“I brought extra holy water,” she said, slipping the talisman into her pouch. When the hand came out again, it carried a small, unlabeled amber bottle. Margot took it and held it close to her chest. “You’ll need it. The ground is bad. Worse than I’ve felt it before. I don’t know what’s happened; it’s like a poison has gotten into it, and it’s spreading. The blessing can only do so much to hold it back.”

Margot couldn’t find her voice, but she nodded. She understood what Witchety meant now. And she felt faintly ashamed for believing they were the ramblings of a charlatan on her first visit. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Witchety’s expression softened a fraction. “I have one more thing I can give you. It’s the strongest talisman I have.”

“Oh.” Her heart ached. “I’m grateful for anything—”

“Only for tonight, mind.” Witchety carefully unwound the leash from her forearm. She extended it to Margot. “I’ll want him back by tomorrow.”

The ache in her heart started to hurt. She held the bottle in both hands, refusing to touch the leash. “I…I can’t take Marsh. I know how much he means to you. It’s dangerous…”

A slow, small smile spread over Witchety’s face. She tucked the leash into the crook of Margot’s arm before she could object. “He’s not just a token. The only way to defend against evil is with powerful good. And Marsh is the most good I know of. Keep him close tonight. I’ll be back around to pick him up in the afternoon.”

She turned and descended the porch stairs with slow, heavy steps. The leash was loose, barely tucked under Margot’s arm, but Marsh made no effort to try to pull free. He took up position at Margot’s side, apparently recognizing that he had a job. Warm brown eyes smiled up at her. The soft, downy tail thumped against the floorboards. In that moment, Margot understood what Witchety had meant about him being pure good.

“Thank you,” she managed, taking up the leash. Witchety was already on the driveway leading down the hill and raised one arthritic hand in acknowledgment.

Behind her, Kant spoke, his voice subdued. “Nora, Ray, would you take Witchety back into town with you?”

“Of course,” they said in synchrony, and Margot stepped aside as they passed through the door.

“Take care. Be safe,” Ray said, a gentle smile his parting gift.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Nora added, and squeezed Margot’s arm on the way past. It was a hopeful goodbye. One that promised there would be a tomorrow.

Margot watched the three of them until they began to fade into the hazy early twilight, then turned back to Kant and Andrew, her two remaining companions.

“You’ll need to leave, won’t you?” she asked.