Crochet and Cauldrons by Nancy Warren

Author:Nancy Warren [Warren, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
Published: 2018-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The day was brightening now, and outside the birds were singing. I looked out the kitchen window and saw a black cat sitting on the window ledge outside. It stared in, green eyes blinking. I said, "Why your cat looks just like mine."

Margaret’s blue eyes narrowed on me, the way Nyx's did, and then she turned and followed my gaze, out the window. "Well, well. You've a very devoted familiar there." She walked swiftly across the flag-stone floor, opened the multi-paned casement window, and in stepped Nyx.

I was surprised my cat had somehow travelled ten miles without even knowing where I was going, but, of course, Nyx had powers of her own. It was strange that she had followed me while I had that mirror, though. I thought she was scared of it.

Margaret picked her up and looked into her little face. "I believe I knew your mother."

Nyx made a noncommittal burp sound. Margaret continued to hold the cat in her arms stroking it thoughtfully. “We were speaking of reflection," she said. "Yes, mirrors reflect ourselves back at us. We use the word ‘reflection’ when we speak of the past. We reflect on our lives, our deeds. A reflection is only an image. Not substantial."

I glanced at Rafe to see if he was following this patchy stream of consciousness but he merely raised his shoulders indicating he had no more idea than I did what Margaret was talking about.

“I can't promise it will work, but there is powerful magic in this mirror and the trick is to turn it on Athu-ba, make him reflect on who he is and what he’s done."

I must have looked confused, for she said, "It's like Judo. Use your opponent’s strength against them."

I had a feeling that my battle with Athu-ba would be a little more intense than a bout of Judo, but I nodded, letting her know I was following.

"The mirror is already enchanted, but we’ll add an extra spell. When you reveal Athu-ba all you have to do is get him to look into this mirror while you cast a spell of your own. It's as simple as that."

Somehow I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be simple at all. I asked, "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then you die."

I couldn't fault her honesty. "What about Meritamun?"

"Who?"

"The woman trapped in the mirror. She's just a young witch and, through no fault of her own, she's been trapped for centuries, an instrument of his evil."

Margaret shook her head. "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and let her defences down when she shouldn’t have."

The potion was bubbling away and either I was losing my sensitivity, or the scent was diminishing. "I don't want to hurt her. Isn't there a way we can release her?"

She squinted at me and it was the oddest feeling, having both her and Nyx look at me with their eyes half closed, both tilted at the corners, green cats’ eyes and blue. Margaret said, "Part of our code is ‘Do what thou will, as long as it brings no harm.

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