Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier Page A

mastered the use of scrying bowls, the art of mirrors? I will know."
     
    I wrapped my arms around myself, for there was a chill in me that would remain, now, on the brightest of summer days. My father sick, suffering, dying; how could I bear it? This was cruel indeed, cruel and clever. "I—I suppose I have no choice," I muttered.
     
    Grandmother nodded. "Very wise. It won't be long before you're enjoying it, believe me. There's an inordinate amount of pleasure that can be had in watching a great work of destruction unfold. You'll have a measure of control. After all, you do need to be adaptable. I'll give you some ideas. The rest you can work out for yourself. It's amazing what power a woman can enjoy, if she learns how to make herself irresistible. I'll show you how to identify which man in a crowd of fifty is the one to target; the one with power and influence. I did that once, and I nearly had everything I wanted. I came so close. Then that girl ruined everything. I'll be as glad as Ciaran will be to see her family fail, finally and utterly. To see them disintegrate and destroy themselves."
     
    She fumbled in a concealed pocket.
     
    "Now. You'll need every bit of help you can get. This will be useful. It's very old. A little amulet. Bit of nonsense, really. It'll protect you from the wrong sorts of influence." She slipped a cord over my neck. The token threaded on it seemed a harmless trinket; a little triangle of finely wrought bronze whose patterns were so small I could hardly discern the shapes. Yet the moment it settled there against my heart, I seemed to see everything more clearly; my anxiety faded, and I began to understand that perhaps I could do what my grandmother wanted after all. The craft was strong in me, I knew that. Maybe all I needed to do was follow her orders and all would be well. I closed my fingers around the amulet; it had a sweet warmth that seemed to flow into me, comforting, reassuring.
     
    "Now, Fainne," Grandmother said almost kindly, "you must keep this little token hidden under your dress. Wear it always. Never take it off, understand? It will protect you from those who seek to thwart this plan. Ciaran would say the powers of the mind are enough. Comes of the druid discipline. But what do they know? I
     
    have lived among these folk, and I can tell you, you'll need every bit of assistance you can get."
    What she said sounded entirely practical. "Yes, Grandmother," I said, fingering the bronze amulet.
    "It will strengthen your resolve," Grandmother said. "Keep you from running away as soon as things get too hard."
    "Yes, Grandmother."
    "Now tell me. Is there anyone you've taken a dislike to, in your sheltered little corner here? Got any grudges?"
    I had to think about this quite hard. My circle was somewhat limited, especially of late. But one image did come into my mind: that girl with her sun-browned skin and white-toothed smile, wrapping her shawl around Darragh's shoulders.
    "There's a girl," I said cautiously, thinking I had a fair idea of what was coming. "A fishergirl, down at the cove. I've no great fondness for her."
    "Very well." Grandmother was looking straight into my eyes, very intently. "You know how to turn a frog into a bird, and a beetle into a crab. What would you do with this girl?"
    "I--"
    "Scruples, Fainne?" Her tone sharpened.
    "No, Grandmother." I had no doubt she had told me the truth, and I must do as she asked. If I failed, my father would pay. Still, a transformation need not be forever. It need not be for long at all. I could obey her, and still do this my own way.
    "Good. Just as well the weather's better, isn't it? You can walk down this afternoon and stretch your legs. Take that dour excuse for a raven on an outing, it still seems to be hanging about. You can do it then. You'll need to catch her alone."
    "Yes, Grandmother."
    "Focus, now. Remember all you're doing is making a slight adjustment. Quite harmless, in the scheme of things."
    I timed it so the