“I drew a picture of that bad man, Daddy’s brother.” Eve rushed over, picked up her drawing and held it in front of her to show Mercy.
“When did you see this bad man?” Mercy asked, staring at the remarkably accurate portrait of Cael’s madness. Judah realized she was doing her best not to reveal just how upset she was.
“He tried to talk to me again,” Eve said. “He keeps calling my name and saying if I’ll talk to him, he’ll listen.” Frowning, she threw the picture on the floor, then stomped on it. “But I didn’t talk to him, and my daddy told him he’d better not ever bother me again or he’d be sorry. Didn’t you, Daddy?”
Judah cleared his throat. “There’s no way Cael can invade Eve’s thoughts unless she willingly allows him in. The shield you’ve put around her will protect her.”
“Yes, I know.” Mercy motioned to Eve. “Come along, sweetie. Sidonia has lunch ready. Your favorite—macaroni and cheese. With fresh peaches and whipped cream for dessert.”
Eve eyed her drawings, and the paper and crayons lying on the floor. “Don’t I need to pick up first?”
“You can do that after lunch.” Mercy exchanged a we-need-to-talk look with Judah, then gave Eve a nudge toward the door. “You run along and tell Sidonia that Judah and I will be there in just a minute.”
Eve hesitated, glanced from one parent to the other, and said, “You’re not going to fuss at each other again, are you?”
“No, we’re not,” Mercy promised.
“I hope not.” Eve slumped her shoulders, sighed and ambled slowly out into the foyer.
Judah didn’t wait for Mercy to attack. “He’s going to come for me. Soon.”
“I see.” She took several steps back and closed the pocket doors. “I suppose Eve overheard him say this to you.”
“She didn’t tell me she heard him, but, yes, I assume she did.”
“When he comes, you can’t fight him here on Raintree ground.”
Judah nodded. “I understand your concerns. But if he finds a way to breach the shield around the sanctuary, I’ll have no choice.”
“Only someone with power equal to mine or my brother Dante’s—”
“Before you ask—no, Cael is not the Ansara Dranir,” Judah said. “But he is a powerful sorcerer, with an arsenal of black magic tricks.”
“When he comes here to the sanctuary and calls you out, Eve will be aware of his presence, and she’ll want to do something to help you.”
“We can’t allow her anywhere near Cael. Somehow we have to make her understand that the fight must be between my brother and me.”
“She’ll listen to what we say, but whether or not she’ll obey us is another thing altogether.”
“I’ll find a way to make her understand.”
“You can certainly try.”
“When the time comes, I’ll need you to stay with Eve,” Judah said. “If I’m distracted by trying to protect her…”
“You need to talk to Eve and explain on a level she will understand how important it is for her not to interfere.”
“Would you allow me time alone with her, without her guard dog?”
“Yes. I’ll tell Sidonia that you’re allowed to take Eve for a walk this afternoon while I’m working.”
Judah noted Mercy’s frown and the weariness she couldn’t hide.
“You’ve been gone all morning, and Sidonia refused to tell me where you were, but Eve mentioned that you were making sick people well.”
“It’s no secret that I’m a healer,” Mercy said. “This morning, I was with two Raintree seers who can no longer see clearly into the future.”
“And were you able to restore their powers?”