After the witch left, I sat and stared into the fire for a long time.
“Sabine?”
A rustle behind me, but I didn’t move even when Ragnvald’s hand came to my shoulder. I flinched, but there was no pain from Yseult’s original grip. I’d checked for broken skin, and found none.
“Sabine, are you alright?”
I nodded and submitted to his perusal.
“I did not know she had come to you first. She told me before she disappeared.” He finished checking me over and sounded relieved. Lifting me in his arms, he carried me back to the cave.
He fed the fire, then came to my back, sat and wrapped his arms around me. He didn’t speak until I relaxed against his chest.
“What did you and Yseult speak of?”
“Magic. Power.”
His laugh gusted at my ear. “She loves to speak of those things.”
“She said my power i
