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I got up early and consulted the DeLea potion bible. It didn’t have a potion for anything like I needed, but I cobbled together a base by using a combination of three memory and mind healing bases together. There was a lot of overlap; but apart from removing a couple of ingredients that could have had explosive consequences, I put them together without too much difficulty.

When I added Indy’s gifts depended on how the potion progressed. There were a couple of variations I could go with, so I decided to split the prepared base into four. I’d add the hair to one, the claw clippings to another and the blood to the third. The fourth would get a bit of everything.

I had already tasked Oscar with meeting with Mum and getting a small sample of her blood so we could key the potion directly to her. He was due back any minute and I was antsy to get to the next stage of brewing.

I took a deep breath and calmed my mind. Hurrying could ruin everything; perfection takes time. I blew out my breath and turned up the fire a little. When the colour was uniform, it was ready to be split.

I carefully decanted the hot liquid into four small pewter cauldrons and let them cool slightly. Satisfied they were stable, I went to my office to see if Oscar was back. He was talking quietly to Bastion, who had Fehu sitting on his shoulder.

‘Hey, Fehu!’ I called. I wondered where he’d been – I’d missed his feathery presence. He gave a kraa and leapt from Bastion’s shoulder onto mine. I gave his jet-black feathers a stroke. ‘It’s good to see you,’ I murmured.

I felt a rush of warmth and affection that wasn’t my own. My eyes widened as I realised it wasn’t Bastion’s feelings I was experiencing but Fehu’s. Somehow lifting the suppression rune from our bond had also let me feel Fehu, too.

‘I can feel him,’ I blurted to Bastion. ‘Fehu! I can feel him!’ I was grinning from ear to ear.

Fehu nuzzled me, tangling in my red hair and peeking through the loose strands. That was what I’d always imagined a bond with a familiar would be like. I didn’t regret being bonded with Bastion, not for a second, but it wasn’t like I could keep him in my pocket like Ria kept her familiar Fido, or twirled around my wrist like Hannah kept Fifi.

I felt a wave of pleasure from Bastion. ‘You don’t mind?’ I asked. Some might feel aggrieved to share a familiar, especially one like Fehu who had been bonded with Bastion for more than a century.

‘Not at all,’ he said lightly. ‘I hoped something like this might happen. The way Fehu always acted around you, I wondered if there was something there but these things can take time.’

Oscar smiled. ‘I’m glad for you, Amber.’

‘Thank you.’ I stroked Fehu’s little head again. ‘Did everything go okay with Mum? Did she give you the blood?’

The smile slid off his face. ‘She didn’t know me, so I asked Charlize to take it. Your mum gave it willingly to her.’ He handed me a small bag of blood.

‘Thanks.’ I stepped forward and hugged him. ‘I’m sorry she didn’t know you.’ Oscar hadn’t wanted to take her blood; he seemed resigned to my potion failing, which seemed oddly defeatist. I hoped I’d prove him wrong.

‘Can you get me an appointment with Liyana?’ I asked Bastion. No doubt the Seer High Priestess would be busy, but at least I could tell her that I’d found and killed Melva’s murderer – and get my potion tested.

‘Consider it done,’ Bastion said lightly.

‘Thank you.’ I brushed my lips against his forehead before heading back into my office and the laboratory behind it. I’d just stepped into it when Benji slid out of the walls. I gasped and held a hand to my heart. ‘By the Goddess, Benji, you scared the life out of me! I didn’t realise you could move through the walls here, too. I thought it was an Edinburgh thing.’

‘It’s harder,’ he admitted, ‘but not impossible.’

‘What’s up?’

‘I’m feeling lonely,’ he said abruptly.

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ I said softly. ‘Lonely is not fun. Are you missing David?’

‘I believe I am. I liked teaching him things. It made me feel important.’

‘You are important,’ I insisted. ‘In lots of ways.’ I set down the small bag of blood carefully. ‘Would you like a hug?’

‘Yes please, Am Bam. Perhaps it will stop this ache.’

That gave a hard tug at my heartstrings. I pulled him close and he returned the gesture, tucking my head under his chin. His cold touch leached into my skin but I held on; he wasn’t ready to let go and I wasn’t ready to let him down. I’d been lonely more times than I could count.

I wracked my brains for what people were supposed to do when someone felt low. ‘Cup of tea?’ I offered.

A smile traced his lips. ‘That would be nice but finish your potion first. I’ll watch quietly. Your company will be enough to make me happy.’

Benji pulled out a bar stool and sat down, then watched me bustle around, fiddling with ingredients and the height of the flame. I checked the temperature: it was perfect for ingredient combination, so I added Mum’s blood to each cauldron. Then I added each variation of ingredient to the three waiting cauldrons, and all three to the fourth cauldron.

I stirred patiently. When the potions turned silver, I knew they were done. I had already prepared the ice bath, so I transferred the cauldrons to it and heard the hiss as the heat hit the cold. I started to stir each of them in turn.

‘Can I help?’ Benji offered solicitously.

I am not good at delegating but I surprised myself by nodding. ‘Sure. You can stir these two.’

He joined me by the ice bath and together we stirred the cauldrons. It was easier with the two of us working together. My necklace was warm on my neck. I touched it lightly and felt a roll of approval from my sisters.

It had taken me a long time, but maybe I was finally learning how to play nicely with others.

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