again the powerful sorcerer Myrddin had been. Thomas was sure of it: James would want to be healed, even if he had to be tricked into it.
He wondered if he had time to prepare his gift before they left for the States. He headed for the kitchen and his ever increasing cache of potions.
Lizbet popped the front tire off her bike, and Tanji stowed both pieces in the trunk of her car. Lizbet limped around to the passenger side door, carefully arranging her warm-up jacket across the seat before sitting down so she didn’t get mud on the upholstery.
"I think I can do something about your ankle," Tanji said as she slid into the driver's seat, "Let's go out to the park before I take you home and find a quiet place where I can focus."
"You mean you can heal it?"
"Maybe. I've been dying for a real human to practice my voodoo on."
"Sure, okay. I guess I trust you on this. Can you heal my dad's screwed up head, too? I really don't know what's up with him. He basically told me that I can't see Bobby until I stop having anything to do with magic. It's not like I can suddenly stop being half-fae." Lizbet's head was pulsing fiercely with the pain now, "And do you think you can do anything about my achy head?"
"I'm pretty sure I can't do anything about your head. I keep telling you, that's not a normal headache. Until you realize that ol’ fae is in there making trouble, you're not going to beat her…I am sorry about your dad, though. My parents have been superstars about everything. Not that my mom has been around anymore than usual. But when I see her, she's cool with it."
"My dad has always been strict, but..."
"Just say it, girl. It sucks."
"Yep. It definitely does."
"Okay, so...we're here," Tanji said as she pulled into a parking spot at the park, "Think you can hobble into the woods a little way with my help? I feel more focused with the magic when I'm away from technology and out in nature."
Lizbet opened the car door and gingerly lifted herself up, favoring her healthy leg. "Yeah, I'm good...but not too far, right?"
"There's a really nice spot through here. It's just a short walk. This is more of a game trail than a path, so we'll have to take it slow." Tanji walked to Lizbet, who threw an arm around Tanji's shoulders, and the girls moved slowly along the path together with Lizbet trying not to wince each time her sore ankle got jostled.
After about ten minutes, the path opened to a small, sunlit meadow, and Tanji helped lower Lizbet to the ground. Lizbet crossed her legs, and Tanji sat across from her in the same position.
"Okay, so...first, drink this," Tanji said, handing Lizbet a bottle she'd taken from her backpack, "It's just some herbs and things, but they make your body more receptive to the magic."
Lizbet drank the contents of the bottle, grimacing as she did. "Tastes like toilet."
Tanji grinned. "Thought it might. Couldn't make me drink it! Okay, so, close your eyes and clear your head. No talking from here on out. I've got focusing to do."
Lizbet did as she was instructed, and Tanji closed her eyes, too, quietly chanting in the old tongue, the one that Langoureth had known. As she chanted, Tanji held her hands palm up in front of her. After a moment, she opened her eyes and reached out to place her hands on Lizbet's ankle. A soft blue glow briefly lit Lizbet's skin where Tanji touched as she moved her hands over the injured tissues. Then the light dimmed and finally extinguished.
"Okay, I think that's got it. Open your eyes and let's find out if you can stand on your own now."
Lizbet uncrossed her legs and tentatively started to stand. Soon, she was upright. She walked a few steps, not limping, and then looked back to her friend, "How did you learn to do that?"
"I got Langoureth's spell book a couple of weeks ago."
"Really? How’d you get it?" Lizbet asked as the girls started the walk back to the car, moving much more quickly than they had when they left it.
"I knew where it was because of
Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes