On this very hill, he'd waited, with an infant in his arms. He'd wondered whether he should remove her necklace, as Ileana—then a headstrong adolescent—had demanded. He'd wondered whether he'd chosen the right parents for the child. The right protector.
Karsh had met David Barnes at a conference for those curious about the ancient ways. The lawyer was interested and enthusiastic—but not a born warlock.
He had certain sensitivities. He could tell when evil was on its way—though not what it would look like. With enormous concentration, Dave could will a spoon to tremble, direct the movement of a Ouija board, and make a liar uncomfortable enough to want to tell the truth.
He was, as Dave himself put it, a sucker for innocence. He'd become a lawyer to do good in the world.
Still, Karsh had not been certain that David and his kind and patient wife, Emily, were the proper parents for such an exceptional child.
These thoughts had occupied Karsh's mind fifteen years ago, as he'd leaned against the tree waiting for Dave Barnes to appear.
And it was then that his great-grandmother had spoken to him for the first time outside a dream. The tree had become warm against his back. And her voice, strong and young—for she was only twenty-three when she'd been hanged—murmured words of reassurance to him. Ye hath chosen well, son of my daughter's son. Safe shall thy fledgling be.
Ah, but had he chosen well, when they'd determined to keep Ileana's roots secret?
"Tell me!" the beautiful witch ordered suddenly. "I heard you, Karsh. I heard your thoughts. You know, don't you? You know who my parent are and will not tell me! You must. You must! It's not fair. Even the twins know the names of their parents—"
"Soon, Ileana," he said.
"Soon," the voice of his great-grandmother echoed. "Very soon."
Ileana heard the tree speak.
"Promise me, Karsh. Promise on this hallowed tree. On this, your great-grandmother's grave. On this sacred place where Camryn was given to her protector—"
"I promise," Karsh said. "Before I die, I will reveal to them their mother's fate—and to you, your father's name."
"Soon, you said," Ileana pressed him.
"Yes, child. Soon."
About The Authors
Randi Reisfeld has written many bestselling novels for teens and tweens, including What The Dog Said; Rehab, Making Waves (with H.B)
The Starlet trilogy, Oh, Baby! (with H.B.), Summer Share: Cape Cod,
Summer Share: Hollywood, Hooking Up and Friends With Benefits. Most of these titles will be, or already are, available on-line.
Check Randi's website, www.randireisfeld.com for the latest info.
She and H.B. were extremely proud of all ten books in the T*Witches series, as well as the two Disney Channel TV-movies based on the books, which are available on DVD.
H.B. Gilmour, who passed away in 2010, authored numerous bestselling books for adults and young readers including Oh, Baby!, Making Waves, the Clueless movie novelization and series, Pretty In Pink, a University of Iowa Best Book for Young Readers, and Godzilla, a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice nominee. She also co-wrote the award-winning screenplay, Tag.
H.B., who is sorely missed and forever loved, is survived by her husband John and daughter Jessica.
T*Witches: Building a Mystery Page 15
