Nat narrowed his eyes again. “And Crescent and the Howlers?”

Iona nodded. “Come on, what’s the worst that can happen?” She grinned. “You know, maybe you’ll have a few Wolven traits.”

Nat appeared to think about it for a moment. “I guess….”

“Ah, you had them anyway,” said Iona. “You’re one of the bravest people I’ve ever met.”

Nat smiled at last. “You think?”

“I know,” said Iona, green eyes shining.

“There’s just one thing I’d like to ask,” croaked Nat. “It seems like years ago, but when you said you were going to show us some real magic, what was it?”

Iona hesitated, then took a deep breath and took his hand in hers.

“I was going to hide you both in another time, where no one would find you.”

“Was it a dream, when I was on the ship?”

Iona shook her head. “Sometimes you go over.”

Nat’s eyes opened wide. “Like when I flipped over into the past before? When I saw Richard the Lionheart?”

Iona nodded. “At times of great stress, worlds sometimes collide, get mixed up. Sir Will de Gourney received an arrow to his throat at the end of the Third Crusade, which nearly killed him, just as you nearly lost your life when Scale tore your throat. You and Sir William were linked because of the chronicle, and sometimes coincidences like that can affect our time line, and they clash.”

“But what about you?” asked Nat. “You were there, weren’t you?”

Iona lowered her eyes. “Maybe I belong there,” she said.

Nat’s bloodshot eyes widened. “You’re not a ghost, are you?”

Iona put her hand on Nat’s forehead. “Do I feel like a ghost?” she asked.

“Well, no,” said Nat, “but …”

“I belong firmly in this century,” she said briskly, “and Sir Will is a valued ancestor. Now go to sleep for a while. You have visitors coming later who will want to see you.”

CHAPTER 30
BLOOD BROTHERS

“Good gawd, boy, you gave us a right old scare!” cried Mick as he limped into the room a couple of hours later. He was wearing his best visiting-the-sick beret, which was puce to match his beard. He also sported a bandage similar to Nat’s, due to the injury he’d received from Scale. Apple and Jude had brought Nat some books, and sat on the end of the four-poster bed, making a fuss over Clawdia.

“Those Spaghetti brothers!” said Mick in wonder. “They were amazing.”

“Nat, can you forgive us for doubting you?” asked Apple. “Especially me. I knew Woody was connected in some way to Helleborine Halt, but he wasn’t anything like any werewolf I’d ever known!”

“Don’t worry, Nan,” Nat answered with a grin. “He’s nothing like any werewolf I’ve ever known, either!”

“Helleborine Halt is virtually gutted,” said Jude gravely. “There’ll be no more evil deeds done there, thanks to Vincent and Angelo.”