“The western coast is already being protected,” she continued, looking at Gwynith, who nodded. “The Clans nearest the midland coastline should be on guard for any ships that enter the harbors there. If the Inquisitors can’t come in by land, they may try to come in by sea.”

One of the other western Ladies lifted her hand. “I come from a Clan near the coast, almost at the border between the midlands and the west. Any ships trying to reach the west would have to pass between the mainland and Selkie Island. If the Lord of the Selkies was warned…Well, it’s been said that no ship passes Selkie Island unless it pleases Lord Murtagh to allow it to pass.”

“Will you send the message to him?” Selena asked.

“I will, Lady.”

“Huntress,” Gwynith’s escort said, “if the coast is blocked as well as the north and south…Well, I’d try to drive an army right through the center.”

“Exactly,” Selena agreed.

“But…the Mother’s Hills would be in the way.”

“Yes, the Mother’s Hills—and the House of Gaian—would be in the way.”

They all stared at her.

“You would send the Black Coats’ army against your own people?” Gwynith asked, sounding horrified.

Selena smiled. “They have to reach the Mother’s Hills first.”

“Roads,” Gwynith’s escort said.

Selena opened the branch of water, found the well near the stables, and called a thin stream of water to her. The water found its way up through the earth near her left foot. “Earth and water. Mud.” Calling air and earth, she circled her right hand until a swirling wind picked up some earth and rose waist high. “Earth and air.”

She wanted to laugh at the way they stared at her little dust whirl. When they were children, she and Rhyann used to make these little whirls and have races—until the day the dust whirls got away from them and collided with the laundry their mother had just hung out to dry.

She banked the connection with water so the water would remain in the well. She slowly banked the wind until the earth it had gathered once more rested with the rest of the land.

“You all have tasks to perform,” she said. “And so do I.”

Before Gwynith could join the other western Ladies, Selena touched her arm to indicate she wanted to speak to her and walked far enough away to keep the conversation private from the other Fae.

“Where will you go now?” Selena asked.

“Home,” Gwynith replied.

“Are you needed there right now?”

Gwynith gave her a wary look. “I hope I always have something to offer my Clan.”

“I wasn’t questioning your value to your Clan.” Selena looked away. Sometimes pride could chafe. “I’d like you to travel with me for a while.”

Gwynith’s eyes widened in surprise. “Travel with you? Me? Why?”