Page 81 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

One step at a time. I had to walk for both of us for the time being.

I strode toward the smaller set of tunnels that led to my actual esteemed quarters. I missed them and the space they provided. Having my own area in the cave hadn’t been an issue when I was regular ol’ Tempest Corentine. Now I valued time away from the list of things to do and people who wanted me. I’d lost the easy access to my quipu too. I’d need to schedule in time for the sentries to leave their posts so I could work with it. I could feel the room pulling me toward it, and I should listen to that call. More than ever, I had to keep my mind and magic united and clear. Wild’s happiness depended on it.

The quipu really was pulling me.

Maybe I should work with it instead of having breakfast. I paused at the fork to my esteemed quarters.

Life should have taught me not to hesitate.

“High Esteemed?”

There went my quipu time. The person wasn’t Postman Barrow. Opal hurried down the main tunnel toward me. “We’ve received news from other covens. I believe an advisor meeting is needed.”

Her expression told me the news wasn’t good. “You got it.”

I gripped my advisor pendant and excluded Wild from the summons. He needed to be with himself this morning. “Let’s head there now.

Barrow was already in the chamber, and he was aware of the news, judging by the solemn set to his face. I waited for the others to arrive, resisting the urge to tap my finger on the stone slab when they took longer than two minutes.

“Opal and Barrow have received news from the other covens,” I said when Huxley’s ass touched his seat.

Opal fretted, “I don’t know how they found out.”

“Who? The covens?” I asked her.

Barrow sighed. “We received word from three of the seven covens who had offered us support. They’ve heard of our imminent alliance with Vissimo and Luthers and will not mix with other species. We’ve lost all support from two covens who’d offered us magus, and the remaining coven who had offered us their magus have altered their offer to weapons, charms, and knowledge.”

Fuck. “How did they find out?”

Not that I’d planned to keep it a secret, but the alliance wasn’t even signed for fuck’s sake.

I held up a hand. “Don’t tell me. Frond.”

Opal frowned. “You suspect Frond?”

Varden said drily, “You’ve somehow missed the mob he’s accruing, Opal?”

“No, but this is a serious accusation. Discussion of coven matters outside of the coven is in breach of our laws.”

Yes, it was. “Frond is in communication with the original coven and has been for some time. He alerted them, and they approached our supporters. Which covens have dropped their support?”

“Timmo, Nafia, and Rguc.”

Rguc. I didn’t see that coming. She’d been friends with my mother and had taken a liking to me. She seemed so certain in general. “I’d like to speak with High Esteemed Nightlock now.”

Barrow and Opal exchanged a look.

“Could you arrange that?” I prompted.

“I can try, High Esteemed,” he answered. “She’s hard to get hold of.”

Opal walked to the far wall and swept her hand across the blank stone. Symbols appeared, and I didn’t need to count to know there would be ninety-six of them, one to represent each foreign coven. A sole symbol was larger than the others—the symbol for the original coven, no doubt.

I’d change that.

Opal set her fingers to a jagged symbol in the top right corner, then waited. The symbol glowed a few seconds later, and Opal spoke, “This is an esteemed advisor of the High Esteemed Corentine. Our leader would appreciate a few words with High Esteemed Nightlock.”

“What time and date, please?” a voice floated back.

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