CHAPTER: 32


    It was nearing afternoon when Adira drove their wagon over the worn path along the shore. Her Aunt


    babbled on about the sermon and the food and town gossip and things like that, but she paid little


    attention. She could think only of Damien, the way he had touched her. The look in his eyes. His


    promise that he would not betray her. Adira told herself she was angry with him for implying that her


    being a witch could somehow damn him in front of God. And yet, she longed for the time when she


    might see him again. Certainly, her habit of skipping Sunday services would now be a thing of the past.


    They were nearly home when Adira saw a woman in the middle of the road. Small and fair with golden


    hair, she was down on one knee, bending as if to tie the shoce. Adira drew the wagon to a halt


    before she spotted the pendant dangling from her neck, that she had intended her to see it. It was very


    much like the one Adira was wearing.


    As Adira caught her breath, she noticed the dagger thaty on the road beside the woman. And this


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    was not only like her own but was identical to it.


    The woman was a witch. An immortal High Witch just like Adira. She had known it was only a matter of


    time before another one came for her. She had known she should prepare herself for this day. But she


    was not prepared. Not at all.


    When the woman''s soft brown eyes met Adira''s, she shivered. Perhaps she would not escape this


    time. Perhaps this would be herst day, Adira thought. But she was not willing to die. Not now, when


    she had just found Damien again.


    Adira was even less willing to risk her aunt''s safety. So holding the strange woman''s gaze, she handed


    the reins to Aunt Helen. "Go on to the cabin," she told her. "I wille back soon."


    "But, Adira... my goodness, girl, what is the matter? Why have you gone so pale?" Aunt Helen asked.


    "Nothing. I am fine. I simply wish to speak with... an old associate," Adira replied.


    And the woman on the road straightened, gathering her dagger and slipping it into the sheath at her hip


    as she stepped away from the track to allow the wagon to pass. She had worn breeches and white


    stockings. Her shirt was white, withces up the front, and she wore no cap upon her short golden


    locks.


    "You know this person?" Aunt Helen asked in surprise.


    "I will tell you all about itter," Adira promised. "Please, Aunt Helen, go ahead. I will join youter."


    Her aunt rolled her eyes and shook her head to make sure Adira knew of her displeasure, but after she


    stepped down, her aunt did as Adira said, snapped the reins. Onyx drew her aunt away from her, away


    from this strange woman, home to safety.


    The witch took a step forward, and Adira took an equal step back. And then the woman smiled, but only


    very slightly.


    "You are right to be afraid, Adira Thompson. But not of me," the woman said.


    "No?" Adira lifted her skirts to pull the dagger from its ce at her thigh. "You will understand if I


    choose caution over the trust." Adira held the weapon in her hands, though they trembled.


    The woman looked at it, then at her. For a very long time, she stared at Adira, as if taking her measure.


    There was also something else in her eyes. "You don''t know me at all, do you Adira?"


    Narrowing her eyes on her, Adira said nothing, and it seemed for a moment a great sadness clouded


    the woman''s face. But she quickly dismissed whatever troubled her, chased it away to some dark


    corner, and lifted her chin once more. And then she drew her de from its sheath, and Adira went


    rigid with fear.


    But she simply tossed it. Itnded at Adira''s feet, its de embedded in the ck earth. Adira looked


    down at it, blinking in surprise. Was this a trick? she wondered.


    "I am not one of the Dark Witches, Adira," she said. "I have note for your heart."


    "Then what do you want of me?" Adira asked.


    She shrugged. "Would friendship be too much to ask?"


    But, Adira was hesitant.


    Shaking her head, the woman untied the string that held her breeches, and as Adira gasped, wide-


    eyed, she tugged them low over her right hip, revealing the crescent mark zed on her skin there.


    "Now will you believe, I mean you no harm?" she asked, tying back the breeches and looking not the


    least embarrassed.


    "That proves nothing. We all have the crescent mark," Adira said.


    "My Lord and Lady of the Moon, you are really as ignorant as a babe, aren''t you?"


    Adira said nothing, only waited for her to rify.


    "The Dark Ones bear the mark on their left nk, Adira. And the moon faces the opposite way. Did you


    not know even that much?"


    Finally, Adira lowered her dagger. "No," she said. "I am afraid I did not know."


    "Then I was right toe to you," she replied.


    Adira met her eyes, they were like the eyes of a doe, innocent, while somehow dangerous at the same


    time. "I do not understand?"


    She sighed deeply. "I shall start from the beginning, then. I am Allison Harley, and I am nearly two


    hundred years old." Adira gasped in surprise and even disbelief, but she only went on. "Several months


    ago I heard rumors of a lovely witch hanged in a vige In Ennd, who had been seen by some


    sailors alive and well only dayster. And I thought to myself, she must truly be young if she took so


    few precautions to disguise her identity. So I set about on the task of finding you, and here I am."


    Allison then picked up her dagger, wiped its de clean of dirt, and reced it in its sheath at her side.


    Adira shook her head slowly. "I still do not understand," she told her, no longer backing away in fear.


    "Why would you want to find me?"


    "The hanging... it was your first death, wasn''t it, Adira?"


    Adira nodded.


    "Then you have much to learn. You see, young one, if I heard the rumors, if I could so easily track you


    down, then you must believe others will do the same. I am here to help you, Adira. To teach you,"


    Allison said.


    Adira stood before her now, her hands at her sides. Allison offered her hand in friendship, she thought,


    and she took it.


    And Adira suddenly found herself twisted backward and held in Allison''s small but strong arms. She felt


    heat tear through her body at Allison''s first touch, as if lightning had struck her. And then Adira''s own


    dagger was wrenched from her hand and held to her heart, and Adira cried out, certain her life was


    about to end.