Page 11 of Familiar of the Witch

There was a sigh. ‘You ask a lot, but since destiny is calling I won’t play with the electronics. It wouldn’t do for you to be late for destiny. Well … later.It seems this prophecy has already been hanging about for a while, Ellie.’ Frogmatch scurried out of the boot of the car and smiled at me with a mouth full of spiky teeth.

Frogmatch is eight inches tall and has vibrant red skin, which looked far brighter than it had when he’d visited me in the clinic after a vampyr had removed his tail. I’d healed the tail and saved his life; in exchange he’d given me a kiss and an offer of help. Last night I’d summoned him to my cell and an hour later he had appeared – how, I had no idea. I knew very little about imp magic: they are a secretive bunch.

I’d asked Frogmatch for his help, outlined what I needed him to do, and he’d scurried off to save my bacon. As it turned out, Bastion had also been plotting to save me in his own way, but I figured both of them had contributed to my release.

Now Frogmatch was standing before me, his forked tail curved up his body, his right hand wrapped around it as if he were reassuring himself that it was still there. His antlers were in fine fettle and he had a little white loincloth looped around his waist to preserve his modesty. Apart from the loincloth he was naked. His toenails were curved and black, like mini-claws; they were probably quite good as a defence weapon, but frankly the pocket-sized talons looked adorable.

‘Prophecy is for the directionless,’ I harrumphed to the imp. ‘I know what I’m doing with my life.’

‘If the griffin says you need to know it, then you need to know it.’ Frogmatch waggled a finger at me.

I was being schooled by a creature no bigger than my hand, and the worst thing was that he was completely right. I sighed. It looked like I was going prophecy hunting.

Chapter 9

I pulled out my phone and rang Melva’s private number. It was early afternoon, and I’d no doubt missed her lunch hour, so I didn’t expect her to answer promptly, if at all. I was ready to leave a voice message when the call connected.

‘Hello, Amber,’ she said in a mysterious voice. ‘I’ve been expecting your call.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Knock it off. You knew it was me because of caller ID.’

I heard the smile in her voice. ‘That too. You’re coming to see me.’

It wasn’t a question but I answered it anyway. ‘Yes.’

‘Perfect timing. My 2pm appointment has just left and I’ve nothing until 4pm.’ She said the last words with a weird emphasis.

‘Ok-ay. We won’t be there that soon because we’re still in Scotland. Are you free this evening?’

‘From 7pm,’ she confirmed.

‘Great.’ I cleared my throat. ‘We need to talk about my prophecy.’

‘Yes. Thank the Goddess.’ She sighed happily. ‘The relief … it’s amazing. I’ve been dragging it around for years. The weight of it…’

‘What?’ I asked in confusion. ‘How is a prophecy heavy?’

‘It’s metaphysically heavy. There’s a reason we’re supposed to record the prophecies in the Hall of Prophecy,’ she explained. ‘When we recite a prophecy, it clings to us. Every day that it’s attached to us, it uses our strength to remain here inthisrealm, in our memories. When we place the prophecies in the orbs, their link with us dissipates and frees us. It’s like constantly walking around carrying a heavy rock, then you set it down and your arms feel floaty and light. When I agreed to keep your prophecy, I had no idea it would continue to grow or how heavy it would become. I’ve been looking forward to this day with all my heart, even with the consequences.’ She hummed happily.

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ I asked, aghast. ‘I would have heard the prophecy sooner if I’d known what it was costing you to hold it.’

‘You weren’t ready to hear it andit wasn’t ready to be spoken. But I’m glad that today is the day. I’ll see you later, perhaps earlier than you think. And Amber?’

‘Yes?’

‘I regret nothing.’ She hung up.

I rolled my eyes. ‘Why do Seers always try to be mysterious?’

‘What did she say?’ Oscar asked.

‘She said she’d see me later and that perhaps I’d arrive earlier than I expected. I said we’d be there for 7pm.’

‘I doubt we’ll get there any earlier, not with this traffic.’ Oscar gestured at the slow-moving vehicles in front of us. It was going to take us a while to get from Edinburgh back to the Home Counties.

Bastion frowned. ‘What?’ I asked.

His expression cleared. ‘Nothing.’

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