Page 151 of Destiny of the Witch

He hesitated. ‘Look, I know it’s risky, and I know what we said, but we could cut an awful lot of time off this journey if I zapped us to Castle Clair before we got a carriage. I know, I know, but hear me out,’ he said, raising a hand as we protested. ‘I know I shouldn’t be going anywhere near Castle Clair, but we’re never going to get to the Scottish Highlands from Cornwall in that time, magically enhanced carriage or not. I can’t see any other option, can you?’

He was right and we both knew it.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘So you transport us to somewhere near Castle Clair, which will cut the journey at least in half. How long do you reckon it will take us to get to the Borders in your magically enhanced carriage?’

He considered. ‘The horses will still need to rest, and given the state of the roads…’ He groaned. ‘You know what? I’d say it will still take about four or five days. What are we going to do? We’re never going to make it on time, even with the help of magic.’

Emrick cleared his throat. ‘Er, sorry to interrupt, but haven’t you forgotten something?’

We looked round at him. He was sitting in an armchair munching happily on cheese on toast. This life definitely suited him, as he looked much more like the Emrick I knew and loved, with a rosy glow in his cheeks and a sparkle in those brown eyes of his.

‘Have we?’ Phoenix frowned. ‘Such as?’

Emrick swallowed his cheese on toast and leaned forward a little. ‘Well, aren’t you the Great Guardian?’

I nodded. ‘I am, but what does that have to do with anything?’

He looked baffled that I even had to ask. ‘But a Great Guardian… That means you’re half witch, half fae, right?’

‘Yeesss,’ I drew out, not sure where he was going with this.

Wren squealed with excitement. ‘Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? You’re half fae, Wulfram! You know what that means? The fae can transport themselves anywhere. They don’t need to be emotionally attached to a place.’

Realisation dawned. I’d been so used to the way Keely zapped that I’d quite forgotten I had fae abilities.

‘But I’m still learning how to use magic,’ I said, feeling my optimism drain away. ‘I’m not very good at zapping.’

‘Rubbish!’ Emrick put down his empty plate and brushed crumbs from his jumper onto the carpet, which Wren kindly didn’t mention. ‘This is all about confidence if you ask me. Fae magic is in your blood. It’s instinctive. Who you are. I reckon you’ve been so focused on trying to copy the way the witches move that you haven’t given the fae side of you free rein.’

‘He’s right, Wulfram,’ Wren said. ‘You don’t have enough confidence in yourself, but fae magic is in you. I found transporting myself so easy, and I’ll bet it was because I wasn’t trying to do it the way Keely and Harley do it.’

‘Then how do you do it?’ I asked. ‘If you’ve never been to a place before and have no attachment to it, what do you visualise?’

She shrugged. ‘You don’t visualise anything. You just mentally say the words.’

‘That’s it?’ I said, disbelievingly. ‘As easy as that?’

‘Try it.’

‘How? I’m not going to risk zapping away from this island.’

‘Is there anywhere on the island you’re not attached to?’ Emrick asked. ‘Anywhere you’re not familiar with? Haven’t been perhaps?’

I thought about it. I was rather ashamed to admit I’d never been to the southern end of the island. In all the times I’d visited and lived there, I’d never gone further south than Peloryon House. I’d spent all my time in the area between there and Landing Beach. Oh, I’d gone to the west of the island as the chapel was on that side, but since there was no beach and nothing but rocks and sea at the south…

‘There is a part I’ve not visited,’ I admitted sheepishly. ‘The south of the island. You think I should try that?’

‘You’ve nothing to lose,’ Emrick said, while the others nodded eagerly.

I got to my feet and closed my eyes.

‘No, no!’ Wren said immediately. ‘You’re visualising again. You’re overthinking this. Don’t try to picture somewhere you’ve never been. Just think the words.’

I took a deep breath, hoping she was right.

South Peloryon Island.

I jumped back as I was immediately hit by what felt like buckets of water being poured over my head. I was standing on the island, looking down on rocks which were being pounded by ferocious seas. And the rain was pouring down. We’d been so warm and cosy at home that we hadn’t even noticed how bad the weather was outside.

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