Page 86 of The Hocus Pocus Handbook

“Hold on,” I say, increasing my pace.

Thea slows to make sure Olive doesn’t get left behind. The sisters have already bonded, and when they join hands, I can see the brightness of the energy flowing between them. Though they’re at the edge of my earshot, I hear the tail end of Thea’s encouragement.

“…stronger together. You can do this.”

Leifan leads us into a rocky outcropping that wends ever downward, and sounds indicate a huge hunting party pelting through the tunnels behind us. Zeph curses in a manner worthy of Rosa as we careen around a corner. The passage widens, ending in a silvery pool.

“Dive,” Leifan calls. “Don’t hesitate. Take a deep breath and swim straight through.”

“Won’t they follow?” Olive asks.

Leifan snaps, “I bear the portal stone, and they’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. Which could happen if you don’t hurry!”

Zeph leaps first, then Rosa. Taragon plunges headlong, and I nudge Govannon forward. “I’ll be the last.”

Leifan shakes her head. “That is my role. I promised to escort you all safely back to Autumn, and my lady will be gravely disappointed if I abandon that oath.”

“Then I will wait until the others pass. Is that acceptable?”

She nods as Thea and Olive leap into the water, only a breath apart. Now it’s my turn. The subterranean pool is icy, nearly stealing the breath I saved, and I cannot see. It’s all dark rock, so easy to become disoriented, and yet it cannot be far, or Leifan would have warned us. I press forward.

Just as my chest begins to burn, I break the surface in a different space. I splash my way out of a fountain in a private courtyard in the Autumn Palace. We stare at the water until Leifan breaks the surface, and Taragon whoops with triumph. My gaze finds Thea, so precious, so inexpressibly dear.

We did it. Everyone’s safe.

Against all odds.

A gentle voice speaks, light as dry leaves rustling in the breeze: “Welcome to my domain. I am Lady Mirralee. We have much to discuss, but I can see that the journey has been difficult. Please avail yourselves of every comfort before our conversation continues.”

“That sounds heavenly,” Rosa declares.

“Zeph.” There is a certain tension in the lady’s voice. “If you would be so kind as to accompany me, briefly, before your sojourn to the baths?”

“Of course,” they say.

More secrets.

But I’m incapable of greater curiosity with the promise of a bath and fresh attire at hand. I will never take such luxuries for granted again. The group parts ways, each seeking the services that sound most enticing, whether it’s a massage or a skin treatment or a deep scrubbing from the castle staff. It’s only after I reach the bathhouse that sudden wariness shouts at the back of my brain.

Divide and conquer? This overture came from Zeph, who has never once confided their intentions or their endgame; can Lady Mirralee be trusted?

And if she’s yet another enemy, one who wages war with guile and not force, do we have any options or allies left?

39

A Spell for Lessening and Letting Go

There may come a time when people leave your life forever. Much as I wish that I could protect you from all hardship and suffering, I cannot. And you may need help letting go. Time does lessen the pain of partings, but some losses linger like an ache in your bones once they’ve been broken. Even after the wound heals, you might feel hollow. On the longest, loneliest nights, you might envision the face you’ve been missing your whole life.

This charm might help. They do say that if you love something, or someone, that you should let them go. I did fight against that common wisdom in my time—fought and fought and fought again. Then I came to accept that some of the old sayings are true. And that some treasures are too dear for keeping.

I believe that since I accepted the necessity of letting go, I received the blessing of you. At the height of my despair, you entered my life like a sunrise. You gave me a reason to wake up. First, it was your wide eyes and hungry mouth and your grabby hands. In the end, I regret nothing and cherish each moment I have been granted with you, my dear daughter.

This one is best cast after a painful parting. You’ll need:

Pink rose petals

Rose quartz