Morgan hadn’t seen that coming. He spun away to hide whatever might be showing in his expression.

After everything she had been through—everything she might still go through—she refused to leave him. A mixture of feelings swelled in his chest, closing his throat.

When he could speak again, his voice was roughened. “We need to talk some sense into her. You need to get her back to Earth.”

“While I appreciate her brave declaration and your unfounded belief in my abilities, I can only act stealthily on my own behalf,” Robin said wryly. “I cannot change another creature into a mouse, or a squirrel. Although I might wish with all my heart things were different, I don’t have the capability of slipping her past the passageway guards.”

At that, Morgan swore, viciously. “You’ve been nothing but a curse.”

“Yes. I cannot undo what I have done, but I can do everything in my power to aid her and help break you free from that which binds you.” Robin paused. “If you’ll let me. I’ll understand if you will not. But, sorcerer, think carefully before you repudiate my offer. You don’t have many options, and with the right motivation I can be a powerful ally.”

Powerful, but chaotic. Lowering his eyelids, Morgan studied Robin intently, trying to decide if accepting his offer of help was worth the added danger and aggravation. If there had been a hint of insincerity or duplicity in the puck, Morgan would have killed him right then and there. Instead, he saw nothing but an earnest desire to help.

Am I really going to gamble everything on the word of my enemy? he wondered.

But the puck was his best choice. As a nature sprite, when Robin was a cat, he smelled like a cat. When he was another creature, he smelled like that creature. There was nobody better to slip around the castle, and the puck’s audacity proved it.

Morgan dug into his pocket and pulled out the diamond wrapped in its cloth of concealment. “Sidonie needs this before her performance,” he told Robin. “She doesn’t know how to play any of the musical instruments here well enough to perform.”

Robin’s expression changed to one of surprised dismay. “None of them?”

“No. Her expertise lies in other instruments… the violin, the guitar, and I don’t know what else. She said she can play five instruments well enough to perform with them, but none are collected in the music hall. The closest instrument is the lute. She’s been picking it up incredibly quickly, but not in enough time for tonight’s performance.”

“How can she survive the night?” Robin’s expression looked troubled.

“With this battle spell.” Morgan held up the cloth-wrapped diamond. “I’ve amended it to transfer my experience of playing the lute to her. It will last long enough to get her through tonight. She needs this spell, and you need to get it to her.” His voice roughened. “No excuses, puck, and there’s no room for failure.”

As Robin held out his hand for the jewel, his gaze darkened with sincerity. “I will see she gets it,” he promised. “I swear it on my life.”

Yes, he would. Morgan would see to it.

He said harshly, “I’ve shown you more mercy than you deserve, and right now, I’m showing you more trust than you’ve earned. If you don’t get this to her, I will pull your lungs out with my claws and watch every moment of your struggle to breathe until you die. I swear that on my life.”

Soberly, Robin accepted the jewel. “I believe you.”

“Tell her the spell will be triggered by her touch, so she shouldn’t unwrap the jewel until she’s ready for it.” He took a deep breath, his mind already leaping to the next obstacle. “And tell her there’s a hiding place in the rafters above the great hall. I will do my very best to be there for her performance.”

In fact, he would make damn sure he was there. If Robin failed to deliver the diamond, he needed to have a backup plan. He didn’t have time to create another magic item of such complexity, so he would have to get within enough proximity to cast the battle spell himself, despite the increased danger of being discovered.

“I will pass along your message.” Robin slipped the jewel into his pocket then hesitated. “About the geas that binds you… I remember very well the knife Isabeau wears on a chain at her waist. Sidonie said it’s called Azrael’s Athame, or sometimes Death’s Knife?”

Morgan raised an eyebrow. “Yes, that’s what Isabeau has called it. I’ve wondered if it might be one of the Deus Machinae, so I’ve been searching for references in various texts to try to find ways of breaking or dissolving the geas, but I haven’t had any luck yet. Why, do you know of it?”

“No, but when we were talking earlier, I realized I hadn’t heard Lord Azrael and his hounds on his Wild Hunt for a very long time. A very long time indeed. Perhaps even as long as you have been ensorcelled.” Robin tilted his head, and the feral gleam was back in his eyes. “I’ve listened for sounds of the Wild Hunt, you see. I thrill to hear it, even as I hide safely indoors.”

Morgan narrowed his gaze. “Just how old are you?”

“Old, sorcerer,” he said. “As old as you are, you are but a child to me.”

Before he could ask the puck any more questions, Robin slipped out the door and was gone.

As the door settled into place behind him, Morgan thought, we’ve cast our dice, Robin, Sidonie, and me.

Now all we can do is watch them tumble and land where they may.

Chapter Seventeen

Morgan had one more casting he needed to do that day, a simpler one that should go much faster than the creation of the battle spell. Tired though he was, he sat down with his tools to see it got done.

Once the null spell had been set into an uncut sapphire, he wrapped it carefully in a plain piece of cloth. Like the battle spell he had crafted for Sidonie, the null spell would activate when it came in contact with skin, so he didn’t want to touch it unless he absolutely had to.

Then, finally, he let himself relax on the dusty bed to nap until the light changed and the cottage cooled in the early evening.

Coming to instant, full alertness, Morgan straightened off the bed. Remembering he had entrusted the jewel that would save Sidonie from prison to Robin, of all creatures, made adrenaline surge until his muscles tightened and he felt ready for battle.