As the prelude of the invocation rose, Lady Ravena, Gudrun, and Ingrid exhaled together toward Eliza—breath even and feather-light. At the same time, the old spell's force beat like a great drum upon mind and matter, setting Eliza's spirit trembling: her heart quickened; though her eyes were shut, her inner sight was already filling with phantasms of the Nine Realms and the Yggdrasil.
"Eptir Uppruna ok Sögu allra lífa ok sála,
gínandi Ginnungagap gleypti hrím, eld ok snjó;af myrkustum dǫgum þráðu allir hugar ljós,neistar blikkuðu, þá sýndisk sannleikr sýnar.
Þá réðu þrír Æsir at ok felldu Ými;at skǫpunum þeirra skiptusk undr ok runnu í samt,ok urðu heimar þúsundir.
Hinn mesti Yggdrasill hefir nú allt;
greinar eru sterkar ok víðar, rætur djúpar,
sýna list lífs ok tíma.
Af miklum mætti, er þú veittir,
urðum vér börn þín ok hofgoðar;
lyftum spjótum ok sverðum, búnir til orrustu.
Í nafni ok dýrð Æsa ok Vana,opnast nú Bifrǫst ok hreinsar veginn;
með sýnum ok mætti Níu heima,
leyfir oss at ráða náttúru ok sálum.
Sól ok Máni aka nú yfir himin,
rekjandi leyndardóma ok undr, er hyljask undir andvǫrpum.
Af ljósum ok blessunum frá Ásgarði,rannsakum vér fræði tíma.
Af anda vígra frá Vanaheimi,lærðum vér at berjast.
Af gjǫfum ok undrum Álfheims,féngum vér þá dýrgripi lífs ok sálar vár.
Af reiði Múspellsheims,sáum vér þá elda loga fyrir augum vorum.
Í Svartálfaheimi,smíðuðum vér vápn vár sjálf.
Yfir Niflheim,fǫndum vér sannleik ór þeim endalausu þokum ok lygim.
Af skyldu hreysti ok vitka,
fórum vér til Jǫtunheims at herja á kaldustu virki;
helgir eldar umkasta nú heiminum,
bræða ís ok snjó;
þá snýr sigr vár héðan at gulli ór ǫsku.
Djúp í Helheimi,
mætum vér hinstu orrustu lífs ok dauða
ok endurheimtum fornann mátt vorn.
Nú stígum vér í Miðgarð
at sigra sálir ok hugi.
Máttir sólar ok mána tendrask nú;
allt hold ok verur skjálfa við sjón.
Norðrljós ok eilífir eldar lýsa nú heima alla;er vér förum yfir óbyggðir,vaxa akrar, þá ljúkast ríki ǫll."
[Following The Origin and The Saga Of All Lifes And Souls,The Yawning of Ginnungagap Were Devouring Rime • Fires and Snows;From Those Darkest Days All Minds were Longing For Light,Shimmering Sparks Emerge The Truth of Sight.
When Three Æsir Conquest and Defeated Ymir,By Their Creations Those Great Wonders Divided and Fused Became Thousands of Worlds.
The Mighty Yggdrasil Now Contains All, Branches Were Strong and Wide,Roots That Deep Thou Presenting The Art of Life And Time.
By The Mighty Power Thy Granted,We Became Your Child and Priest,Raise Our Spear and Sword Then Ready To Fight.
In The Name and Majestic of Æsir and Vanir, Bifrost Now Open And Clear The Road,By The Visions and Powers of Nine Realms That Allows Me Charge The Nature and Souls. The Chariot of Sol and Mani Now Across The Sky,Tracing those Secrets and Wonders Which Hides Beneath Those Sighs.
By The Lights And Blessings From Ásgarðr We Probe those Knowledges of Time.
By The Spirit Of Warriors From The Vanaheimr We Learned How to Fight.
By The Gift And Wonders From The Álfheimr We Gained Those Treasures of My Life and Soul.
By The Wrath From Múspelsheim We Saw Those Fire Blazing Before Our Eyes.
Into The Svartálfaheim We Forged Our own Weapons.
Across The Niflheimr We Found Out The Truth From Those Endless Fogs and Lies.
By The Duty of Valor and Vitki We Marched to Jötunheimr to Against those Coldest Strongholds,All The Sacred Flames Now Casting Around This World,Melt Down Their Ice and Snows,Then Our Victory from Now Turn Ashes Into Gold.
Deep Into The Helheim We Face That Ultimate Battle of Life And Death Then Regain My Prime.
Now We Step Into The Miðgarðr to Conquer Those Souls And Mines.
The Powers of Sun And Moon Now Ignite,
All Those Flesh And Creatures Now Tremble at The Sight.
The Northern Lights And Eternal Flames Now Bright All Worlds,When We Across Those No Man's Land,Those Fields Shall Grow then All The Kingdom Now Unfold.]English Version.
As the last syllable of the spell fell, the four candles around Eliza burst at once into gold-red light. Elder Erik took in the sight, his gaze hard on Eliza. "Raise your left hand—initiate the blood-sacrifice"
Shaken by the chanting, Eliza hesitated for a heartbeat. "Now," urged Elder Erik. She snapped her eyes open, caught the golden knife Ingrid offered, and, teeth set, scored her left thumb. Blood, like crimson pearls, fell drop by drop to the altar stone, slowly shaping the rune Ansuz ᚨ.
Seeing the sign of foresight and wisdom take form, Lady Ravena gave three ritual sighs, then leveled both hands toward the floor and began the Invoking hymn:
Urðr, hin mikla móðir liðinna tíma,
vér ákallum þik ok köllum á þik,
fyrir tákn þeirra týndra minna ok tára;
vér komum fram til þín!
Ljúk upp hliðinu ok öllum leiðum,
lát nú leyndardóma þá ok gleymdan sǫng
fara fram ok snúa aptr fyrir augum vorum!
[Urd - The Great Mother Of The Past,I Invoke You And Call You,For The Signs of Those Lost Memories And Tears,We Come Forth To Thee!
Open The Gate And Open All Ways,Let Those Secrets And Forgotten Tune Now Pass And Returning Before Our Eyes!]English Version.
As her words fell, a gray-gold nimbus poured from Lady Ravena's hands and drifted round Eliza; the mistlike light kept shaping and condensing. After nine clockwise circuits, the brightened halo settled as a golden ring upon the floor and enclosed Eliza within. Ravena turned to Gudrun and gave a small nod.
Gudrun stilled her breath, drew in a deep lungful, and blew into her hands cupped like a water-bowl. Then she, too, began to chant the Invoking hymn:
Verðandi, hin mikla móðir þessarar tíðar,
ek ákalla þik ok kalla á þik;
veittu mér mátt at fá at láni vatn ór brunni þíns fróðleiks ok örlaga þinna.
Vér hlýðum lǫgum þínum ok boðum þínum, ok komum fram til þín!
Ljúk upp veginum, er milli lífs ok dauða er;
legg í ljós sannindi ok lygar;
lát fróðleik þinn ok dýrð renna í tíma;
nú koma í ljós þúsundir orða ok sýna!
[Verðandi - The Great Mother Of The Present,I Invoke You And Call You,Please Grant Me The Power To Borrow The Water From Thy Fountain Of Wisdom And Fates,We Obey Thy Rules And Commands,And We Come Forth To Thee!
Open The Path Which Between The Life And Death,Lay Bare Those Truth And Lies,Let Thy Wisdom And Glory Flows Into Time,Thousands Of Words And Visions Now Come Into The Light!]English Version.
With the chant, dense vapor welled out of Gudrun's hands from empty air. The mist spread and spread, thick as London's old fog, filling the whole altar. Bending slowly, eyes fixed on the golden ring at her feet, Gudrun said, "vatn ór brunni fróðleiks[The Water From Fountain of Wisdom]." She opened and closed her still-steaming hands three times; at the last opening—still cupped like a bowl—the vapor vanished in an instant, and a clear run of water, silver-lit and star-specked, sprang forth. It poured into the golden ring, lapping over Eliza's feet until a small pool stood there.
When she had finished, Gudrun parted her hands and raised them to the height of her breast. Ingrid glanced at her sister, then lifted the knife and leveled it at the pool. As the reflected gleam of the blade struck the surface, the water began to quake. At the same time she spoke the final Invoking hymn:
Skuld, hin mikla móðir þeirrar tíðar er koma skal,ek ákalla þik ok kalla á þik;
ráðandi yfir skǫpun ok endarlausum vegum,
er lítur til allra leitenda ok lifandi sála,vér komum fram til þín!
Sjá þú, at vér erum verðugir; sjá þú, at vér þráum ok erum búnir.
Lát nú auga tíða ok fróðleiks opnast þeim, er leitar sanninda ok trúar;
lát hana standa innan leyndardóms þíns;
lát spá ok sýnir hennar héðan í frá birtask ok anda!
[Skuld - The Great Mother Of The Future,
I Invoke You And Call You,The Mistress Of Creation And The Endless Roads,The Gaze Upon All Seekers And Living Souls,We Come Forth To Thee!
See That We Are Worthy,See That We Are Longing And Ready,Let The Eye Of Times And Wisdom Now Open To The One Who Seeks The Truth And Beliefs.Let Her Stand Within Thy Mystery,Let The Prophecy And Its Visions From Now Appear And Breaths!]English Version.
As the words left her lips, Eliza went rigid, as if every tendon in her body had been jerked taut at once. She had been gazing down into the water; now an unseen force lifted her from above. Her eyes rolled back until only the whites showed, and her hands turned of their own accord behind her back.
She drew a sharp breath. Just as she tried to understand what was happening, she found herself already standing in the scene of prophecy she had only ever glimpsed in vision—a place choked with smoke and fire. Monoliths loomed around her; soot and sparks drifted everywhere. At the sight, Eliza sucked in a cold breath. She stepped back in panic and snapped a charred pine twig underfoot. "Crack." The clean break shattered the hush, and she stared about in growing alarm.
"Make use of the time! Observe every detail!" Elder Erik's voice floated from the void. Eliza let out a long breath, steadied herself, and started toward the stones. She ran her fingers lightly over the ancient runes chiseled there; the cold brought up a rash of gooseflesh. "This stone is carved with so many names! Olaf blóðøx, Thorfinn Haukadalr, Nora Nygård… What is that? Wait— Ivar Ravn! That's my great-grandfather's name!" she said, shaken.
At the altar, Elder Erik faltered for a heartbeat. A flash of shock—and unease—passed through his blue-green eyes. He glanced at Lady Ravena; she wore the same astonished look. "Continue. Go read what's carved on the other stones," Elder Erik said, steadying his voice.
"These stones carry the gods' visages and their sacred names—but something's off." Eliza touched the rock again. Beyond the chill, there was a thin smear clinging to it—tar-like, rank. Suddenly, a stabbing pain tore through her. She looked down: the hand fouled with that filth was beginning to rot, slowly, before her eyes. Pus and blood welled out. "Ah!" she cried.
At the altar, Eliza's true hand flushed red and began to bleed as well. Seeing it, Gudrun lifted a sheet of clear spring from the pool with a sweep of her arm and cast it across Eliza's palm. The moment the Sacred Water touched the torn flesh, the swelling and blood ebbed visibly, and under the run the wound began to knit.
Elder Erik's eyes shifted from unease to a kind of startled wonder, and the three women circling Eliza—mother and daughters—looked from one to another, as if some realization had come upon them together.
"They're here!" Eliza was still rubbing the hand that had healed yet throbbed faintly, when the shadows were already drifting in. "See each face clearly! Mark their traits! Are they living, corpses, or ghosts—or…" Elder Erik clenched his fist, glanced back at the silver icons of the gods, and his voice quivered just a touch. "Are they wizards?"
Eliza drew a deep breath and walked toward the shapes as they resolved into human forms, slow and careful. She stopped by the slick-haired youth she had seen before. Even in smoke and ember-glow he stared blankly, muttering to himself. Eliza waved a hand before his eyes, then patted his shoulder. When there was no response, she leaned closer.
"My followers and views—why are they always less than those brain-dead creators who rush to open OnlyFans? How come after all this work I'm still a nobody on the edge of the fame game? Those girls I met the other day had good bodies—should I make time to ask them out again…?" the young man said in a dead voice.
Eliza curled her lip. "The first looks like a philanderer influencer."
"Mind the particulars. What else is on him?" Elder Erik urged.
"Nothing special—head to toe luxury brands and heavy cologne. No name tag, no amulet…" She lifted his wrists and studied the vessels beneath the skin. "He's not one of us. No wizard's trace; no inborn rune at the wrist. Wait… hold on." She pried open his fingers. A small packet of pills in different colors lay in his palm. "Looks like he's a junkie."
"Nothing More?" came from Elder Erik's voice.
"Nothing I can tell. Beyond that, no distinct traits." Eliza scratched her head, embarrassed.
"It's all right. Go on to the next," said Lady Ravena, gently.
Eliza moved to the next figure, again testing for a response. She even shouted across the stone circle: "Hey,You Guys Hear Me?" But the twenty-four stood like living statues, eyes void of light, each absorbed in their solitary business.
As Eliza touched the bandages on the second person's hand, checking the wrist for detail, his clenched fist suddenly swung. She flinched back. Oddly, he wasn't looking at her; his eyes were roving everywhere. He threw both hands high and pumped them, then bellowed in triumph—every inch the victor. "This one's like a boxer. But like the influencer, he's just an ordinary man. No wizard's breath at all…"
One by one, Eliza examined them. Each seemed an ordinary person bound here. But when she reached the girl about her own age and height, cold sweat sprang over her. "Ah!" she cried, stumbling several steps. "That face! How—no… impossible!"
"What is it? What do you see?" Ingrid asked, anxious.
The girl had no features. Her head was veiled in a thin membrane that flowed like quicksilver laced with blood. It was the reflection of her own face in that moving sheen that had startled Eliza a moment ago. Her heart now hammered as it had the first time she saw the prophecy. She clutched her chest, forced herself calm, and returned to examining the girl. "Sorry—I was just startled by the quicksilver face. I'm fine. Look—there's a dried bloodstain at the chest of her clothes. And her hands… wait." Eliza lifted the sleeve—and what she saw touched the deepest terror of her soul.
"She's a wizard! And the runes formed by the vessels on her wrist—they're the same as mine!" Eliza cried.
"What did you say? Are you certain? Check every detail—her breath as well!" Elder Erik cut in, holding her panic in check.
Eliza hurried on, pulling the items from the girl's pockets: fridge magnets from various cities, a few delicate pendants. "I've never seen these before" she said, frowning.
"Feel along her spine," said Lady Ravena. "If she bears the same wizard's mark as you, and if she were you, her resonance must match."
Through the cloth, Eliza traced each vertebra with care, eyes shut, feeling. "It's Not like mine. Her power feels fallen into dusk—tainted, as if by poisons and darkness. So strange… Wait—there it is. Something familiar." Her fingers paused at the nape. "I'm at her atlas now. I don't know why, but a warmth rises—calm, secure. It feels like … like a power that belonged to the witches of the last generation. And it's strange: though her mark matches mine, by those strength and vibration within her?No,I swear she isn't me. I'm seventeen. The power in her is middle-aged, even older—and it keeps declining."
Just then, a heavy medicinal smell hit her. Eliza looked over the girl and around the circle, hunting the source. She found faint brown ligature marks on the girl's clothing. She leaned in. "Henbane. She reeks of henbane!" Eliza blurted.
"Henbane? We rarely use that poison. Why would it be on her? Anything else?" Lady Ravena asked, baffled.
"A hint of rot—coming from those ligature marks as well," Eliza said, still studying. Suddenly the twenty-fifth figure from the vision stepped out from behind a monolith into the center of the ring—the same rotted, featureless horror as before. As the woman lifted her hand, the circle shook as it had last time. Black-violet smoke and blood surged from the cracking earth; the sky bled red. Eliza screamed and scrambled, rolling and crawling until her back struck the god-carved stone.
In the waking world, the Sacred Water at Eliza's feet flushed red at the same instant. At the sight, Elder Erik and Lady Ravena shouted together, "Eliza! Out—now!"
Ingrid snatched up the dagger and leveled it at Eliza, casting: "Með hinu auga vísdóms ok dýrðar vísi nú leið þína, ok láti þik snúa aptr til veraldar. [By The Eye Of Wisdom And Glory,Now Guide Thy Way,And Let Thee Return To Reality! English Version]" She bent and cut the golden ring on the floor. The moment the circle parted, the red pool of Sacred Water blew away on the wind, and Eliza snapped back to herself—her knees buckled, and Gudrun caught her as she slumped to the ground.
Lady Ravena hurried close. "Ingrid, go! Boil water with ash leaves and bring her a cup."
Ingrid nodded, first rinsing the dagger in morning dew, then wiping it carefully with white linen. Setting the blade aside, she flew down the stairs.
Elder Erik laid down his spear and, together with Lady Ravena and Gudrun, helped the faint Eliza into a chair in the study. Lady Ravena returned carrying an aromatherapy stand scented with lemon leaves and mint oil; Gudrun opened every window of the room. With clean, fresh air moving through, Eliza slowly steadied.
Presently Ingrid came back up with a silver cup. She set the tray gently before Eliza. "It's hot—sip it slowly," she said, concern softening her voice. Eliza nodded, still a little shy, and raised the cup to drink. Seeing color return to her, Elder Erik settled again into the high walnut chair. He drew a gold Assembly badge from the drawer, his right hand knotting a swift seal as he traced a bind runes in the air. The world-tree relief upon the gold began to glow faintly red. Then he gazed toward the window and, in a solemn, gentle voice, said, "Brothers And Sisters,Please Answer My Calling… " A few minutes later, a light breeze drifted into the room.
Suddenly Elder Erik's phone chimed with several message alerts. He opened his computer at once and assembled a brief video meeting. Several unfamiliar elders appeared in the chatroom: one in casual vacation wear, another in formal business dress as if just escaped from an important conference; a third wore white ceremonial robes, with an Icelandic timber house and vast natural splendor behind …
When everyone had arrived, Elder Erik paused, then said, "Brothers and sisters, report to the Nine Courts Assembly in Our Sacred Name at once! Incident codes 6, 13, and 24. Notify the witches of the Upper Three Courts in Norway to initiate a ceremony cross-checks according to the details I'll send tonight. Next Wednesday I'll take the earliest flight back to the Assembly and explain to the Golden-Robed Elders in person."
On hearing his concise statement, the mages on screen grew grave. None spoke for a long while: one began to write on paper; another took up a phone to hunt down a contact; a third nodded, fingers tightening around the amulet at their breast with a complicated look—then closed the video…
Finishing his work, Elder Erik took several long swallows of the coffee that had already gone cold, then looked at the still-bewildered Eliza. "First: what you saw in the prophecy is far beyond your current understanding. The portents and symbols displayed there are more unusual—and more complex—than I expected. Hold steady for now. I'll share my analysis and recommendations with your parents later. It's too soon yet. Go home and rest. When I've returned to the Assembly and clarified the prophecy's specific direction, I'll let you know. Don't worry." He spoke gravely, even mustering a faint smile at the end.
At that, Eliza's composure faltered. "Did I do something wrong? Are the things in the prophecy dangerous? D-did I break a taboo? Report to the Nine Courts Assembly?! Am I finished? I'm not even initiated yet—did I just make trouble for everyone…?" She couldn't hold it in; tears fell in heavy drops.
Lady Ravena stepped in and embraced her; Gudrun hurried to fetch tissues and dabbed away the tears. "My dear silly child, it's all right. You did nothing wrong. This prophecy is only more complex, more unusual, than the others before it. For your safety and growth, we have to inform the Assembly so they can investigate the details," Lady Ravena murmured, stroking Eliza's hair.
But Eliza still sobbed. "I've already caused trouble. I don't want this prophecy to be a burden on everyone."
Seeing this, Ingrid half-knelt beside her. "Saying you're not worried would be lying to yourself. Anyone who saw what you saw would be at a loss. But we're working on it, aren't we? Trust us. As a family, we'll find a way through. Also—you haven't eaten, have you? Come on, change clothes with me. I'll take you out for a walk and dinner at my favorite restaurant."
Lady Ravena glanced to Ingrid and nodded, then took Eliza's hand. "Come, child. Don't worry—everything will be fine. We'll speak to your parents; they'll understand and won't blame you."
Hearing that, Eliza's crying eased a little. She wiped her eyes, drew several deep breaths, and offered Elder Erik another half-kneeling bow. Then, her expression still tangled, she followed Gudrun and Ingrid downstairs to change.
After watching the girls go, Lady Ravena turned back, her face as grave as Elder Erik's. "Judging by what she saw—do you think it might be…?"
"Not certain. But I'm worried. If what she saw wasn't symbolic but a true, real scene, we must Act. Those twenty-four people—I think I know what they correspond to. But it's still early. I'll confirm when I speak at the council next week," Elder Erik said, a thread of anxiety showing.
Lady Ravena moved to his side and touched his shoulder lightly. "It's been millennia since anything like this. If it's true, I fear for the girl. She's so young. She shouldn't have to endure this in this age."
"The Norns have given signs and guidance. That we cannot change. What we can do is ensure her safety and prepare what comes next. Ravena, go check on the child. Before she leaves, brew her a calming tea in Primula veris with elm leaves. Their dinner is on me. And make sure that after dinner, Ingrid gets her safely to the station." Elder Erik patted Lady Ravena's hand, his tone warm.
Ingrid and her sisters had already changed and come down to the kitchen. Eliza still couldn't shake the horror of the prophecy-scene she'd re-entered; hunger nipped at her besides. She stared, dull-eyed, at the table's candlestick and did not move. Gudrun, meanwhile, was noting every detail of the rite and circling tonight's phase on the wall calendar. "Ingrid, this re-entry under the black moon turned out… curiously," she said.
Ingrid took a sip of water and nearly choked. "I know—cough—honestly it felt wrong to me too. All these years doing rites, it's my first time seeing the Three Mothers give a portent like that. Especially that stone circle. I'm a little—"
"Hush. I'm still writing," Gudrun said, giving her a look, then flicked a glance at Eliza, who was still blank and silent. A heartbeat later she spoke mind-to-mind with Ingrid, voice entering the quiet of the inner hall:
"Do you want to frighten the girl to death? She's not even initiated. She doesn't know half of what the Assembly knows. If you tell her right now that the scene in her vision was our Assembly's stone-altar circle—what do you think that will do? She's just taken a psychic and bodily hit from the re-entry itself. Flood her now and you'll break her"
Ingrid, glass in hand, tightened her grip on the strap of her jumpsuit and answered the same way:
"But we can't keep this up either. Her initiation's in July, and this is too big. Even if we don't say it, her parents—or others in the Coven—will. I'm only afraid that if this prophecy isn't symbolic but literal reality, all of us will be pulled in. To be honest, when I saw the Sacred Water go red, something cold and panicked woke in me"
Eliza flinched as if she'd felt a pressure drop and folded forward onto the table with a soft thump. Lady Ravena came down the stairs just then. She signaled to the sisters and spoke to them the same way—within:
"You two are treating her like an outsider. Do you think Eliza can't feel the weather of your minds? Even if her power isn't fully open yet, she can sense the net of emotion you've thrown across this room. Look at her—you've already made it hard for her to breathe"
Gudrun and Ingrid both cut their eyes toward Eliza slumped on the tabletop, then dipped their heads and pretended nothing had happened. Lady Ravena crossed to the girl and stroked her back. "It's all right. I'll brew you a calming tea. Sip it first, and then Ingrid will take you out for dinner. You've barely eaten all day—you're running low." She looked over. "Ingrid, to the herb cabinet—bring the Primula veris."
Eliza pushed herself upright, a little lost, and after a long silence said, very softly, "Do you think this prophecy… already speaks my end? Or is this the beginning of something worse?"
"What are you saying?" Gudrun ruffled her hair and went to fetch her bag. "No one's even begun formal analysis, much less drawn conclusions. Don't scare yourself. I still have the chocolate I bought for little Tyri—eat a square; when your blood sugar comes up, the shadows won't look so tall."
Lady Ravena measured the herbs into a vacuum flask. "No delay. Ingrid, take her to eat first."
"Yeah, I'm starving too. Let's go," Ingrid said, taking the flask and pulling Eliza to her feet.
"Wait!" Gudrun slipped the chocolate into Eliza's canvas tote.
"As a witch, tears aren't to be spent lightly," she said, gentle but firm. "Remember who you are and what you carry. It's early yet. We have our warning; we'll help you find the countermeasure. And when you come to London again—remember, you've another home here. You're welcome anytime."
Eliza could only nod, cheeks warm; Lady Ravena wrapped her in a long hug.
Elder Erik came down as well and handed Eliza a wrapped bundle of candles anointed with sacred oil. "A month's worth. I'll send more when the time comes. Light one each night before sleep; it will ease your rest and leach off the fear that clung to you after the re-entry."
Eliza's hands shook as she received them; tears dotted the brown paper.
Her stomach answered with a loud gurgle. Everyone laughed. "Told you—don't spill tears so easily," Gudrun teased. "Now your poor body is protesting."
Ingrid hurried Eliza to the door, and Elder Erik and the two women came to see them off. "Rain again? This blasted weather never ends," Ingrid muttered. Elder Erik laced his fingers, drew a bind runes, and brushed it into the air; outside, the downpour visibly softened, the clouds cracked, and sunlight returned to the street.
"Go on," he said with a smile.
"Thanks, Father. I'll bring back a blueberry pie after dinner. Come on—before I get stupid with hunger too," Ingrid laughed.
Eliza looked back at the household, eyes wet. She bowed and followed Ingrid onto the arriving bus…
Dinner was a Chinese hotpot place in Holborn. As the broth rolled and bubbled, Ingrid patiently taught Eliza how to hold chopsticks and pick a dipping sauce. "Have some soup. I chose a mushroom stock for you—try that. The other side is spicy, but only level three. My Chinese friends can really handle heat, but this place is great on a rainy day. I love it."
Eliza cupped the hot bowl, sipped, and warmth spread through her with the mushroom's savor and a prickle of pepper. "You're still keeping something from me, aren't you? When Elder Erik said he'd report to the Nine Courts, I knew this wasn't simple. Even when I told my mother the vision the first time, I saw that same look."
"How to put it…" Ingrid smiled at her and slid rolls of beef and greens into the pot. "It isn't simple. But you know this: prophecy splits two ways—metaphor and literal scene. We don't yet know if what you saw was your deep fear bending the vision—or an event that will happen as-is. There's no verdict. The omen is frightening, but by tradition and by what our family knows, for that omen to actually occur is harder than climbing to the moon. Honestly, I—" She cut herself off, let the ladle slip deliberately into the broth, and hissed. "Ugh, talking too much. I've turned clumsy."
Eliza frowned. "Harder than climbing to the moon? What does that mean?"
"Let my father's team finish their checks first," Ingrid said. "I'd only be guessing, and guesses just add pressure. Eat. The beef's going cold."
Eliza shoved a slice from the red broth into her mouth, then sputtered, eyes watering, and chased it with ice water. Ingrid burst out laughing. "It is spicy, right? First time I came, I cried too."
…
After the meal, Ingrid walked Eliza to Liverpool Street Station. "Don't overthink it. Come visit us when you can. We'll be back to the Coven this summer too—I'll take you into the woods. You'll love the view there."
Eliza said nothing—she just hugged Ingrid tight. Thank you, sister, she thought.
"I heard that," Ingrid said, hugging her back. "Go on, don't miss your train. Message me when you're home."
Eliza nodded and flashed a bright smile. "Thank you all for today. I'll go ahead. Until next time." She turned away then, eyes glimmering, worry clouding her brow, and walked toward the platforms.
On the evening ride back, the city's lights thinned, and Essex's cold gray crept in again. When she got off, she counted automatically—forty-eight steps from platform to concourse, 1,320 from the station doors to the alley, past one manhole, right turn, eight stairs up to her own door. It had been a long day; she was spent.
What she did not know was this: the story inside the prophecy had only just begun.