The lights overhead flicker. ‘Calm down,’ I reprimand. ‘I apologise.’
He seems content with that and his eyes soften.
Jillian asks, ‘Do you think I want to send Kate on this journey?’
He frowns and I think he’s beginning to understand where Jillian’s coming from.
‘She’s not just my granddaughter, Jarrod. Kate is my daughter in every sense of the word. Her mother abandoned both of us years ago, and Kate is very dear to me. But I care for you too, and you may find this difficult to understand, but I sense there is something very special about you. I want to help you get rid of this curse so that you will be free to be the person you were meant to be.’
She sighs and puts a hand on Jarrod’s shoulder, locking eyes with him. I know this stance, it’s captivating. There’s no way he will be able to resist this pull. ‘Jarrod, Kate will help you in your quest, and you may need her talents to return home. Remember, it’s a big task to deal with a powerful alchemist’s magic. If you don’t realise your own powers, then you have no choice but to accept Kate’s generous offer.’
He quietens submissively. ‘I’m sorry. I just don’t want anyone else getting hurt on my behalf.’
‘Kate can take care of herself. I trust her completely.’
My eyes mist at Jillian’s words. I give her a hug and feel her warmth. ‘Thanks, Jillian.’ I pull back and look at Jarrod. ‘It may take the strengths of the two of us together to beat this thing. Besides,’ I shrug lightly, adjusting to the bulky feel of the garments, ‘how can I pass up an opportunity like this? If Jillian’s magic works, then I get to experience first-hand medieval life. The idea is nerve-racking but exciting at the same time. Don’t you feel it? And besides, I’ve always been fascinated with that part of history.’
‘I don’t share your enthusiasm,’ Jarrod replies cynically. ‘I can hardly think of anything worse. I enjoy history too. It’s my favourite subject. But living it? I’ll be glad if we make it back in one piece.’
I try to lighten his mood, ‘Don’t be so morbid, Jarrod. Remember, we’re going back to do a job, not rally an army and invade a country. We may even enjoy the experience … if the magic works of course,’ I add, airing my doubts.
‘Well,’ Jillian says, opening the back door and letting in a gust of pure icy wind. ‘Let’s see for ourselves, shall we?’
We follow Jillian into the forest. She heads straight for the creek, I know exactly the spot. It’s my favourite place, where I attempted the cleansing spell on Jarrod. It’s also the place where I was conceived many years ago, so my link to this particular part of the forest is strong. Jillian knows this. It’s why she’s chosen this spot.
We carry little with us, except the medieval clothes we’re wearing, and a box that has Jillian’s equipment. I wonder what strength and form of magic this will take.
I have to lift my skirts high off the ground not to trip over the broken logs, hanging vines and jutting roots. But eventually we arrive and Jillian makes us sit on an overturned log while she prepares the area. It’s dark so we’re using a torch, but it won’t be for long. Jillian carefully lays out a hundred short white candles in a circle large enough for two. When the circle is complete she stands back, closes her eyes and concentrates. Her hands stretch out and I hear a dull hum. Out of the corner of my eye I watch Jarrod’s reaction. I’ve seen Jillian do this a hundred times, but each time the thrill is the same. Jarrod is mesmerised, watching Jillian. He can tell something very special is about to happen. The sense of it surrounds us.
Jillian begins to chant in Latin, and though it’s very dark, we see her clearly. She is glowing softly, her skin a golden hue that seems to come from inside, like she’s creating her own unique energy. Suddenly she stops chanting, her eyes fly open, and Jarrod gasps. They’re glowing bright red.
‘Kate?’ his whisper is sheer panic.
‘Relax,’ I whisper back.
And then it happens. One hundred candles ignite, simultaneously. There’s no smoke, just leaping blue flames that soon settle into small gold ones. The air is electric.
The small spell complete, the circle cast and protected, Jillian’s eyes return to their normal dark blue and she turns to us, keen to get on with it. ‘There are some important things you must remember.’ She draws out of the box two necklets, strung from leather, and puts one around each of our necks. ‘Protect these with your lives, their power combined will return you home swiftly.’