Page 58 of The Filigree Key

“Flora doesn’t have arcane fae magic trapping her in an animal form and draining away her grip on her humanity, either,” I fired back, angrily grinding papaver seeds and woad into a powder in the metal cup. “When he and his magic are defeated, you all turn back. My other furry friend won’t. Not without help. So excuse me while I take a moment to try and help everyone. Besides, turning into a honey badger was the best thing that ever happened to Flora—now she has a bite and claws that match her personality. She’ll be okay for another hour.”

By the Green Mother, please make it so.

The mare shifted her weight, flicking her tail irritably.

After a moment, Shari spoke up. “You can’t have two furry friends; that’s too confusing. We could call the big one your furry lover, for clarity’s sake.”

“No we certainly will not,” Daphne told her, sending a hearty snort in Shari’s direction that rattled her quills.

“Fine. Stripes for the small one and Snack for the other.”

“I’m walking a knife’s edge,” I whispered, Shari’s attempt at levity washing right over me. “We all are. Yesterday he discovered the elm tree. He was able to siphon off its magic and reverse the effects of the curse that’s turning him into a stag. He’s gaining power!”

Deftly, I added water and mixed the witch’s butter and red maple sap into the metal cup and stirred it all with that stick of mountain ash I’d found in the kindling pile a few days ago. Then I held out my hand to Shari. “I need a quill, please.”

The porcupine gave herself a once-over and selected a small one from the back of her arm.

While the potion bubbled and cooked, I channeled magic into the tip of the quill. Now that I understood my abilities better, I realized this was a true combination of both my green and hearth magics, of earth and fire. When the tip glowed hot and green, I etched all manner of protective runes into Auggie’s shell.

“I erected a barrier around it that prevents basically anyone but me from accessing the tree,” I continued, still etching. “That’s probably what the Brotherhood’s so pissed about. And him, obviously. I told him I’d let him through if he caught the hobgoblin and the kidnappings stopped. That means he gets magic but the Brotherhood doesn’t. He must’ve told them last night, hence the high tempers.

“And if I don’t maintain the lies I tell,” I added sternly, “he’ll get suspicious. I told him I’d be here getting a dress made while he’s off hunting. I’m also supposed to be healing from my ‘ordeal’ so I can tackle the essence of water tomorrow.”

Auggie’s supplement was finished now, so I poured it into one of the jars I’d taken from the dungeon and dropped the snail in after the sludge. Then I got to cleaning out the cup again for another round of magic—the beginnings of the Mabian bindings.

“But he also knows how deeply I cherish your friendship,” I said. “It’s why I put you all in the bargain I made with him, after all. It would be within my character, enthralled or not, to abandon my original plans to go help Flora.”

I dropped a handful of hickory tree nuts into the cup and followed them with a generous sprinkling of the chickadee feathers and a hefty pour of dandelion milk. “But I must do this first. I figured out a way to trap him, to imprison him, but the spell takes time. If I can do this, the rebellion won’t be needed. Redbud will be safe.”

“While I agree with the cider witch on all accounts,” a fourth voice interjected, “I still would’ve liked to be rescued, not that I needed it.”

We cried out in surprised delight as Flora sauntered into the hut on her hind feet, looking supremely self-satisfied.

“It’s the thought that counts, you know?” she said. “Even badass girls need to be treated like princesses once in a while. But I was called to be the knight this time, apparently.”

In her front paws, she cradled a harassed-looking tabby cat.

“Sawyer!” I exclaimed.

“Easy, Stripes,” the honey badger said, releasing the tomcat.

He landed on all fours, immediately yowled, and held up his front paw. He only took two limping steps before my magic whisked him into my arms. He thrust his head up hard under my chin.

“She’s the worst cat-carrier ever,” Sawyer whispered up at me.

“Kitty, what happened?” I didn’t wait for a response to flood him with healing magic. He stretched out his paw, flaring his toes and wiggling his claws. Right as rain.

“I had nothing to do with that injury, and I could’ve just as well dragged you in by your tail, tomcat.” Flora’s beady black eyes nearly bulged out her head. “Jumping hop-toads, cider witch! What happened to your hands?”

“I’m fine, look.” At my unspoken command, my magic transformed the scars to smooth skin.

“All better. Now—”

“You were taken,” Daphne trumpeted.

“Sorry, Daph. I can see why it’d look that way.” The honey badger patted her leg. “But, um, is that roasted chicken I smell? Ooo! And Brie cheese? Food first, explanation later.” Flora hauled herself onto the cot and hefted the massive sandwich that I’d only put a small dent in. “Come to Momma.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX