Page 10 of Hexes & Heartstrings (Shifters of Bastion Keep #2)

"Not yet," Arthur said as he reclined back, somehow able to manage both his tea cup and his serving of bread as he did so. Bruin saw himself being regarded, Arthur's eyes roving up and down.

"We'll take the time to show you around, then. Where are you staying? I heard Lady Yi was given her own set of rooms in the central castle, and that most of your pack was staying in the Guardian's Quarter."

"I stayed with Lady Yi last night. Her royal room has an adjoining chamber for bodyguards, where myself and one of her pack stayed…

at least until she called him to her bedchamber.

" Arthur giggled, then lowered his voice.

"Far be it from me to spread gossip, but it's no secret that her husband likes to watch, so to speak.

I only mention it so that if she invites one of you up, don't be surprised by the cameras. "

Lux shrugged. "I don't think that will be an issue for any of us, but thank you for the insight all the same. I should mention, then, that there are open rooms in the Sage's Quarter, if you care to move to this wing. Assuming you don't have orders to remain by your lady's side, of course."

"I do not, so I think I'll take you up on that offer, yes. It would let me be closer to my fellow witches. And invite my own guests!"

"Then we'll manage that before lunch. But now that we've introduced our own selves, what about you?"

Arthur ate a piece of buttered bread, chewed thoughtfully, then dusted the crumbs off of his hand after setting his plate down.

"I go by Arthur. I know many witches will adopt an initiate's name, but I prefer my given one."

"Nothing wrong with that, of course," Rosemary said.

"Thank you. So I'm Arthur McCorvin, and I'm a Hedge witch, which I hear will come in handy."

"You heard correctly," Lux said, sitting up. "This is fortuitous! A specialist of spirits and spirit realms could prove instrumentally useful in our tasks, and I know our warlord, Lord Sergiy, had been hoping for one. Did Lady Yi bring you along specifically because of your talents?"

Arthur shook his head. "No. Officially I'm employed by her husband, Lord Hano of House Rhindon, but I started working for her directly after the two began courting. I have her ear, but practically I recognize that I'm just a useful tool to her."

He tilted his head, giving Bruin a wry grin. "When the Lady says come, you come."

For the next hour, the four of them traded histories.

Lux, Rosemary, and Bruin shared stories of living in Chicago in the United States, while Arthur discussed growing up in the Free Glades, working for different lesser noble houses.

He confessed that it felt like the world was moving too fast, sometimes.

After Bruin recounted an embarrassing yet favored story about how each of his four parents had individually punished him for the same crime because none let him get a word in edgewise, they tidied up the community room and washed their dishes before returning to the library, ready for some scholarly action before lunch.

The first thing Lux did was explain what they were attempting, giving Arthur a run down of their intended tracking operation.

Lux then explained that they could choose either internet research, charm workings, or finding useful books among the thousands surrounding them, and Bruin volunteered for the latter.

With Arthur helping, they did what they could with the library's catalog system, but with no dedicated librarian at the castle—a state of affairs that Lux declared a travesty—they only managed to narrow the search to specific regions.

In the end, they resorted to casting a scholar's divination charm that Arthur knew, essentially using his dagger as a dowsing rod to hopefully find the books that fit what they needed.

"Hmm," Arthur said above him. "Maybe three more shelves down?"

Taking hold of the wheeled ladder, Bruin pushed it over, being careful not to look up at where Arthur was standing what felt like miles above his head.

He'd made the mistake the first time, seeing Arthur balancing with just his feet and not bothering to hold on to the rails at all, and the queasy feeling in his stomach nearly offered back up the tea and bread.

"Oh. No, sorry, I meant the other direction."

Grunting, Bruin pushed it back six shelves the other way.

"Whoops! No, these titles are all wrong. I think you had it right the first time."

Bruin scoffed, putting his hands on his hips, then heard the man giggle.

"Kidding," Arthur sang, then slid off of the ladder by the soles of his shoes. Once he was on the ground, Bruin tried to glare, but the impish light in the other man's eyes caused him to snort instead.

"I'm sorry," Arthur continued. "I just couldn't help myself! It was fun being pushed around. Do you want a turn? You can just climb up, and I can push you across the library. I'm sure nobody will notice."

Bruin tried not to let his discomfort at climbing show, and he shook his head in negation.

"Nope!I'm good."

Arthur brandished their newly acquired volume, In Darkest Moonlight. Bruin picked up the other three books that a quick skim had suggested might be useful, then went back to the central desk where Lux was busy paging through a massive tome.

"You found more?" Lux asked, not looking up but sounding pleased. Beside him, Rosemary was carefully transcribing a list of ingredients for a charm. "Lady luck has surely blessed you! Just set those there, thank you."

"So what's next?" Bruin asked, adding the four books to the ones already present.

Lux was quiet while he finished reading a passage, then looked up, tapping a finger on his chin as he judged him and Arthur.

"What are your thoughts, Arthur? You're the Hedge witch."

Bruin saw the witch tuck a couple of thumbs in his pockets, leaning forward and staring at his feet as he thought.

"Most of my experience is with spirits themselves, rather than other realms," he said, looking up at Lux. "But from what you and Rosemary have told me… I think you need something more."

"More?"

Arthur nodded. "The way that you're working on your tracking spell, it's like you have a piece of clothing and you're giving it to a bloodhound to track the person.

A skilled bloodhound, yes, but still just one dog searching an entire forest, and your prey isn't going to stand still. Perhaps if you, ah, shrank the forest?"

Bruin watched Lux and Rosemary exchange glances.

"Shrank the forest," Lux repeated, seeming to taste the words. "Makes sense."

"It does?" Bruin asked. As far as he knew, the only way to shrink a forest was to burn it. Hopefully they weren't intending to catch the Umbral on fire.

Rosemary leaned across the table and took one of Bruin's hands in hers, patting it.

"It does. When the guardians used the lantern to track Wintersbane, think of it like a single watchman looking through a forest for signs of passage, like a footprint, or disturbed brush maybe.

Now that we have some shadow stuff from the demesne, we have a metaphorical piece of clothing with a scent, which is a huge step up, but it's still a lot of ground to cover.

If we can find a way to narrow the search… "

"And perhaps cordon off an area and prevent his demesne from moving," Lux added.

"Then we shouldn't have to worry about chasing it down.

And who knows how long that might take? Weeks, perhaps?

If the deeper layers of the Umbral are as dangerous as Roland is implying, then any advantage we can find to shave off time, the better.

Thank you, Arthur. It's a good starting place. "

"We have two more days until we visit the Umbral," Rosemary said. "Lux, can you help me translate some of these charms? They're kitchen recipes, but many of the terms are colloquial, like using something called a thrice-dipped ladle."

"Of course. And if I recall correctly, that particular one means for the witch to purify her utensil in fire, water, and then her own breath before use."

Bruin reached across the table to grab the stack of books, flipping through the pages of each to see which ones he'd best understand.

He found two that he thought he could decipher—one a short journal from the 1950's detailing Umbral visits by a mage, a second one about traveling through other spirit realms in general—and put them into his witch's messenger bag after showing them to Lux.

"Is there any way I can help?" Arthur asked.

"The three of us are going to join Roland in visiting the local Umbral realm on Friday, under guardian protection. If Lady Yi doesn't object, you're welcome to join us. Roland is of course our expert, having lived here for decades, but you understand things from a witch's point of view."

"I'd be honored."

Lux nodded. "Then apart from that, there's always more research that can be done between now and the end of next month, but really, if you're willing to share what knowledge you have…"

"Again, yes." Arthur laughed loudly. "Remember, I have orders to join your coven, so I'm willing to do anything ."

"We'd hardly go so far as to put a leash around your neck—" Lux began.

"At least not without asking consent first," Rosemary teased, putting a fist on her chin. "I have several in my room that I think would fit you, if you like leather."

"Bow-wow," Arhur said, his face blotching from blushing so hard. "I admit to having worn my share."

Lux started bouncing his leg, and Bruin saw him appraising their new acquaintance.

"No metaphorical leash, let's say instead.

But I think we should also hold off on a literal one, unless you're sure Lady Yi wouldn't take offense at you being led around by the three witches you're supposed to be taking command of. For now."

Arthur made a show of fanning himself.