“You try and get some Air Elemental to come close to this cottage and take a message for us. An Earth Elemental won’t be fast enough.” Rosa looked over her shoulder. “We need to get some distance between us and it. I don’t want to take the chance on it sensing us before we can get that help.”

They retreated into the dark forest and took shelter in the middle of a circle of juniper bushes. Nothing was going to be able to find them in there, not with the strong smell of juniper covering their scent. Giselle concentrated, as hard as she could, bringing in all the Air Magic she could hold to bolster her plea. She wasn’t trying for a sylph this time; they were too timid, and given how the last one had reacted, probably would not come close. Anything smaller would never, ever take the risk if a sylph was too frightened. She was trying to reach something she had only ever encountered once.

She was trying for an aether.

“Aether” could refer to the Greek god of air and chaos, or a greater spirit of air sometimes identified with storms and tempests. But an aether was not, in fact, either of these. It was aloof, and powerful, and according to Mother was rarely seen, yet the one she had encountered as a child had regarded her in a kindly fashion and actually hovered outside her window and told her stories. It was certainly powerful enough not to be concerned with a Blood Witch, or so she hoped.

She concentrated on her plea, trying to make it as forceful yet as humble as she could, and holding the image of the aether she had seen in her mind. It had been as if there was a man before her entirely made of air, something she could only see vaguely, mostly by the way things behind it were slightly distorted. She might not have been able to see it, but she had felt it, and so had Mother when she had come back from a trip to one of the nearest villages. Mother had been extremely surprised to see it, and when it had gone, had warned her to always treat such creatures with great respect.

If this doesn’t work . . . I’m going to have to hope that one of the sylphs will get up enough courage to . . .

The sharp tang of ozone made her eyes fly open. She couldn’t see it . . . but once again, she could certainly feel it. And it felt just like the one she had met so many years ago.

Its first words confirmed that yes, it was. “My little friend, the protector of the sylphs. It is good to see you grown into your power.”

The voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but she could hear it clearly. And by Rosa’s startled expression, so could she! Giselle got a little thrill down her back.