“I believe he’s journeying in Niflheim,” Fiona declared.

“The Shadow World,” popped out of my mouth. Fiona looked up and pinned me with two razor-sharp green eyes. She rose to her feet, the folds of her green dress rippling like sea water, and then I was the one looking up. Fiona could make herself seem taller when she wanted to.

“Ah, Cailleach McFay. Are you the one who brought the storm back from Faerie?”

“I asked Callie to herd the undines back, Lady,” Liz interjected on my behalf. “And it was an undine who raised the storm.”

Fiona’s eyes swiveled toward Liz. As glad as I was to have the force of her gaze off me, I could hardly let Liz take the blame for me.

“I’m afraid I made the storm stronger by using a spell,” I admitted.

“You fool! You didn’t know not to use a spell in Faerie?” Fiona roared, growing even taller as she turned once again on Liz. “Has no one taught this doorkeeper how to use her power?”

My attempt to spare Liz blame for my behavior had backfired. I didn’t seem to be able to do anything right today. When Fiona had finished berating Liz, she turned back to me.

“It’s unfortunate you’ve been trained so poorly,” she said, managing to encompass both Liz and me in her icy green glare. “But still you should have known better than to attempt a spell when you didn’t know its consequences. It’s your fault this has happened to Brock.”

“Your Highness,” Liz said urgently, “I don’t think we should blame Callie …”

“No,” I interrupted, “Fiona’s right. It is my fault.” I turned to Ike and his two companions. “Tell me what I can do to help him.”

Ike shook his head. “I don’t hold you accountable, Cailleach McFay,” he said formally, “nor do I know if you can bring my brother back from Niflheim. The Norns, who are here on other business, may be able to bring him back …” His eyes flicked toward Liz. “For that I believe we need to call a spell circle.”

“A spell circle,” Diana echoed, her face pale. “We haven’t had one for …”

“For too long,” Liz said grimly. “I’ve been too lax. It’s time we marshaled our powers.”

“Can I help?” I asked, desperate to find any way to help Brock.

Fiona snorted. “That would be like lighting a match in a gunpowder factory. You have no control, no …”

“But she does have the essential spark,” Liz broke in, surprising all of us, herself most of all, by interrupting the intimidating Fiona. She swallowed and went on. “Callie might be woefully untrained, but she has power. I’m sure of it. I will take it upon myself to train her. We need her – to help Brock and also to keep the Grove from closing the door.”

Fiona’s green eyes widened at Liz’s last words and her skin seemed to stretch tighter over the fine bones of her face. I had never seen Fiona display any emotion but anger so it took me a moment to recognize the expression on her face. Fear.