“Ah, naturally, that would be a sensible concern. Alas, I do not know who it was.”

“Have you no idea at all? You have spent so many years in the coven, seen so many new members inducted, acted as tutor to many … was not the voice, however distorted, just the tiniest bit familiar? Or the speaker’s stance, perhaps? Or his manner in any way?”

“I fear such a man—for we know that much at least—such a man would make certain his disguise was not so easily seen through. In that, he was successful.”

“But I felt certain you would be able to tell me something. The spirits, they have been speaking to me. Two of them specifically named you as the person I should turn to. They directed me to come to your house. They were insistent.”

“It may be they sought to send you where they knew you would be sure of support and reassurance. I fear that is all I can give to you on this matter, Daughter of the Night.” He sits beside me now, taking both my hands in his. “Don’t be afraid. There will always be someone foolish enough to want to test the new order; such an action does not necessarily mean the challenger would be a suitable candidate himself, hmm? And in any case, you saw him off! And in fine style, too.”

My shoulders sag. I had, I realize now, placed no small amount of hope on the notion that Mangan might know something. “There is more,” I tell him. “What prompted me to come to you is something … something difficult for me to express clearly. I am certain this … occurrence is connected to the challenge. I don’t know why, not clearly. I just feel that the two things, both so dark, so threatening, they must be connected. I hoped that if you could shed light upon the identity of the challenger you might also be able to give me guidance as to what to do…”

“Shh, my dear girl, you are making little sense. Take a breath. Calm yourself. Whatever it is you are trying to tell me about has clearly upset you a great deal. Take your time. I am listening.”

I do as he bids me and then begin again in a more measured and sensible fashion, choosing my words for clarity, making myself say aloud what I have scarcely dared face up to alone.

“I have been visited by a Dark Spirit. More than once. He comes to me unsummoned, uncalled, he … he has threatened me. He has threatened the coven.”

Mangan, briefly, is at a loss for words. His face shows how seriously he takes this news. At last he says, “Dear Morningstar, I don’t wonder that you are distressed. You have every right to be, both for yourself and for the coven.