Lochlann tied the last of the knots and they left Backbone in the little stone stable behind the townhouse, but not before Pocket made sure he had plenty of water. Noon was only an hour old and the day was surprisingly sunny and warm. Back in Albain, the castle servants would be cleaning for the coming spring, but here in Airlann, where autumn never ended, it was windy, wet and cold more often than not. Not wanting to squander the favorable weather and having nothing else to occupy his time until nightfall, Pocket stayed out in the court garden, sitting in his usual spot along the wall to practice changing his skin. Lady Rosheen had insisted it was most important to relax; that a calm mind was more likely to manifest the change, and, of course, she was right. Pocket had discovered more about his changeling abilities in the short time he had known the piskie than in all the years he struggled with them alone in the Roost.

He started slowly, watching the backs of his hands as the skin darkened, ignoring the itching sensation that always followed as the hairs extended, growing into a thicker coat across his flesh. Rosheen had told him that his skin was not only the surface of his body, but also the surface of his gift. She said that with dedication it would one day be possible to change his muscles, his bones, even his very organs and fully become the object of his mimicry. He was only half gruagach and would be limited by the small stature that would forever mark him as a gurg, but even within the confines of his body the possibilities made Pocket’s dreams dance.

He thought of the small, black dog owned by the rat catcher that patrolled the streets around the townhouse. Despite its lack of size, it was no less fierce than the war hounds which often accompanied the city watch, and Pocket had seen it attack a teeming nest of vicious vermin with no hint of fear. It was always outnumbered and suffered the bites from dozens of assailants as the rats defended their home, but the dog stood its ground, dispatching one enemy at a time until it stood alone and victorious.