Page 25 of Crown of Tides and Fury

Flann hesitated. “My brother and I mean to come with ye.”

“And I’m grateful for it.”

I fell in beside Wickham as we headed for the doors. “We’ll be going to Muirsglen, then?”

“Orion is there, so we’ll not be goin’ back. Besides, if it wasn’t a ghost town before,” Wickham’s voice faltered, “it’s about to be.”

A look from Kitch was all the confirmation necessary. He pointed to the newcomers. “These were all we could find—”

“We ran out of time,” Wickham interrupted. “We’ve got to get to Castle Ross, at the other end of the tunnel.”

Becca and Daniel took the couples to find rooms where they could rest. The babies had quieted, thankfully. Alwyn, Meral, and Reem started tea trays.

After the boy was settled in a kitchen chair, Wickham went for the doctor. Eager for more information, Persi and I hovered over Kitch, who held a clean white towel against Davey’s shoulder. He wasn’t in a chatty mood.

I was still jacked up on adrenaline, ready to fight. “Too bad we can’t just go kill Orion, since we actually know where he is.”

Persi shook her head. “We still don’t knowhowto kill him. And if he wipes us all out, it’s game over. The world loses.” She put a hand on Kitch’s shoulder, something she would normally never do in public. “But maybe a few of us could go back?”

He shook his head. “If ye weigh a small, mostly deserted village…against the world? Muirsglen loses.” He patted Davey’s knee. “But at least we got this brave laddie out.”

The kid noticed none of it. He was in shock. Even without the cut on his shoulder, he needed a doctor. The others probably did too. They all had a look in their eyes like they’d stepped from one world into another. And even if they’d lived in a village chock full of witches, they weren’t equipped to face our brand of horror.

I knew how that felt—but I’d been lucky, I hadn’t lost anyone.

Jez took charge of the doctor when he arrived and promised to see that all the new additions to the household would be checked over. Alwyn volunteered to join the hunting party, so the Youngs and the Bahri girls were left in charge of keeping the household fed.

We gathered in the foyer. Apparently, we were past trying to hide Wickham’s transporting skills from the rest of the house. Lorraine and Loretta joined us. I could tell from their expressions they were ready to be enlisted, if that’s what their brother had in mind.

Loretta shook her oversized handbag that looked to weigh about twenty pounds. “Our silverskean duhsare in here, somewhere.”

Wickham reached for their free hands and shook his head. “Once again, sisters, I’ll be leaving the world on yer shoulders.” He then explained that Orion was at Muirsglen. “And I must know how he got there, aye?”

After a moment of weighted silence, the sisters gasped. “The tunnel!”

“Aye. Unless he was invited into Muirsglen, he found the tunnel. We go to Castle Ross now with everyone capable of fighting. But if we dinnae return…save the world, if ye dinnae mind.” He kissed their cheeks. “Ring Jillian and Jules. Tell them to stay well away from the castle.”

Lorraine snorted. “They won’t listen.”

“I ken it.” Wickham turned to look at all of us, standing in a circle, waiting. His eyes widened. “I forgot!” He ran off toward the boys wing.

While he was gone, I asked the sisters who Jillian and Jules were.

Loretta stopped worrying at her lip and smiled. “They’re Wickham’s granddaughters. From his, uh, previous life.”

I didn’t even try to wrap my head around that.

Wickham ran back to us, a small sword and scabbard in his hands, which he brought directly to me. “Had this made for ye. It isnae heavy, but it’s silver.” He pulled the handle from the sheath and gave it to me before he reached around to belt the sheath above my hips. “It’s longer, so ye won’t have to get so close. Remember, a nick is all it’ll take, aye?”

“I understand.”

“I’m only sorry ye couldn’t have any practice with it.”

“She’ll be fine,” Persi said, then gave me a nod, telling me she really believed it. Probably just an attempt to boost my confidence.

The truth was I was anxious to prove myself. Terrified, but eager. I had no idea what would happen when I truly unleashed myself instead of always holding back to protect my friends who were so determined to train me well. I didn’t look forward to the killing, but I was prepared to defend my friends with everything I had.

“These people are family,” Wickham said, and took his place in the circle. “Myfamily.” He popped out alone, as usual, to scout out a place for our group to land. Then he was back. “Empty field. No one in sight.”

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