Page 104 of The Iron Hex

Hugo could feel anger rising in his chest. Why couldn’tonepart of this be easy? He suddenly felt Eira’s hand on his arm, a gentle squeeze on his bicep.

“It’s okay,” Eira said to him, before looking at the barmaid. “I cast a memory spell that was supposed to be temporary. I botched the casting, and I’ve been left without my memories. I’m hoping that this witch can help me get those memories back.”

The barmaid turned to Eira. “You’re a memory witch?”

Hugo watched them stare at each other, a moment of challenge between the two women. He desperately hoped Eira wouldn’t tell her, but already knew she would.

“Apparently I was...” she said. “But my memory on how to cast that magic is gone. I want it back, Ineedit back.”

The woman’s eyes widened, curiosity filling them. “Not many of us left,” she said, one eyebrow cocked. Hugo couldn’t help but notice her use of the wordus.

“I’ve heard.” Eira nodded.

Hugo looked to Evangeline, who had sat on a stool, her face growing paler by the minute. They really shouldn’t have traveledwith her in such a fragile state. She was out of the woods, but barely.

“All right then,” the barmaid said, lifting the bar counter and ushering them in. “I’m Willow, the witch you’ve been looking for.”

Hugo sighed through his nose.Of course.

51

Rhona

The door swung open, Maeve’s eyes wild as she took in Rhona’s face.

Something was wrong.

“What’s going on?” Rhona asked, placing her hands on Maeve’s silk-covered arms.

“You’re here,” she said, the crazed look in her eyes fading to a glaze as she processed.

“Maeve, what’s wrong?” Rhona asked.

“I had a dream... I—” Maeve spun around, lost in the room she was in. “I need to cast and seek out a vision. Right now.”

“Maeve, slow down.” Rhona took Maeve’s arms and sat her down on the settee, the fire burning low in the sitting room. Rhona sat next to Maeve, her heart racing as she snaked her arm around Maeve’s soft waist. Whatever Rhona had just dealt with could wait; Maeve was clearly distraught.

The two sat in silence for a long while as Rhona held Maeve. Finally, Maeve turned to face her. “You went to the archway?” she said.

“Yes,” Rhona answered. “It was horrific... I need to tell the Iron Retinue, I need to warn everyone, I—”

“No,” Maeve insisted. “Please. I had a dream, I have to find the vision. I have a terrible feeling my dream was telling me I needed to see how fate changed.”

“A terrible feeling about what?” Rhona asked, confused. What did this have to do with the experiments Dr. Balet was doing? Maeve wasn’t making sense.

“Please,” Maeve begged, jumping up and walking to a chair beside the fire.

Rhona watched her set up, quietly understanding that there wasn’t a way out of this. Maeve needed to go looking for a vision, and even though it made Rhona deeply uncomfortable to know she was casting right in front of her, she also knew in her gut that Maeve wouldn’t do this right now unless it was absolutely necessary.

Rhona decided to watch. She watched Maeve cover herself with a blanket and close her eyes, leaning her head against the back of the wingback chair. Even in the dim light of the fire, Rhona could see the outline of Maeve’s eyes whipping back and forth under her eyelids. If she didn’t know better, she’d have thought Maeve was just having a nightmare.

After ten minutes Rhona started to pace, Maeve murmuring incomprehensible sentences that didn’t even sound like words most of the time. Another minute passed and Rhona watched Maeve’s eyes fly open as she jumped up. Tears welled in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Rhona asked, not stepping toward Maeve, trying to give her space. But she wanted to get closer to her—to comfort her. Rhona ached to kiss her again.

“Kiss me,” Maeve said out of the blue, stepping toward Rhona.

“I cannot,” Rhona said, her heart beating out of her chest and heat ripping throughout her. “The last time was a mistake,and you do not need to pander to my wishes just because I am helping you.”