Or weaving baskets or concocting lotions or elixirs or stitching tapestries or knitting blankets or jumpers to sell at Dellish markets to trade for things needed in The Enchantments or to gather coin for the same.

It was for the most part a social community, duties were paid by those who earned so those who fought or patrolled, trained, taught or healed were remunerated for their efforts on behalf of the Sisterhood.

Although this had worked for centuries, the Nadirii were not a nation without troubles.

There were those (albeit they were few) who were lazy, and the others looked down on them.

There were those who wished for more aggression against the male aggressors, there were those who wished for less.

There were those who did not much like the many refugees they took in, there were those who were happy for greater numbers to strengthen the Sisterhood or felt it was their duty as Nadirii to welcome any woman into their company.

There were those who intensely detested all males and wished nothing to do with them. There were those who often journeyed out of The Enchantments to seek male company, or to meet long-time lovers, or simply because they enjoyed a variety of companionship.

But all, being in touch with the magical veil, knew that the quakes were a bad omen.

And in an uncertain situation, you needed strong leadership to guide the way.

Ophelia was wasting.

Serena was problematic.

Elena seemed to be lost to them.

And now, Prince Cassius (and his men) appeared to be full of surprises.

And not bad ones.

But in all, the only thing that was known was the Sisterhood had no clear leader for the future.

So, no.

As the talk wore on well into the night their princess returned, the Nadirii did not know what to make of any of this.

They didn’t know at all.

66

The Trick

Melisse of the Nadirii Sisterhood

Some Ways South of Notting Thicket

WODELL

She was getting nowhere and seeing nothing.

This was not right.

She had naught of his, of course.

The path would be far easier to see if she did.

Thus, now she had only her magic and the knowledge he’d been to Notting Thicket a number of times, therefore he spent much time in or around the Go’Doan temple there, as well as being invited to Birchlire Castle.

So she had taken up a variety of pebbles she found in both places, cast over them, and followed where they led.

But she was far out of the city.

Quite far.

Every time she stopped to toss a pebble, she followed the direction it pointed to her, but she felt nothing more, saw nothing more, not a hint he’d been there recently.

The sun was getting low. Shadows were claiming the forest. Night would fall fully soon.

Melisse needed to make camp.