Saya’s resolve to stay calm and collected lasted only until the flap of the tent closed behind their backs. Her gaze fell on the willowy figure of the older de Mar brother and she let her pent-up feelings loose without any inhibitions, burying William under an avalanche of words.

“Why did you call back the search? Every second counts! This must be again one of your schemy little plans. I’ve had enough of them! And what good were they anyway? Wasn’t I supposed to serve as bait? Didn’t you say that with me here the Red Hands’ attention would shift from Lorelei? It didn’t work! Lorelei is gone! Jess almost died! Why are you so calm? Say something, Will!”

“Enough with the hysterics, Saya,” William’s voice was completely leveled, matching his rigid face. “Searching blindly for her would only be a waste of time and resources.”

“How can you…” Saya’s eruption was cut by the man’s chilling words.

“If I remember correctly, I ordered you all to return to Ildemar days ago, but you refused, so don’t put the blame on me. Ever since the lady set foot in Norden, I have been tirelessly spreading rumors throughout Yalda and the surrounding settlements – that the duke married the new duchess due to political reasons; that he does not even care what she does; that she does not have his favor. I have made everything possible to blacken her name enough to make her seem like a useless noblewoman playing around but at the same time not ruin the ducal household’s reputation irreversibly. Do you know how hard it was?! All in the name of her safety! All this, so that the bastards from the Cult would put her as further down as possible on their target list. And then there was you. The perfect shield. The woman who gave birth to the first mixed-blooded de Vindur heir and their number one target after Noah and myself! And it was working. At least until the moment the lady decided to play a saint. But even then, her bad reputation, in combination with your presence in the camp, should have shifted all gazes from her to you.”

Panting slightly after this monologue, William folded his arms on his chest and looked down at the gaping Saya.

“Honestly,” he continued, “I never thought that the lady would overcome the vagrants’ mistrust. She was supposed to come back to the castle, emotionally crushed but alive! But she just couldn’t stay put, and you all encouraged her! It was my mistake. I should have dragged her back even against her will after the first two days. No, after the very first night! But instead, I let her stay, and even more, allowed her to involve herself in the murder investigation of a mixed-blood.”

The man gritted his teeth and for a second his stone-like expression cracked. He felt Gregor’s hand on his shoulder. The binshi’s pacifying voice forced him to stop his tirade.

“Enough with the quarrels. We have work to do.” Gregor turned to his wife. “I need some item of lady Lorelei for the hex. Even better if it is some of her hair.”

Sensing the urgency in her husband’s voice, Saya no longer hesitated. She quickly rummaged through their luggage and pulled out a beautiful ivory hairbrush. Gregor took it from her and gave his clansmen a sign before sitting on the tent’s floor. Four of the binshi stepped forward and sat around him, marking the four cardinal directions.

Gregor opened the bag he was carrying and took out several items – a candle, some bundled herbs, a thin silver knife, and what looked like a piece of snow silk. He carefully lit the candle and took a single hair from Lorelei’s brush. His nimble fingers tied the long silky strand to the herbs and then set them on fire with the candle. The aromatic smoke rose high to the ceiling of the tent, wriggling, and creating ghostly images in the air.

Very carefully, Gregor motioned with the bundle towards each of his four clan members and his lips moved slightly, chanting something inaudible. At the very last, he held the herbs right in front of his own face and inhaled deeply. With eyes closed, his chanting intensified, while his body started swaying a little. Time trickled slowly. Gregor’s lips moved faster and faster, and his features turned pale like fresh snow. Suddenly, in one violent move, he bent over, coughing and clutching his chest. Fresh blood appeared at the corners of his mouth.

“Gerash!”

“Turgan!”

Saya and the binshi screamed in shock, but the man stopped them in their tracks.

“Nobody moves! Especially the four Anchors!” came his hoarse, distant voice. “They have a shaman too!”

Biting her lips, Saya desperately watched as her husband straightened his back with some effort. She could only imagine how hard his fight was. When two shamans clashed on the Spirit Plane, one wrong move could sever the connection between their body and soul. He could become a wandering ghost, or even worst! Saya tried to feel him through their twin-drops but realized that he was blocking her. Didn’t they promise each other to be one in mind and body?

She grabbed her amulet, ready to forcefully re-connect their souls but one of the binshi stopped her.

“Don’t, turgan-issa! The turgan knows what he is doing. Using the twin-drop’s connection can make you visible to the enemy too. It will be a greater burden for him to protect two souls right now, and a dangerous distraction.”

Of course, it would be! But despite that, Saya couldn’t stand seeing him suffering alone. Maybe he could use her soul, even if it was just a little bit, to nourish his own. She wanted to support him. Instead, she bit her lips and waited.

Luckily, a few minutes later Gregor exhaled and opened his eyes.

“I couldn’t find the exact location of the lady,” he said choking a bit and brushed the blood from his face. “Their shaman has prepared several decoys. And the worst part is that now they know we are searching for her.”

“This shouldn’t be that surprising to them,” William remarked calmly. “It is normal for us to search when they decided to abduct the duchess of Norden. What is more important, did you leak any information to him?”

“I am still not that weak, Will.” Gregor gave him a sour smirk. “The duke’s secrets are safe. But I also didn’t manage to get anything concrete from him. He was strong. And dark. I am afraid he was dabbling in some taboos.”

“But then what are we going to do?” Saya interjected. “We have to find Lorelei, Gerash!”

“Don’t worry. I have a hex just for that.”

Her husband took the small knife and started cutting the snow silk into pieces.

“I have felt the lady’s spirit scattered in five directions – two to the North towards the Binshi Lands, two across the fjord to the South and East, one is West from here. The problem is, I can track only four of them right now.”

“Forget about the South,” William’s brow furrowed. “I have already issued orders for the guard-towers of Tor and Tarren to stop all exiting ships. That leaves you with exactly four. Although I find it strange.”

“What do you mean?” Gregor asked while arranging the small pieces of silk in four groups of two before him.

“If it was me, I would have remained hidden in Yalda until the storm passes.”

“I felt nothing in Yalda,” said the knight confidently.

He then concentrated on his work, turning completely oblivious to his surroundings. His movements were fluent and well-practiced. The four pairs of silk lay before him. With the tip of the knife, the knight cut his finger, drawing fresh red blood out. His lips started moving again as he touched the pure white cloth, leaving four clear red marks behind.

“A part from me to grant them life…”

After that, he gave the knife to one of the four binshi surrounding him. He followed his lead and dripped some of his own blood on two of the pieces, repeating the words. Then came the turn of his neighbor. Soon before each one of the four lay a single pair of bloody silk that they gave back to Gregor. He pulled out four tiny pieces of bark shaped like arrowheads and put them on four of the squares, one from each pair, while chanting:

“An arrow’s likeness to grant them drive…”

He then sprinkled some glistering grayish powder on top of all eight pieces.

“A Moon-stone’s ash to give them light…”

From his bag, he pulled out four small feathers and some red thread. He put the feathers on top of the arrowheads.

“An eagle’s feather to give them flight…”

Very carefully Gregor took four of Lorelei’s hairs and cut them exactly in the middle, laying one half in each of the eight squares.

“A part of her to find her soul…”

His now slightly trembling fingers folded the silk into eight small pouches. In the end, he cut four pieces of red string and tied a pouch pair to each end.

“A string of fate to bind them all.”

With one sudden move, he cut all four strings at the same time. In the very second the silver blade separated them, the pouches started to give out soft white glow. The ones containing the feathers flew into the air like small balls of light and each started to circle the binshi who had given it their blood. Their other halves remained unmoving in front of Gregor, who carefully collected them and put them in his bag.

“The mimishi will show you the way to where I’ve felt the lady’s presence,” said the young man with visible difficulty. His complexion was ashen. “Be careful. Do not act hastily. Always travel in pairs. When you find the duchess untie the string and I will know. If at any time the mimishi’s light turns red, retreat immediately. I don’t want you fighting a taboo alone. If anyone gets ghost-touched, return to Ildemar immediately.”

“Don’t worry, turgan.” One of the binshi surrounding him chuckled slightly. “You nag like my mother. We are the Shadows of Norden. We know what to do and we can handle one or two malicious ghosts by ourselves.”

“I hope you do. I don’t want to have to bury my own nieces and nephews.”

Gregor’s face was grim while looking at the confident smiles of his people. He had a bad feeling about all this and did not need any Star-gazer’s premonition to know that there was danger looming over them.

He tried to stand but felt his knees traitorously shaking. Beside him Saya hurried to help him up, supporting his weakened body.

In the meantime, William too was giving his final instructions to the Shadows.

“Do not engage in direct combat if not absolutely necessary. Follow and observe covertly. Gather as much information as possible and then return here immediately. I expect results, not heroics.”

“Wait, what?” Saya almost flung herself at him but Gerash’s weight hindered her. “What about rescuing Lorelei?!”

“This is a unique opportunity to sink our teeth in the Red Hands,” William explained calmly as if talking to a child. “There is a chance to catch some of the big fish and crush them once and for all if we tread carefully. Besides, it is dangerous to fight the kidnappers with just two people.”

“Then send more!”

“So that they can be discovered immediately before we know the full scope and endanger the duchess’ life?” Will snorted and then turned to the other people in the tent. “This is not a request but my order as the duke’s steward and representative. Do not attempt to rescue the duchess on your own. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Lord Steward!” Answered the binshi not especially enthusiastic.

“You can be sure that the lord will learn about this?” There was a clear threat in Saya’s hiss, as she glared daggers at him.

William just nodded as his thin pale lips parted.

“When the time comes, I’ll bear full responsibility. Now get going.”