A Pinch of Moonlight

  Chapter 11. Reunion

  A large blue dragonfly sped off as Blackbird hauled himself out of the pool at the other end of the portal. Where was this? The air was full of magic, and the trees looked like Annwn’s trees, but he didn’t recognise the grove. A tiny stream flowed out of the pool and over a narrow rocky bed, before plummeting over the side of a broad ledge, landfall unknown. Beyond the ledge was a view of snowy mountains and cloud-scattered blue sky. Behind Blackbird a patch of dense woodland huddled against the cliffs, and on the other side of the stream herbs and shrubs scattered the stony ground. Blackbird stood in the sunlight, brushing the water from his bare skin. Even though he had lost his own magic, he could sense a powerful spell originating from something in the trees, and as the dragonfly had entered the woodland, that was the direction he chose.

  Hanging from a tree was a golden glass knot; a powerful charm. As he reached up to it, he realised he was full-sized again. The realisation left him momentarily light-headed, and he leant against the tree trunk. This was Pefryn’s charm – a gift from Tefyn, he remembered the huge smile on her face as she opened the box and saw it within. So he was in Annwn, and his cousin must be nearby. Questions filled his mind, but he was brought back to the here-and-now by competing sounds. A rustling of leaves suggested someone was approaching through the greenery, and the bubbling of the water in the portal announced Demali – or someone – was about to arrive. Exposed from both sides, Blackbird swung himself up into the tree, finding a leafy refuge as two figures came into view. Demali climbed out from the portal a moment before Pefryn emerged from the trees, and the two women eyed each other in confusion.