Grania became more agitated as Lovernios neared the completion of the circle he was marking out. She paid more attention to his movements and followed him with sudden, twitching movements of her head, as if he were a pretty, flitting thing she wanted to catch. Then, as Lovernios joined the beginning and end of the circle, Grania gave out the slightest moan and hunkered down to curl at Maeve’s feet.
All this while, Boudicca had been motionless, keeping a distant and impassive watch on the proceedings. Then she felt the distinctive shimmer in the air as Lovernios finished the first stage in his ritual, dedicating a place in this Romani town to be as sacred, albeit temporarily, as the deepest Groves. The atmosphere within changed perceptibly, somehow rendering the outside world quieter, and
