Upon their arrival

At the home of Lady Bidane Audren, Essa established herself in an unused bedroom on the second floor. Itwas a corner room, one saturated with sun in the daytime and moonbeams at night. Both were elements of magic that she desired. During the following day she stayed mostly in her room, for she was very busy. Her first effort was to begin calling the wind and waves in the distant ocean, seeking to create a rainstorm. For she needed water that was quite pure. It could not have touched earth or metal.

Once her attempts there had yielded reassuring symptoms, Essa turned her attention to the next phase of her needs. She had only her own knowledge of magick to rely upon, but now that she had her full memory back, that was quite extensive. Not only did she recall all that Lady Sarah had taught her since their move from the Isle of Dragonera, but she also had memory in exquisite detail of every experience she had sensed since she first had been taken from the coast of Hispania by her Mistress. All the information that Lord Sorcis had passed to her, in aggregate with all that she had observed in the Land of the Fey was added to that, as well as all that she had gleaned from her parents in her last fateful meeting with them, now was at her beck and call.

The open windows of her room poured out heat, for she was busily forming a copper dish of a particular and peculiar shape. When finished, she laid it on the stone hearth of the fireplace and on each side of it placed a large silver coin. Standing back, she shifted (now with complete ease) her view of reality so she could see the Weave of Magick that permeated all of Creation. Taking up those strands that held the state of the coins, she began to manipulate them. Minutes later, the coins were gone and in the place of the copper bowl there stood one that seemed to be of purest silver. It was only plated so, but one could not discern that except by cutting it or weighing it in water as Archimedes had taught.

The rain came, and the bowl set on her window sill caught sufficient of the pure liquid that she was able to begin her real task. That was scrying the doings of Paul and Ainea. Several times she nudged reality to favor the pair, and each time they seemed to be startled that a seemingly impossible task had been accomplished. It was well that she did so, for Ainea would not have survived the closing door had she not.

The arrows fired by the Lord Commandeer at them missed on their own merit, but his decision to refuse to follow them into a building was Essa's doing. She gave him a jolt of fear that triggered a hypercautious response. Then, as the pair came close to the room where they would hide, she started providing for them. cover for their passage, fresh air into the room, a short nap, food, beds, a bathing tub and its hot water, clean clothing, and even a chamber pot all came from this young master magician.

Then, exhausted, she sought sleep. When Essa woke, it was morning and she was hungry. She came down and ate with the others, but soon returned to her room and her scrying. the pair upon whom she spied seemed to be able to care nicely for themselves, however, given what she already had provided. Still, she watched over them and turned away at least one English soldier who came too close to having curiosity about the door under the stairs. When the Lord Commander went looking about, she directed events that took his steps to the kitchens, where she left him a small treasure trove of edible food and wine.

Part of her mind was listening intently to the conversations of the Ladies in a nearby bedroom. As soon as she heard the steps of Sir Felippe, she put away her things and went to that room, intending to go in. However, she heard from outside his announcements about what had occurred that afternoon and what was planned for the following morning. A pleased smile came to her face and she turned and returned instead to her room. There she set guards about herself and retired for the night. But a part of her was sensing for the dawn ...