A Nomadic Witch

Chapter 15

Marcus contemplated the long, skinny box in his hands. The contents were no mystery. And given the village grapevine, the fact that the UPS truck had pulled up in front of his cottage was likely to have Lizzie on his doorstep before the tea kettle whistled.

He looked over at Morgan, lying on a floor blanket doing her best imitation of a flipped-over crab. “You ready for sword-fighting lessons, baby girl?”

Happily flailing arms suggested it might be a long process. Marcus watched her bat at random bits of air above her head. Moira said babies played with the faeries. Dust motes, more likely-the cottage came complete with plenty of those. Housekeeping was a bit more of a challenge when you only had one arm available most of the day. And so far, he’d managed to resist offers from neighbors wielding mops and brooms-he had enough invaders as it was.

Running footsteps outside warned that the next one was about to arrive. Marcus pulled the door open. It wasn’t hospitality-the last time Lizzie had bolted through his door, she’d nearly given him a concussion.

“They’re here, they’re here!” She bounced off the walls like a dizzy human tornado.

He wondered briefly if a helmet might have been a good idea as well. “Slow down, girl-child. Swords come with rules. Let’s review them, shall we?”

She stopped, hands on hips and disgust plain on her face. “You never make Sean and Kevin do the rules.”

“That’s because boys’ ears aren’t attached to their brains.” Marcus tapped on the box. “First rule-swords are for outside only.”

Lizzie crossed her arms and glared. “Outside, no whacking, no leaving them on the floor for someone to trip on, and don’t poke anybody’s eye out.”

That seemed like a fairly complete list. “Well then, let’s unpack them and find the instructions, shall we?”

“Instructions?” Lizzie looked like he was speaking Mandarin Chinese. “They’re light sabers, Uncle Marcus. You hold them in your hands and fight.”

Marcus reached for a pair of scissors. “Ah, but these ones have sound effects.”

He was pretty sure Lizzie could make a career out of eye rolling. “You read the ’structions. I’ll just use my girl brains to figure that stuff out.”

He winced, pretty sure he was losing control of the conversation yet again. If Lizzie used a sword half as well as she used words, Sean and Kevin were in deep trouble.

When he opened the box, he expected the high-pitched squeal from the child bouncing beside him. What he didn’t expect was the pang of little-boy desire in his own heart. Even in plastic wrap, the sabers were… awesome.

Damn Star Wars propaganda.

And to hell with the instructions. With hands far too reverent for his own comfort, he lifted one of the sabers out of the box. And felt the handle accidentally slip into his hands. “En garde, evil invader!”

The witchling under attack looked at the sword tip three inches from the end of her nose and giggled. “That’s not outside, Uncle Marcus. And it’s pretty close to poking out my eye. Do you know how to use that thing?”

That kind of challenge to his manhood really couldn’t be tolerated. Marcus swiftly unwrapped both sabers and handed one over, hilt first. “To the back yard, miscreant!”

“I don’t know what a ’creant is.” Lizzie clutched her sword with maniacal glee. “But I won’t attack until you move Morgan.”

The baby. Hecate’s hells. Marcus looked around for a place to stash his saber-and decided baby slings were missing some key accessories. And it was lightly raining outside, which wouldn’t bother a Fisher’s Cove child in the slightest, but it probably meant you weren’t supposed to lie a baby on the ground.

The saber in his hand itched for freedom. And if Lizzie didn’t hit sword-friendly territory in the next five seconds, she was going to explode or break something.

Time for a change of plans. “To Realm, rabble rouser!”

Lizzie’s eyes got large. “To the castle? Can we fight on the drawbridge?”

As long as Jamie had done a thorough job cleaning up the fire-breathing dragons. “Possibly. I’ll need to find someone to watch over Morgan.” Sadly, the cat wasn’t an adequate babysitter.

His pint-sized fighter’s eyes gleamed with something deeper than mischief. “I’m pretty sure Sean and Kevin could do that job.”

He heard what she didn’t say loud and clear. She’d been relegated to some second-class role one too many times while swords clashed. And as he reached down for the purple-eyed girl lying on the floor, some part of Marcus was suddenly very eager to see that change. “Perhaps you can go ask Aunt Moira if she’d like to come watch Morgan for a bit.” He winked at Lizzie. “Tell her we’ll put a rocking chair out on the ramparts so they can watch.”

An excited sword narrowly missed his nose. “I’m going to feed you to the alligators, ’creant!”

Hopefully Jamie had taken care of those as well. “I fear that you just might, young warrior. So I propose a fight of a different kind.”

Lizzie’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of different?”

Suspicious child. He pulled the sling tight around Morgan’s back and picked up his saber, voice as casual as he could make it. “I was thinking we might challenge Sean and Kevin to a duel.”

For several seconds, all Lizzie could do was stand and stare. And then she turned and ran, feet pelting his front walkway, six-year-old voice paging the twins at the top of her lungs.

Her mind beamed a single, blazing column of fierce, battle-ready joy.

Moira settled into her rocking chair with a view, enjoying the nice breeze on her face and the readying battle below. She reached over to check on the sleepy Morgan, tucked into a replica of Great Gran’s foot cradle. “Rest your eyes a bit, sweet girl, while our Lizzie trounces those boys.”

The outcome of the battle was in little doubt. Lizzie had waited six years for this moment, and she could outthink Sean three times over. Kevin wasn’t quite so easy to outmaneuver, but he had a soft spot for Lizzie that would likely keep his enthusiasm for defeating her in check.

And Lizzie had a secret weapon, although she wasn’t aware of it yet.

Moira watched as the dueling forces staked out their turf. The rules had been decided, the moats cleared of a couple of stray alligators, and a rather sizable audience assembled. And one small healer, on the cusp of her first battle, was bouncing so hard she was going to end up wet before a single blow was meted out.

It was Marcus who did Moira most proud, however. He stood about six feet behind saber-waving Lizzie, dressed in black, glowering, and generally frightening the populace while doing very little. A soldier supporting his general.

A quick whifting sound warned Moira of incoming company. Aervyn grinned, waved, and took off running for the drawbridge, leaving a trail of bubbles in his wake.

Nell unfolded a chair and sat down, chuckling. “He was having a bubble bath when the news arrived. I don’t think he did the world’s best job of rinsing himself off.”

Moira watched him wave an imaginary sword through the air. “Looks like he’ll be joining the battle.”

“Nope.” Nell shook her head. “This is Lizzie’s show. He’s going to help Jamie with the new armor spells.”

Now that was interesting. “Tweaked them, has he?” Realm had a series of carefully coded spells that players coated themselves with before battle. They allowed for wild and unruly fighting with little risk of harm, and very accurate scorekeeping.

“He might be talked into letting you beta test.” Nell grinned. “In case a sword fight or two is in those mysterious plans of yours.”

Moira grinned. They just might be-an old witch needed to be crafty to move up the Realm ranks. She turned back to the drawbridge, eye caught by a stir in the crowd. “Oh, good. My little gift has arrived.”

Nell scooted her chair closer to the edge of the ramparts. “What are you up to?”

“Just a wee leveling of the playing field.”

“A legal one?” Her companion chuckled. “Or am I going to have to report you?”

“Entirely legal.” Game rules stipulated very clearly that no magical assistance could be offered to the duelers. Which was full of all kinds of loopholes, if you were clever witch.

Warrior Girl, dressed in full battle regalia, walked toward Lizzie. The drawbridge was silent, all eyes on the solemn-high approach. Ginia stopped, her words amplified by a thoughtful spellcube. “Lizzie Donegal, I bring you three gifts, in the tradition of women warriors everywhere.”

Moira grinned-that part had been her idea.

Lizzie’s eyes were as big as plates.

I take it this is your idea? Moira jumped at her nephew’s wry mindvoice. She didn’t bother to reply-he’d know the answer soon enough. And a little pomp and circumstance never hurt anyone.

Ginia pulled the first item out of a resplendent purple velvet sack. “To strengthen your feet, my very first pair of shiny purple boots.”

Nell laughed in quiet surprise, eyes glued to the activity down below. “I haven’t seen those in two years.”

“Aye.” Little feet grew out of even the most treasured footwear. “But when they fit her, she never took them off.” Moira remembered tucking Ginia into bed, shiny boots and all, the birthday eve they’d arrived.

Ten-year-old fingers laced Lizzie’s feet into the boots, their audience waiting patiently. Moments of import couldn’t be rushed.

A moment later, Ginia stood again and pulled out a second bag, much smaller this time. “For courage and strength, an armband hammered with a mighty stone of agate.” She slid a wide silver band, clearly Elorie and Sophie’s work, around Lizzie’s non-sword arm.

Nell chuckled again. “Somebody studied Realm’s rule book very carefully.”

Indeed. They’d checked with Kevin-there was no rule against objects born from magic. “The true power of that armband is the love that made it.”

“Mmm. Pretty soon we’re going to need a lawyer witch around here.” The edges of Nell’s eyes crinkled. “It’s a great idea-I’m glad someone thought of it.”

Ginia reached for one last bag, hanging from her waist. “For wisdom and long life, and generosity in victory, this simple hair clip.”

Lizzie leaned forward, her nose almost in Ginia’s hands. Moira knew what she saw-a small and nondescript bit of metal, tarnished by time and age-old use.

“What on earth is that?” asked Nell quietly.

“Just a wee hair clip.” Ah, an old witch could still confound the best of them. She watched in satisfaction as mystified whispers spread in the waiting crowd.

Ginia pinned it in Lizzie’s hair. “Worn by a woman known only as Aife.”

Moira grinned. Ginia had delivered the line exactly as instructed. Now they’d see who’d really been paying attention in witch history lessons.

It pleased her mightily when Nell was quick to laugh beside her. “Family heirloom, is it? That explains a lot.”

One of her most precious, even if the legend wasn’t true.

Nell leaned over a little further. “Look. Kevin’s eyes just doubled in size. I think you’ve given Lizzie the advantage you intended.”

Kevin whispered in his twin’s ear-and then two sets of eyes stared at Lizzie with significantly more respect.

A puzzled six-year-old stared back, and then turned to the man in black behind her. “Who was Aife, Uncle Marcus?”

“She was Irish.” He paused a beat. “The greatest Irish sorceress and warrior who ever lived.”

Moira waited as several thousand years of Irish mythology came to rest on the simple pin in Lizzie’s hair. And watched in pride as her youngest student turned back to her foes-eyes fierce and hand on her sword.

Sean and Kevin were in a wee mite of trouble.

Sophie tried hard not to grin as Lizzie turned, a warrior ready-with shiny purple boots, Darth Vader sword, and the pin of an ancient Celtic druidess in her hair.

Battle referees were supposed to be impartial.

Do witches even know the meaning of that word? Marcus spoke inside her head, his face showing no signs of his clear amusement. She’s going to cream them.

Given the way Lizzie was waving her sword around, that was entirely possible, especially if Sean and Kevin didn’t stop gaping long enough to actually defend themselves.

Give them a moment, said Marcus dryly. They’ve just been ganged up on by half the womenfolk of witchdom.

It’s boots and a little jewelry. Sophie was well aware he was right, but there was something entirely unnatural about agreeing with Marcus. We’re just making sure Realm’s newest female warrior gets a little respect.

And given his silent stance as the metaphorical holder of her cloak, they weren’t the only ones. Which was just plain weird.

Sophie surveyed her battle participants-this was an awfully long time for Sean to stand still. “Everyone ready?”

It took a second, but when Sean picked up his sword, the gleam of pirates flashed in his eyes. Not entirely easy pickings. “Ready!” Kevin stood at his shoulder, silent and watchful, saber at half mast.

If Lizzie was smart, she’d be a lot more worried about Kevin.

“Fight fair!” Sophie raised the rainbow flag of Realm. “And-GO!”

Lizzie’s mad charge toward Sean’s belly wasn’t a huge shock. Marcus hot on her heels, sword at the ready, was.

Surprised pirate tangled with warrior priestess, magic singing off their armor spells. Sophie winced. Someone should have added reinforcing spells to the swords.

Do you think I’m a complete fool? Marcus sounded like he was having a cup of tea mid-battlefield, his feet dancing gracefully out of Kevin’s way. Lizzie would never forgive me if her saber broke.

That was amazingly insightful thinking from the man who had taken two years to realize she might even want one.

Sophie focused on Marcus again. Sword calm, quiet, and deadly. Or it could have been, if he weren’t carefully schooling Kevin in some arcane form of dance.

Pfft. It’s called fencing. A long and illustrious sport that a goodly number of the denizens of Realm would do well to study. Marcus rolled his sword under Kevin’s, stopping just short of disarming him. I captained my college team.

Kevin blinked-and settled his saber back in his hands, much quieter this time.

Sophie watched as their bookworm witchling mirrored Marcus’s footsteps, learning the strange and ancient dance of swords. And grinned as Kevin’s sudden lunge nearly sent Marcus into the moat.

Hmmph. Marcus sounded disgusted, mostly with himself. He’s got some potential, this one. And I’m a lot older than I used to be.

Lizzie yelled something unintelligible and fierce as she dove under Marcus’s sword hand, aiming for Sean’s knees. Sean spun in frustration, still tangled in his own cape-

And froze.

Ear-piercing klaxons blared through Realm, loud enough to wake the dead.

Morgan.

Sophie bolted for the ramparts and realized Marcus was four steps ahead of her, long legs flying over rough cobblestone. She slowed down-a healer with a concussion wasn’t going to help anyone-and then remembered she was in Realm. Two quick finger taps later, she’d ported both herself and Marcus to Morgan’s side.

The wailing Morgan’s side.

Marcus swung a hand around, flinging power at invisible enemies. He grabbed Morgan roughly-a move that did nothing to diminish her howling-and screamed commands at the tablet on his waist. Voice-activated spells flung in all directions. Warding. Seeking. Hunting the terror that stalked his baby girl.

Sophie had seen ravaging mama grizzlies that looked less fierce.

And none of it was necessary. The kicking, screaming, pink, warm Morgan was very much present.

It was Moira who silenced the alarms.

And Moira who reached out to touch Marcus’s hand as Morgan’s cries finally penetrated.

The edges of insanity leaked out of his eyes, and he looked down at his baby girl. Really looked, his hands gentling as he touched her cheeks. Her toes. Caught her waving hand and squeezed it, soothing her cries down to nothing.

And when he finally spoke, to his tiny audience of one, it was a decent approximation of Marcus Buchanan. “We might have won without the interruption, you know.”

Lizzie giggled. “Maybe she’s mad you were using her sword.”

He looked up, eyes taking in the concern on the assembled faces. And for the first time that Sophie could ever remember, walked toward a crowd. Carrying the baby girl they all wanted to see.

Nell was one of the few not watching Marcus.

She was watching her brother and her healer daughter, standing nose to nose over one of the funky new Realm tablets. She edged carefully through the crowd. What’s up?

Dunno yet. Jamie’s mental voice sounded distracted. We’re still trying to figure out which warding spell got activated.

Two more blonde heads reached him before Nell managed to squeeze through the last of the witch bystanders. Good. Mia was a hotshot hacker, and Shay was their most surefooted debugger.

Best ten-year-old online security team on the planet.

And it made her proud that they were looking for the breach while most people were just happy to see Morgan safe.

“There.” Ginia stabbed a finger at a corner of her tablet. “That’s the trigger.”

Jamie grunted and moved his nose in closer. “What spell is that?”

“One of the old ones.” Mia’s fingers moved at light speed, scrolling lines of code. “Ginnie, you’ve got it labeled as ‘shiny rocks’?” She looked up, puzzled. “What’s that mean?”

“It’s the one Moira asked for.” Ginia frowned. “It’s a really old ‘stay put’ blessing. Kind of like a stasis field, but way older. It reacts if anything tries to touch all the shiny rocks she put in Morgan’s garden.”

Nell blinked. She was at least ten pages of code behind on this one. “What rocks?”

“She had us move in boatloads of shiny beach pebbles.” Jamie nodded in the direction of the moats and gardens below. “See how it glints down there?”

“Wait.” Nell was still trying to catch up. “So something magical tried to touch the rocks and set off a warding spell?” She frowned. In a game world full of witches, that could mean any number of things.

False alarm, maybe? sent Jamie quietly.

Perhaps. Or an errant game spell-the old magics weren’t used to virtual shenanigans. Whatever it was, it wasn’t headed at Morgan. At least not directly.

Hmmm.

Nell could feel Jamie’s head ratcheting down from red alert. Her daughters were a different story.

“Here!” Mia stabbed at lines of code, her sisters hanging over her shoulders. “And whatever it was tried twice.”

“Didn’t make it through. Won’t next time, either.” Ginia’s voice had Nell glancing up in surprise.

Jamie frowned over his niece’s head. She’s taking this really personally. I helped with the wards, but they’re mostly her work.

Nell nodded slowly. Message heard, loud and clear. She was insanely proud of her girls, especially of their instincts to love and protect and nourish the people around them. But whether or not today had been a real threat, Morgan was a traveler-the odds on her reaching her first birthday were terrifyingly low. And guilt could cripple even really healthy, happy girls.

Time to take some weight off ten-year-old shoulders.

Nell leaned in, a hand on Ginia’s arm. “Moira says you’re doing some weaving that looks a little like spellcasting. Want to show me what you’ve done?”

She read welcome in her daughter’s mind.

And relief.