A Pinch of Moonlight

  ***

  Blackbird watched as Demali set out along the path to the mountains. He had done all he could, which wasn’t much in his present state, but she was so raw, so unprepared. And so unfit. Even Vicky, older, wiser, sharper, and so much more athletic, would struggle to Walk the Walk. Demali would have to use all her strength, determination and magic, and rely on her strange ability to twist probability to create a good outcome. Was that what they meant by ‘luck’? Who could tell. He stood, and watched, as she slowly diminished, a tiny red dot climbing ever upwards, until the path crested a ridge, and she dropped out of sight. Blackbird and Pefryn were the only ones left outside. Silently they walked together to the Healers’ Lodge.