Page 35 of The Hocus Pocus Handbook

Thea is watching this exchange, wide-eyed. “Wait, you didn’t answer him.”

“In a sense,” Macha says to me, ignoring Thea entirely. “Your mother was descended from one of my daughters.”

Thea opens her mouth to respond. I hold up a hand to forestall her, because she’s practically vibrating with curiosity, and judging from the look in Macha’s black eyes, if we press too hard on the subject of her daughters, we will not leave this swamp. “I appreciate the information,” I say in as formal and respectful a tone as I can muster.

“I’m not your grandmother. There’s little blood that binds us,” Macha says. “But you do carry some of my secrets, dear spider.”

“What does that mean?” Thea wants to know.

“You may find your quarry where it is always spring,” Macha declares. “Or I might be lying. How much do you trust me?”

Now she’s amusing herself with us, as there’s no suitable response to that question. Instead, I bow.

The swamp witch takes this as a cue to terminate our conversation. “I will tell you no more. That would remove all the challenge, and I shall enjoy monitoring your progress.”

I suspect we must take the swamp witch at her word. She does not appear to be accustomed to denying herself entertainment.

“Hopefully, she’s pointed us in the right direction,” Thea whispers.

A thunderclap sounds, and Macha morphs into a conspiracy of ravens, flying off in different directions. I blink. “Not one for long farewells?”

Thea shakes her head with a sigh. “Not really. Not for as long as I’ve known her. I admire her flair for the dramatic, however.”

Thea pauses, and I can tell she’s biting back a question. If I had to speculate, I’d imagine she’s wondering about my relation to the swamp witch. Normally, I would already be moving, but as our time together is limited, I treasure it all the more, trying to extend these small moments and engrave them in my memory just as I would a frieze on the wall.

“Something you want to ask?” I suggest.

She seems to think for a little longer, then says, “No. Ready to go?”

If she doesn’t have a question, I do. After seeing how my preferred mode of transport impacted Thea the first time, I won’t inflict it on her again without permission. “Are you willing to travel through my portal magic?”

“It can be…rough. But it’s fast.” She straightens her spine. “Try to be gentle.”

A molten spark sears me, and I can no longer doubt that she’s developed some personal interest in me. How utterly unexpected. “No one has ever requested that of me.”

She flashes a saucy grin. “You know, I rather do enjoy being the first.”

“And so you shall be.” She has no idea what she’s doing to me, what she’s inviting. There’s a faint edge to my voice, the timbre of a growl.

Now she sounds a trifle breathless, a warm flush in her cheeks. “Well, then. Let’s get to Springtide.”

I extend my hand, waiting until Thea accepts it, and then I pull us through a hole in the world.

17

A Spell for Alacrity and Adventuring

If you’re perusing this page, you must be embarking on a grand undertaking. This charm won’t start any fires or save any fair scions, but it sets the right tone. I call spells like these “mood boosters,” albeit some can be quite powerful. For instance, my granny Tash loved to fool about with one we privately called Horrid Laughter. It’s one thing to giggle at a jape, quite another to be unable to stop braying like a beast.

That said, this is a good one to cast before you set out. It puts everyone in a festive mood, eager to see the sights and battle difficult odds. It can also lift the spirits at the journey’s lowest ebb. There may be a few who object to having their emotions tweaked, so be cautious. Avoid conflict when you can. I’m not telling you to hide your light, mind. Just know when the fight is necessary.

This working will respond best in the light. You’ll need:

Jasper, iolite, carnelian in your pocket, warmed up with your hand

Angelica blossoms for everyone in the group

A tin mug