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Today, for some reason, she had felt the need to come up to

the stones Like any sensible witch, she wore strong boots that could ood, sensible boots But they did not stop her feeling her land, feeling what it told her It had begun with a tickle, an itch that crept into her feet and de her to tramp over the downs, to visit the circle, even while she was sticking her hand up a sheep’s bottoo to the stones, Tiffany did not know, but no witch ignored what could be a summons And the circles stood as protection Protection for her land – protection froh

She had headed up there iht frown on her face But soht It alas Even today

Or was it? For, to Tiffany’s surprise, she had not been the only one drawn to the old circle that day As she spun in the crisp, clean air, listening to the wind, the leaves dancing across her feet, she recognized the flash of red hair, a glimpse of tattooed blue skin – and heard a ot caught on the horns of a rabbit’s-skull helmet

‘The kelda hersel’ sent me here to keep an eye on these stones,’ said Rob Anybody froe point on a rocky outcrop close by He was surveying the landscape as if he atching for raiders Wherever they cah a circle

‘And if any of theain, we’re always ready for theive thele hospitality’ He drew his wiry blue frame up to its full six inches and brandished his claymore at an invisible enemy

The effect, Tiffany thought, not for the first time, was quite impressive

‘Those ancient raiders are all long dead,’ she said before she could stop herself, even though her Second Thoughts were telling her to listen properly If Jeannie – Rob’s wife and the kelda of the Feegle clan – had seen trouble a-brewing, well, it was likely that trouble was on the way

‘Dead? Weel, so are we,’ said Robfn1

‘Alas,’ Tiffany sighed ‘In those long-ago days, mortals just died They didn’t come back like you seem to do’

‘They would if they had some of our brose’

‘What’s that?’ asked Tiffany

‘Weel, it’s a kind of porridge with everything in it and, if possible, ye ken, a draranny’s Sheep Liniment’

Tiffany laughed, but that uneasiness reht Need to knohy she and

When they arrived at the large grassy le dwelling, Tiffany and Rob made their way over to the patch of briars which concealed thea sandwich

Mutton, Tiffany thought with just a tinge of annoyance She ell aware of the agreeles that they could have the occasional old ewe in exchange for the fun of fightin’ off the corbies that would otherwise swoop down on the young laet lost, and get dead The lost la at speed across the downs, sole under each tiny foot, as they were returned to the flock

A kelda needed a big appetite, for there was only one kelda in a Nac Mac Feegle clan, and she had a lot of sons, plus the occasional lucky daughter popping outfn2 Each time Tiffany saw Jeannie, the little kelda was a bit wider and a bit rounder Those hips took work, and Jeannie was certainly working hard at getting theht now as she tackled what looked like half a sheep’s leg between two bits of bread No rew to beconify so to mark her equator

Young Feegles were herding snails and wrestling They were bouncing off each other, off the walls, and someti in her a kind of kelda, and they stopped brawling and looked at her nervously as she approached

‘Line up, lads, show oor hag how hard ye ha’ been workin’,’ theira smear of mutton fat off her lips