Free Finn's Choice by Darby Karchut Page B

elbow in support. Once inside, master and apprentice made a beeline for the fire. Shivering harder, Finn sank down on the low wall and stretched his fingers toward the flames. He tried to imagine igniting their tips.
I wonder what it would feel like? Would it char my skin?
    Gideon waited by him, hands on hips. They both watched as the sorceress walked over to the cabinet and opened the doors. Shelves lined the interior, filled with books and bottles and various other containers. She pulled one tome out and began searching through it, the pages rustling as she turned them.
    â€œWell, well, what do you know?” Her voice echoed in the room, punctuated by the snap of the fire. “Here’s my recipe for meatloaf. I was wondering where this was.”
    Finn grimaced. He was pretty sure he didn’t want to know what kind of meat would go into a sorceress’ meatloaf.
    â€œIona…” Gideon began with a growl.
    â€œOh, keep your panties on, Lir,” she said absently, flipping through the pages as she sauntered back toward them.
    The Knight gestured at the book in her hands. “Just get on with it.” He bit down on each word.
    Iona ran her fingers along one page. “So. This other potion. It’s an elixir that a mortal alchemist had some success with in the late eighteen hundreds. Here in America, of all places. Some guy named O’Leary. Of course, he managed to burn up half of Chicago at the same time, but that’s another story.” She scanned the page. “I don’t have all these ingredients, but most of them I can find or trade for. Except for one.” She locked gazes with Gideon. “That one,
you’re
going to get for me, since they would kill me on sight.”
    â€œWhat is the ingredient?” Gideon asked.
    â€œWho are
they
?” Finn queried.
    â€œAngel hair,” Iona responded.
    Finn blinked. “Like…like the pasta?”
    Iona rolled her eyes. “No. Like the hair from an angel. Specifically, one who can control fire.”
    â€œYou’re speaking of the Terrae Angeli.” Gideon shook his head. “They cannot aid us Fey.”
    â€œAh, but they can. Or, at least the kid here. Being half-human should qualify him for some level of angel guardianship.” Iona shut the book with a
snap
and tucked it under one arm. “Their God-given mandate is to guard and protect humans.
All
humans. Even the halfers.”
    â€œAs well as destroy
you
if given the chance.” Gideon nodded in understanding. “‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,’ eh?”
    â€œExodus twenty-two, verse eighteen. King James version.” Iona shrugged. “I should be grateful Basil’s not the vengeful sort and actively gunning for me.”
    â€œYou’re talking about Griffin and his master.”
    â€œAye, lad.” Gideon thought for a moment, then gave a curt nod. “How soon do you need the ingredient?”
    â€œAs soon as possible. Like I said, it’ll take me a few days to gather the rest of the ingredients, so let’s plan on meeting in, say, three days. That way, we can find out if it really works, or if Robin here needs to start packing his bag.”
    â€œThat’s cutting it fine.”
    â€œBest I can do.”
    â€œRight. Three days, then.” With that, Gideon spun around and headed for the door. Finn jogged to catch him, picking up speed as his master held the door open.
    â€œWhat? No archaic Gaelic farewell?” Iona called after them. “No
have a nice evening
? No
I’ll see you soon
?”
    Finn noticed Gideon made sure to slam the door.

Six
    The next morning, Finn awoke early to an odd pale light. Throwing back the covers, he stepped over to the window and looked out. The world was smoothed in a layer of white. Heavy, gray clouds hung around promising more snow. He peered down into the yard. Tracks led from below his position to the far wall: Gideon’s boot