We rode Arion out of the protective circle. I looked back and couldn’t see the rainbow of dust that surrounded the place. I asked Isobeau whether the shadow creatures would be waiting in the woods for us.

“It is likely they were called back by the witch who sent them,” she said, “I have been told that to maintain that magic drains a woman of life and so she cannot hold it for too long.”

We rode in silence. A witch was hunting us? But who? Why? I thought ...