“My pleasure,” she mumbled.

“I do not know how to—” he began.

Her hand twisted so she could hold his fingers in hers tightly. “We will find our way.”

Alfie nodded. “Dinner, honey.”

“Oh, right.”

He smiled at her again, squeezed her hand and then let her go.

She hesitated, rubbing her lips together while gazing down at him, then nodded and began to move away.

When he lost sight of her, he looked to the fire.

“Alfie?” she called.

He twisted to look at her around his chair.

She was at the door, her hand on the latch.

“You’ve made me very happy,” she said.

And then she rushed out the door.

Alfie stared at it for some time after it was shut.

He then turned and stared at the fire for more time.

Finally, he took his sticks, hefted himself up and made his way to his chair.

He set the sticks across his lap as he wheeled himself out of the room.

He had only one thought and it was the only thought on his mind since Bronagh’s words were spoken before she left the room.

This thought was that he had it now.

Absolutely.

He had it.

You’ve made me very happy.

A new meaning to life.

139

The Drawing

Queen Ha-Lah

Riding through Sky Bay to Lowgate

AIREN

“I should not be here.”

I was riding at Serena’s side on the way to Lowgate, along with a grand procession of guards. A procession that included all of our husbands.

And in Serena’s case, her lover, Chu.

As well as, considering he felt it imperative to make up for time lost and thus was frequently found close to his little sister, Jorie.

We were intent to perform the ritual that would draw down more power.

Elena had suggested that we should more than likely do this ritual amongst ourselves, only the Sisters of the Beast (and Serena, who we had all adopted, so really, we felt she was one too) in attendance, but the men would not hear of it.

Elena then shared that it would not hurt that they were there.

“It’s just too bad it won’t be just a sister thing,” she had finished on a mumble.

I agreed.

However, my husband was on edge, and if being close to me assuaged that in any way, I would give him that.

“Elena thinks it important you are at your fullest power,” I told her something Elena already had. “You leave to go to Dunlyn after the wedding. There is much danger for you there. I believe it will help her in her worry with you far away performing perilous deeds, that you are steeped in magic.”

Serena appeared confused by this for a moment, and I did not understand her reaction.