made no attempt to attack. I held my breath until spots drifted down in front of my eyes. Stopping, I made myself breathe, then continued my slow progress toward the door.
The front door swung open right before we hit it and both of us ducked inside. Della and Margaret waited in the front room, their arms around each other.
“What is it?” Margaret asked. “What’s out there?”
“It’s the Cor,” Rafe said, bent forward, his hands on his waist. “The Ferox Cor.”
My heart tripped over a beat.Now what would we learn?
“You’re tired.” Della reached for him as if she could distract him from a thing she wanted to avoid.
