Page 14 of Black and White, Twice the Might

“Now then, friends, I want to give you all something.”

I watch as she goes into her pocket and pulls out four pendants on a black cord. “These are protection pendants. They’ve got the strongest magic I could use. There is one for each of you. Put them on and never take them off.” She hands them out to us.

I take one and can feel the magic in and on it. “Thank you,” I say, putting it on. I can feel her magic sinking into me and merging with my magic. It’s a strange sensation, but it doesn’t hurt.

Enoch puts his on. “This can really stop someone using light magic against us?”

Molly gives him a gentle smile. “Yes, and not just light magic, but it has protection against some dark magic as well.”

“You have to be specific about protecting against dark magic spells,” Sly says.

Molly nods. “I have been. I’m sure you know spells that I don’t. You can both add your protection to it as well. Another protection method is the protection rune. One of you draws it onto your hand and then place your hand on your brother's and use your magic to push the rune into their body, remembering to protect yourself. We’ve found that that works well.”

“Thank you, we’ll do that later,” I say. This is so nice of her, giving us protection pendants and telling us about the protection rune. Hopefully, it will put my brothers’ fears to rest.

“Wow, I can feel the magic from it,” Xander says, touching the pendant.

“Me too,” Enoch says. He looks at Molly and gives her his signature smile. “Thank you.”

Molly cackles out a laugh. “You’re welcome, cheeky chops.”

We all burst out laughing at that.

We stay chatting until we finish our refreshments. We offer to drive Molly home, but she insists she is fine and will takeherself home later. Sly goes to pay for the refreshments, and I walk into the bookshop to pay for Enoch’s books. The older man rings our purchases up and passes the books to Enoch to carry. I pay and thank both men.

“I hope to see you back again soon,” the older man says.

“Hopefully,” Enoch says, as Sly and Xander join us.

“Thanks, bye,” I say, as we all leave the shop.

We arrive backat the B&B and all pile into our room.

“Well, that was an interesting day,” I say, practically collapsing into one of the chairs by the coffee table. The others all sit down, Sly taking the chair next to me.

“Yeah,” Sly agrees.

I look at him. “When did you go back and see our father?”

“The day after we rescued the boys. You took them shopping, and I went and saw him. Put the fear of the goddess into him, did all those other things, and later that night, when you were asleep, I gave you his magic,” Sly explains and looks at me, his eyes hold concern as if he is unsure of my reaction.

I grab his hand and link our fingers together. “Thank you for that. I probably should have thought of doing something to him.”

“You’re not wired that way, my darling, you’re the good one in this partnership, remember?” he says, smiling at me.

“I remember, Dark One.”

We all laugh at that.

“Why do I get the feeling she will keep calling me that?”

“Because she will, Dark One, and so will we,” Xander says, still laughing.

Sly shakes his head.

“She grilled us. You realise that, right?” Xander asks.

Sly and I both nod. “Yeah, but there was no malice or ill intention in her questions.”