"Well, if he's rearranging the molecular structure of core elements," Cara replied with a shrug, "that wouldn't have anything to do with wards. If he's actually manipulating the ley lines you described to me before," she said to Meg, "then it would be affected."

"The outside wards are set to negate anything that tries to counteract them," Morgana replied. "I'm not sure if they would, um, whate'er it was you said first there."

"I have no idea what she's talking about half the time either." Jochy chuckled at Morgana, running a hand through his hair.

"I suppose it might be possible for me to ask Seth for help once we return to Cnoch na Niall. He can probably get in touch with his father, who've got a bit more tricks up his sleeve."

"Oh...ah...if the machine operates by breaking things up into its smallest, simplest components, and then putting them back together in the right order," Cara explained. "Does that make more sense?"

She nodded at Jochy. "Is the that plan, then? We go back to Cnoch na Niall and see if anyone can get us back from there? Is there a circle nearby we could try to use?"

"The circle at Cnoch-na-Niall is the circle for most of the Erins," said Morgana. "The others ones branch off of it, like babies."

"Yeah, it's by far the strongest one nearby, so it is our best bet. Even if I bloody well hate to ask for help."

In a weird way, especially help from Seth. He had his magic back now, he shouldn't have to.

"Why do you hate to ask?" Cara asked. "You just got through talking about how everyone asks you."

She turned to Meg. "Is there anything we can do for you before we go? Sort of as payment?"

"Didn't we just have this conversation?" Morgana said, teasing. She picked up the Acorn, who was making a mess of feeding herself, and sat down at last with the baby in her lap. "Say hallo to Mal for me when you get to Cnoch-na-Niall?"

It was to Jochy's credit that he didn't flinch at Morgana's request, though he stiffened just a little. "I'm sure Cara can do that" he said, voice a bit tense. "Yer just tell her if there's anything in particular you want said."

The unspoken words of course to do it once he was not around. It was not a subject he liked. It was all he could do not to give a mocking answer back and stomp out of there.