“So this was no ordinary correspondence,” I say.
“Not at all. I suspect The White Woman of the Wood is behind this development. The letter is written in Wirich’s hand, but the tone is more imperious than usual.” Balázs settles his big hands on my shoulders and peers down at me. “Erzsébet, he wishes for you to travel to Gratz immediately so you can marry into his family.”
“I see,” I reply.
Despite my attempt not to sound ecstatic, my joy leaks into my tone.
Ágota sniffs. “Impatient, the whole lot of them.”
“Honestly, I am surprised I was able to delay for as long as I have. Nobility is not known for patience.” Balázs sighs, dropping his hands from my shoulders before returning to pacing. “I had hoped to delay a few more years. The coven needs you here, Erzsebet.”
“Are you certain you need a battlewitch?” I ask. “The spell Ágota cast to bring forth this estate was very effective. As far as anyone remembers, we have always been here. We are accepted by our neighbors, the village, and merchants in Buda. You wear your real face once again, as do the rest of the coven. This is a good, safe place.”
“This world may never be a good, safe place for us, Erzsébet,” Balázs answers with a cynical expression.
“As far as the court of King Charles remembers, you are a loyal landowner. You are safe,” I insist.
“Except for the other, larger portion of the coven and Fülöp,” Ágota reminds me.
“Do you really believe they would leave the safe haven they stole from us and attack us? Especially when they absolutely comprehend your power?” I toss a doubtful and dismissive look at Ágota.
My sister widens her eyes at me, determined to win our argument. “Once they know the battlewitch is not here, they might risk coming against me. Fülöp is a bitter man and he knows I do not like to kill.”
“This world changed him,” Balázs mutters.
“Why are you telling me all of this when you know I have no choice other than to travel to Gratz?” I glower at them, irate at their gloominess over what I consider rather good news.
Ágota tilts her head to regard her father. “Father, you need to tell her.”
“Tell me what?”
“The coven cannot afford to have you so far away without any sort of contingency, Erzsébet. Therefore, I have asked Ágota to delve even deeper into the coven archives and prepare one of our more dangerous spells.”
I immediately bristle at the thought of my sister endangering herself. “If it is going to hurt her like the last one could have—”
“The risks are different, yet dire,” Ágota says, interrupting my next tirade. “Instead of opening a portal between two worlds, I will be creating a bridge between two points in this one. I might get lost in between the two points if I do not perform the spell correctly.”
“I do not approve!”
“Erzsébet, we have no choice. We need to be able to summon you to us when needed. The coven needs you,” Balázs says gently.
Fury fills my chest. “My life is not the coven! We have all known this since before my magic manifested. I will soon be Countess Dolingen of Gratz. That is my destiny. It is also my choice!”
“I told you she would throw a tantrum,” Ágota says with a sigh.
Balázs stills in his pacing and turns to regard me with a look of frustration upon his handsome face. “Erzsébet, as a battlewitch, you are important to this coven.”
“The coven was fine before my ascension,” I retort.
Towering over me in an attempt to intimidate me, he says, “Our numbers are what gave us power. Now our coven is diminished. You know we struggle to harness the magic of this world, Erzsébet.”
“Ágota is the Archwitch that can wield the magic of this world. Fülöp would never come against her. Never! There is no reason to place Ágota in harm’s way to open a pathway between Gratz and here. Are we not supposed to pretend to be mortal? We should travel by horse and carriage and not risk Ágota.”
“I am sorry, Erzsébet, but Ágota will open the pathway to Gratz. I would think you would be happy to see your sister every New Moon for the High Rituals.”
“You cannot put my sister at risk—”
Balázs interrupts me. “That is what we do, Erzsébet! Those with power sometimes have to risk themselves to protect the weaker. The three witches in this room are the most powerful known to this world. Do not pretend you do not enjoy the magic you wield. That power is coupled with the sacred duty to protect the lesser witches. This is the way it has always been.”