A Pinch of Moonlight

  ***

  Later that morning Vicky took Blackbird to Aelwen’s grove to meet with Heledd. They’d exchanged news the previous night, and decided to search for Ffynnon Ddu Farm together. With its mysterious well it was a possible location for Aelwen’s old home, and maybe there was an ancient tree nearby that Blackbird could use.

  The morning sun sparkled on the wet grass. A few meagre butterflies flitted about the fields, and Vicky remembered a Tom Gently comment that Heledd had passed on, about the clouds of butterflies that danced over the meadows before pesticides killed so many of them. As they walked Vicky told Blackbird all about Tom’s experiences with the mysterious rabbit and the green-eyed brothers.

  Surprisingly, Blackbird seemed convinced by the story. He insisted that the brothers’ and the rabbit’s green eyes were signs of fairy blood. Vicky and Blackbird debated that for a while – Vicky couldn’t believe that everyone with green eyes had fairies in their ancestry, but Blackbird had reminded her that she was descended from Aelwen’s daughter, who had fairies on both sides of the family.

  ‘But I don’t have green eyes, do I, nor does Demi, although she does seem to have inherited Aelwen’s magic skills. I must be the most scientific, rational, sceptical and least magical person I know,’ Vicky protested.

  ‘Hmm, I think you got some magic in you. You just need to find your wakener. If you ever meet them, watch out world. You could be very, very powerful. But your magic is different from Demali’s.’ Blackbird thought for a moment. ‘If Heledd’s old man friend has magic, he’d sense it in Demali, for sure, and maybe you too. Maybe he told Heledd that story for a reason.’

  ‘You think he was testing the waters? Wanted to see how she reacted?’ Vicky asked.

  ‘Maybes. Don’t say nothing to him yet, but he may be helpful.’