spells were still out in the world and that his task would be to find them. It took another cup of wine to get him through the journey to his father’s well and their subsequent trek to Ceangail to look for more of his father’s spells.
“We fled the keep,” he continued, “but were overcome by magic from a source I didn’t see. I woke to find myself alone and Sarah carried off by traders. I followed, gave her no choice but to come with me, and here we are in your very comfortably appointed solar, enjoying your very fine wine.”
Soilléir looked at him assessingly. “You’re leaving out details.”
“Details I don’t care to think on at present, actually.”
“Such as who would cover you with a spell of protection fashioned of Olc,” Soilléir agreed. “Any ideas?”
Ruith took a deep breath. “I was hoping you might have one or two.”
“Well,” Soilléir said with a bit of a laugh, “I think we can safely say it wasn’t Droch. If he encountered you in a darkened alleyway, I imagine he would just as soon slay you as greet you pleasantly.”
“After he attempted to take my power, you mean,” Ruith said, wondering just how much Soilléir had seen that morning. “How is his little spell of Taking coming, anyway? What is it he calls it—Gifting?”
“Thankfully it isn’t what it should be, in spite of his centuries of attempting to perfect it. I daresay he would give much to have Gair’s spell of the same, though fortunately he hasn’t found it yet. It isn’t for a lack of trying, believe me.”
Ruith paused. “I had half of the one my sire had written down in his book, if you’re curious.”
“Did you?” Soilléir asked in surprise. “How did you come upon it?”
“Sarah’s brother found it in the bottom of a peddler’s cart.” He nodded her way. “Perhaps you can look at her arm when you have a moment. She touched the half page of my father’s spell of Diminishing that her brother had left lying about.” He paused. “Oddly enough, I touched something akin to it in a dream and my arm bears the same mark.” He paused. “I can’t see it, but she can.”
Soilléir studied her for a moment or two, then moved to kneel down by the low cot on the floor. He took her hand that lay atop the blankets in his, then ran his fingers over it gently. He took a deep breath, sighed it out, then wove a simple spell of Camanaë over her skin. The words hung in the air, then dissipated, leaving behind the scent of clean, wholesome herbs that refreshed in a way that eased Ruith as well. The angry red disappeared from the lines that wrapped themselves around her arm like vines, but the black remained.
Soilléir frowned, then looked up at Ruith. “That’s odd.”
“Very,” Ruith agreed.
Soilléir put his fingers on several of the lines and wove a more complicated spell. Ruith wasn’t familiar with it—though he memorized it immediately, out of habit. He supposed it was a spell of Caochladh and was faintly surprised that Soilléir had used it aloud.
The lines faded, but they didn’t disappear.
Soilléir sat back on his heels for a moment or two, then rose and resumed his seat in his chair. “That sprang up from your father’s spell of Diminishing, did it?”
“Aye. Half of it, at any rate.”
“That, my lad, is a mystery there. Simple healing will not work, nor will attempting to change the essence of what’s left buried in her flesh.” He frowned thoughtfully. “Let me see your arm.”
Ruith pushed his sleeve up and held out his arm. He could see nothing, but when Soilléir traced trails on his skin, similar vine-like marks flashed silver. They remained for a moment or two, remained remarkably painful for just as long, then faded to nothing.
“Interesting.” Soilléir sat back in his chair and stared into his fire for quite some time before he looked at Ruith. “Memorized that spell I used, did you?”
“You shouldn’t have spoken it aloud,” Ruith said placidly.
“I should have checked your pockets for poached rings of mastery on your way in before I blurted it out, I suppose.”
Ruith pursed his lips. “I don’t want them.”
“Not even for a chance to have all my spells?”
“Not even for that, my lord.”
Soilléir studied him for a moment or two in silence. “Could you earn them, do you think?”
Ruith shrugged, though now found that the question felt a bit more serious than it had when Sarah had