Sweep - Origins Part 3

The breeze rustled the trees so ripe with bud; their clattering branches reminded me of the bell rung at Esbat.

Three times.

aAn ye harm none, do what thou wilt,a Sle chanted.

aAn ye harm none, do what thou wilt,a we all repeated.

aThus runs the Witchas Rede,a Sle went on. aRemember it well. Whatever you desire; whatever you would ask of the G.o.ddess, be a.s.sured that it will harm no onea"not even yourself. And remember that as you give, so it shall return threefold.a I trudged along, trying to clear my motheras voice from my head. I had heard her words in the circle so many times, I could recite them by heart.

aI am She who watches over thee,a said High Priestess Sle.

aMother of you all. Know that I rejoice that you do not forget me, paying me homage at the full of the moon. Know that I weave the skein of life for each and every one of you...a aEnough, enough, enough!a I grumbled through gritted teeth. I had heard my motheras words so many times, they had become meaningless for me.

As we neared the mill, I wondered if Maas spell of protection would work. At least this was something that interested me, as Iad never worked one before. Miller MacGreavy unlatched the big door to the mill, and the four of us filed inside. During the Esbat rites, Ma and the MacGreavys had summoned the G.o.ddess to protect them and the mill, so I imagined that this would entail more spell casting than the ritual had.

Soon Ma had candles lit, and Mrs. MacGreavy set her tools on the table, which we a.s.sembled around. Normally I would have helped with preparations, but since Ma had made it clear I was being punished, I held back. Ma had already placed herbs in the witchas jar, which now sat at the center of the table, but I knew there was something more to be added before we sealed it.

Closing her eyes, Ma held up her hands, opened to the G.o.ddess. aWith this witchas jar we will cast a spell of protection over this mill and this milleras family,a she said. Looking down at the table, she moved the jar toward Mrs. MacGreavy. aaTwill need a drop of blood from you. Take your bolline and give your finger the slightest p.r.i.c.k.a The milleras wife pressed the sharp end of her bolline against her fingertip. A crimson drop began to form, and she squeezed it into the jar.

Then my mother pa.s.sed the jar over to the miller. aSpit in it,a she said. He did so. Then Ma began to seal the top of the jar, using hot candle wax. As she worked, she chanted: aProtect this mill, protect these folk, Guard them from illness and harm.

Send back the darkness to those who sent it.

Cast a light of goodness around, Let love and protection abound.a Glancing up from the sealed jar, my mother told the MacGreavys to join hands. aYou must remain here in the mill while Rose and I circle it with the jar. Three times.a She pulled on her cloak and went to the door. aWeall be back when the spell is finished.a Silently I followed my mother. I was allowed to hold the jar as we traced a wide circle around the mill. On the side where the brook ran deep and fast, there was a crossing bridge. But as we reached the shallows on the other side of the mill, it was clear there was no way across.

aNo way across but in,a Ma said, gathering up her skirts. aPull up your gown, Rose. Weall be walking through the G.o.ddessas waters tonight.a She stuck out her foot, eyeing her sandal. aToo bad itas not a cobbler weare casting a spell for. Weall be in need of new footwear after this.a I laughed, taken aback at Maas impetuous humor. This was a side of her I rarely saw. I hitched up my skirts and stepped into the brook. Cold water swirled around my legs and mud seeped into my shoes, but I tramped on beside Ma, the witchas jar tucked into the crook of my arm.

We circled the mill three times, then ducked inside with sodden shoes and wet legs. The cold didnat bother me. It was sort of refres.h.i.+ng on a warm night, and I counted this spell as something of value, certainly worth including in my Book of Shadows.

Inside the mill, the MacGreavys waited in the flickering candlelight.

aThe spell is done,a Ma said. aWe need to bury the jar, but thereas no safe place around here. Rose and I will hide it in the woods where no one will find it.a The miller went over to my mother, clasping her hands. aThank you, Sle.a She nodded. aAnd now I think I need a rag to wipe down my shoes. Seems that Rose and I had to go for a late-night dip in the brook.a She pushed off her shoe, and it flopped onto the floor like a dead fish.

aOh, my!a Mrs. MacGreavy laughed, rus.h.i.+ng off to find some cloths.

The miller brought out chairs and wine for all of us, and he and his wife talked in the quiet, dark room while Ma and I dried our feet. I took a sip of winea"sweet and heady. Just like Diarmuidas kisses. Of course, nearly everything made me think of Diarmuid. It was an effort to concentrate on what was before me instead of the lovely picture floating in my mind of him. And at the moment, the conversation was so gloomy, with the miller complaining of slow business, that I preferred to dream of my love.

aAt least it was our slow season,a Mrs. MacGreavy was saying.

aAye, but if we donat get that broken gear fixed soon, weall have no business at all,a Miller MacGreavy said. aItas all a result of the curse upon us, probably from those vile Burnhydes.a He turned to Ma. aAnd I thank you for wiping it away. Our luck will change now, though I canat say that I see better days ahead for the Seven Clans. Itas an age-old battle weare fighting, and itas getting worse instead of better, with curses and sheep thieves and vendors picking on innocent young girls at market.a His eyes burned with conviction as he glanced at me, and I bit my lower lip, wondering if everyone in the Highlands had heard of my escapades at the market. If the story was floating around, soon the real detailsa"of the boy who had saved mea"would wend their way to my mother. More trouble for me.

aIan...a The milleras wife tried to soothe him, but he forged on.

aI say itas high time we Wodebaynes stopped taking the prejudice against us,a he insisted. aTime to use magick to fight back.a Closing her eyes, my mother shook her head gently. aNo, Ian, thatas not the answer.a aWell, then, how are we going to stop it, Sle?a the miller asked. aYou know the storiesa"though there are so many, Iave lost count. A Leapvaughn tricking a Wodebayne farmer out of his land. A Ruanwande casting a spell that makes a Wodebayne girl go mad. Even your own husband, Gowan, was prey to the prejudice, Sle.a aMy father?a I dropped the rag on the floor. So long had I craved to hear stories of my father, Gowan MacEwan, but every time I asked, my request was headed off by a severe look from my mother. aTell me,a I begged, turning to the man.

a aTis not much of a story, Rose,a the miller said, touching his beard. aBut one day, when your father was on the road traveling to a nearby village, he came across a Wyndonkylle man on a horse. The horseman rode past without incident but then returned to hara.s.s your father. He accused your father of looking upon him with evil in his eyes. Then, when he learned that your father was a Wodebayne, he reared up his horse and trampled your father under its hooves.a I winced. aThatas a terrible tale. But Da survived it.a Ma nodded. aAye, but he walked with a limp ever after.a As Mr. MacGreavy went on lamenting the clan differences, I thought of my father. He had died when I was young, so I remembered little of him. Iad heard a few dark rumorsa"tales that he had been interested in dark magicka"though no one spoke of him to me directly. And my mother refused to fill in any of the missing details. Why was she so reluctant to speak of him?

After the conversation and wine ran out, we said our good-byes and headed home. Ma and I were across the river and down the road a bit when she realized we had forgotten the witchas jar.

aMake haste and fetch it,a she told me. aI shall wait here.a Lifting my skirts, I ran back along the road. But as I approached the mill, I saw a solitary candle burning upon the threshold. I slowed my pace as my feet silently crept over the cooling earth. There was magick herea"I felt the boundaries of a witchas circle, and I was forced to stop at its perimeters. I used my magesight to study the details. Was that a pentagram drawn in the dirt by the door? But it was upside down! aTwas not part of the spell Ma had cast.

As I stood in the shadows, a figure loomed in the open doorwaya"Miller MacGreavy. He did not sense my presence as he leaned out and poured a dark liquid over the pentagram, all the while uttering words I did not understand. I gasped, realizing that the liquid Ian MacGreavy was using was blood.

The very tone of the scene made me shudder. aTwas as if a cold wind had swept up the river, turning everything in its path to ice.

Dark magick. I gasped.

Miller MacGreavy twitched in fear, darting a look toward me. aRose?a he asked suspiciously. aWhat are you doing here?a aThe witchas jar,a I croaked in fear. aWe. we left it behind.a He scowled at me, then ducked back inside. A moment later he reappeared with the jar, stepping around the pentagram and drawing a door in his circle to step out toward me.

His eyes glittered in the candlelight as he handed me the jar. aBegone with you, Rose MacEwan,a he said angrily. aAnd not a word to anyone of what you witnessed here tonight.a aAye, sir,a I said breathlessly. Although I feared his magick, I knew it was not cast against me. Still, his warning frightened me. Best to keep it to myself. After all, it appeared he wasnat harming an innocent.

Yet even as I tucked away my memory of Miller MacGreavy, I decided not to let the matter of my father rest. On the way home from the mill that night I waited until my heartbeat slowed to a more relaxed pace, then launched into the subject. aI was glad to hear the story of Da,a I said, walking slowly under the orange moonlight. aWe set a place for him every year at the Samhain table, yet you never tell me stories about him. You never speak of him, Ma. Why is that?a My mother took a deep breath, searching for the answer. aIt always pained me to speak of him. The way his life was snuffed out. the way it ended. It was a terrible thing, Rose.a She linked her arm through mine. aI supposed I thought that if we didnat talk about it, you might be spared the pain that I felt.a I shook my head. aWhen I think of him, thereas no pain, really. Just curiosity.a aWhat do you remember of him?a Thinking of Da, I smiled. aHis largeness. He was a bear of a man, was he not?a aQuite large,a Ma agreed.

aI remember riding on his shouldersa"big, broad shoulders. And his hands. They were so huge, my little hand disappeared inside his. I remember his deep, ringing laugh. And a trip to the coast. Did he take me to the seacoast?a My mother nodded.

aIave heard the rumors of him,a I said. aThat he subscribed to dark magic. Is that true, Ma?a aNo,a she said gently. aIall never believe that. He was a good man; he loved his family, his child, his clan. He was simply misunderstood.a Like me, I thought. Ma didnat understand my powers or my adventurous spirit. She couldnat accept that her path to the G.o.ddess was not the only way.

aI wish youad had a chance to know him well,a my mother said.

We walked for a few moments, then I asked, aWhat of his death? Did he not die in his sleep?a aHe did.a aThen what of all the rumors? That he was curseda"or poisoned by a rival clan?a aThat is the most difficult part,a my mother admitted. aHis death was suspicious. Sudden and unexplainable. Some say a rival clan cursed him in retaliation; I donat know.a aRetaliation for what?a Ma shook her head and her mouth grew tight. aI cannot speak of matters that I know nothing of.a When she turned to me, tears glimmered in her eyes. aAnd I tell you truly, Rose, I do not know the truth of his death.a She fell silent, but that silence haunted me as we walked on. Aye, Ma might not have understood Daas death, but certainly she knew more of the details than I. As usual, she wasnat giving me enough pieces to patch the thing together in my mind.

I thought of Ian MacGreavy, of the way his body had loomed over the b.l.o.o.d.y pentagram. Had my father dabbled with taibhs, too? I cast my eyes to the distant moon, wondering.

The next day, after hiding the witchas jar in a deserted thicket, I met Diarmuid at our secret place in the woods. On this day we wasted no time with small talk or teasing. He pulled me into his arms and placed his lips on mine. The kiss stole my breath away, and we tumbled onto the green moss and lay there, kissing and holding and stroking each other until the sun ventured below the treetops.

He told me that the magick in his own Esbat circle had paled in comparison to what we had done together.

aAye,a I told him, aI felt the same way last night.a I went over to my small, makes.h.i.+ft altar and smoothed my hands over the surface of the boulder. Looking around, I realized that this was the perfect place for a circlea"our circle.

I grabbed my broom and with measured steps walked farther than I had before. I would make the circle wider, this time including the moss bed we liked to frolic upon. Was not our love dedicated to the G.o.ddessa"a result of her blessings?

Diarmuid went to the four corners of the new, bigger circle, where he summoned the Watchtowers once again, drawing a pentagram in the air each time. Watching Diarmuid, I felt my world swelling with newfound knowledge and love. The rose stone between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s set my heart aglow, reminding me of my good fortune at having found a true love who was also a blood witch.

The day after that we met again, same time, same place. And the day after that and the day after that. My spring afternoons were lush affairs of lips trailing on skin and countless whispered dreams under the cool cover of spring leaves. Each day we maintained our altar, always thanking the G.o.ddess for bringing us together, for bringing us so much pleasure.

aOur destiny is not clear to me yet,a I once told Diarmuid. aBut I know thereas a reason weave been brought together.a He dipped his face into the bodice of my gown, nuzzling there seductively. aaTis not enough that we were brought together to love?a aLove is a gift, indeed,a I said, slipping my hands into the top of his s.h.i.+rt to find his gold pentagram. aBut Iam talking about a greater purpose. Bringing the Seven Clans together, perhaps.a He moved up to kiss my neck. aOur love is truly beyond all others.a He stopped kissing me to look me in the eye. aIave known people who say they are mirn beatha dns. They truly believe they are soul mates for life. But I canat imagine that they would understand the way I feel about you.a He smoothed his hand over my bodice, cupping one breast gently. aI love you, Rose.a I gasped, feeling myself melt at his fingertips. I had never known a man before, and Diarmuid swore I was his first love, yet he seemed to know so much of a womanas bodya"the places to stroke, to brush, or to touch ever so lightly. Now he was down at my feet, his hands gliding up under my skirts. His fingers whispered over my knees to my thighs until I was unable to still the trembling inside me.

aWeall be together forever,a he whispered.

aWeall have no secrets,a I vowed.

aI shall be your first and only love,a he said, moving his hand up between my legs. aAnd you shall be mine.a aSo mote it be,a I whispered, offering our love to the G.o.ddess.

There, in our secret circle in the woods, we met every afternoon. One day as Diarmuid and I lay together on the moss, I realized that we had been together for nearly a full cycle of the moon. The May celebration of Beltane was but a few weeks away, and Diarmuid and I had met just before the full moon of April.

I thought of the two charmed gemstones that had been the seeds of love: the rose stone and Kyraas moonstone. Two charms with very different powers.

Oh, Kyra and Falkner were still together and very much in love. But not like Diarmuid and me. Just that morning I had seen Kyra at Sunday ma.s.s, and she had been full of giggles and squeals for her boy. Like a child. She knew that I met Diarmuid each day, and she couldnat believe Iad allowed him a kiss, let alone other pleasures.

aBut what do you do with Falkner?a I asked.

aI bring him biscuits and shortbread every time Ma and I bake,a she said. aAnd he stops by the cottage if he has to deliver a newly shod horse nearby. Which isnat often. So sometimes Ma allows me to accompany her to market in Kirkloch and we stop in at the blacksmithas shop.a aOh.a I didnat tell her that it all sounded tedious and lackl.u.s.ter to me. If it suited Kyra, that was fine. But hearing about her love for Falkner made me realize the level of maturity Diarmuid and I had reached. We were far beyond blushes and giggles. Our love had ventured into pa.s.sion, promise.

And commitment.

aCome back to me, my love,a Diarmuid said, pulling me onto my side. aYouave wandered so far into the clouds, Iad dare not venture to guess your thoughts.a aAh, but Iam here,a I said, athinking of you.a As Beltane approached and preparations began, it became more and more difficult for Diarmuid and me to steal away for our afternoon meetings. One day he was late, and I worried the time away, despairing that I would not see him at all. I was about to leave when I received a tua labra from Diarmuid, a silent message that only witches can send: Wait for me, my love. I waited, and within moments he was das.h.i.+ng into my arms, apologizing and explaining about the tedious ch.o.r.es his father had given him that day. Another day Ma seemed more suspicious than usual, and I had to concoct a preposterous lie to sneak off to his arms.

aThe strain of saying good-bye to you each afternoon is wearing on me,a I told him as we sat in the moss.

aAye, and each time itas without knowing that weall both make it back.a He sucked in a deep breath. aItas getting more and more difficult for us to be together, Rose. Your ma is suspicious, and my da keeps loading me up with work.a aI know it, and I thought the G.o.ddess would ease our burdens.a He lifted his hand to my cheek, and I pressed against him longingly.

aBlast them all, we should tell them! Let them know of our love!a His brash spirit made my heart soar. aWould you?a I said. aAnd would that be an act of courage or foolishness? For no one is ready to learn of us yet. They would either try to tear us aparta"or banish us from our clans!a Diarmuidas blue eyes clouded with concern. aYouare right. And I will protect you, Rose. I wonat have you ostracized by Leapvaughns or Wodebaynes or anyone.a aWe must go forth with caution,a I said. I knew the G.o.ddess had deigned that we be together, but how could we begin to clear the way with the rest of the world?

As Diarmuid stroked my hair gently, the answer came upon me.

Make final the bond.

aThe G.o.ddess wants us to be together,a I said. aHeart, spirit. and body.a Grabbing Diarmuidas s.h.i.+rt, I pulled him closer. aWe must seal our love with a physical union.a His eyes sparkled with wonder. a aTis the G.o.ddessas will?a aAye.a I nodded, thinking of the upcoming celebration. There would be maypole ribbons fluttering in the breeze, flowers and songs and the scent of burning sage. Each covener would take a ribbon and dance around the maypole, symbolizing the union of man and woman, the joining of all together. aAnd Beltane will be the perfect time.a

6. Night Visions.

Tiny fingers.

I have short, pudgy fingers, and my da has the hands of a giant. Sometimes he holds me in his palm and lifts me in the air, allowing me to see the world the way birds and flies do. Other times, like now, I ride on his shoulders, laughing because he is reaching up to tickle me behind the knees.

We are at the seash.o.r.e. The gra.s.s is so green here, and from the high cliffs you can see miles and miles of emerald field and roiling teal waters. Da hikes along the cliffside with me upon his shoulders. Occasionally the ocean rises up and smashes against the rocky cliff with a fierce temper, but we laugh at it. My da even dances closer, trying to catch the spray. Tiny droplets of water drench us, but we rejoice.

Da turns so suddenly that I am nearly wrenched out of his arms. I look to see what has alarmed him, and there it is, rising up like a dragon. The ocean is rising, higher and higher in a ferocious wave.

And then, when I look again, my da is not there. Only his laughter remainsa" a hollow, mean sound as the giant wave looms over me. Its monstrous tendrils rise, its power surging overhead.

I am alone on the cliff, a wave curling over me.

I try to run, but my tiny legs are weak, like the twig legs of a marionette. There is really no escape. yet escape is everything.

Somehow I know there is much to be lost if I succ.u.mb to the wave. Itas not only my life at stake, but also the lives and futures of all my clan, all the Wodebaynes, as well as the Braytindales and Leapvaughns and the witches of all Seven Clans.

So much at stake, but how can I escape?

How to get away from the ominous wave closing over my head?

aRose? Rose! You must awaken.a Gasping for breath, I tried to pull myself from sleep and navigate safely to the sound of my motheras voice.

aRose, child, youave had a night vision.a I felt her hands on my arms, shaking me gently. Opening my eyes, I realized that I was in the cottage, safe and dry. But fear held me in its grip, and I was unable to shake it.

aItas all right, child,a Ma said. aTell me what you saw.a I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid to talk about it. Afraid to open up to the woman Iad lied to so much of late. I had guarded my feelings and fears from Ma. How could I open up to her now?

She rubbed my back gently but firmly, up and down between my shoulders. A soothing warmth went through me, reminding me of all the times Ma had rubbed my back when I was sick or frightened or frustrated at not being able to master something. Whether it was the emotion of the dream or the tenderness of Maas gesture, I wasnat sure. But suddenly I was crying.

aI was at the coast with Da,a I said, spilling out the details of my dream. I told Ma everything. about my father leaving me and about the giant wave that had been about to slam into me. aI donat understand it. Please, Ma, please tell me the truth,a I said. aWas Da an evil man? Did he ever try to hurt me?a aOh, no, child!a Ma insisted. aGowan MacEwan loved you dearly. The man did everything in his power to protect us.a aThen why did he leave me behind in the dream, Ma? What does it mean?a My mother pursed her lips thoughtfully. In the dim moonlight seeping in through the window she looked old, with lines creasing the corners of her mouth. aPerhaps he left you in the dream because he left you so early in life,a she said. aOr perhaps the rumors of his death make you suspicious of him.a aDid he really die in his sleep, here in the cottage?a aAye.a She sighed, and I felt sure she would change the subject as usual. a aTwas so sudden, his death,a she murmured, as if to herself. aAll the coveners suspected that someone had cast a dark spell upon him. Many said that the threefold law of magick was the reason for his death.a I thought about the threefold lawa"that magick returns to the sender magnified three times. In this way dark magick would hurt the sender the most. aBut that would mean that he was practicing dark magick, that he had fallen away from the ways of the G.o.ddess.a aAye,a Ma agreed, staring off into the distance, aand Iall never believe that of your father.a She stood up from my bedside and beckoned me to follow. aCome. Letas cleanse the cottage for sweet dreams.a While Ma lit the candles, I swept the center of the cottage to create a small circle around our table. I was surprised to see that she had taken out our yellow candles, which were usually reserved for special occasions, but she explained that they were to help me gain true vision. aItas time you learned to have a second sight, to see past the ordinary and witness the G.o.ddessas will.a I swallowed hard in amazement. How was it that she knew of my own plan? At that moment I wanted to sit down and tell her everything about Diarmuid, but as she started chanting over the candles, something held me back. Standing in the lemon circle of light, I watched as Ma beseeched the G.o.ddess to bring me vision, to show me Her will for me.

Then Ma brought me to the center of the circle, and, standing behind me, she wrapped her arms around me. I felt so loved and protected there in her armsa"like a child again.

aGracious G.o.ddess,a she said, alet Your love rain down upon Rose. Show her the path she must pursue to fulfill her destiny. Walk with her through this time of darkness to come again into the light.a aSo mote it be,a I said.

My motheras hands went to my head. She stroked my hair back gently, then clasped her hands around my skull. aRid her mind of frightening night visions. Let her see only Your vision, G.o.ddess. Rid both our minds of dark thoughts. Chase evil from our home.a aSo mote it be,a I repeated as a warm feeling came over me. Leaning back against Ma, I remembered how she had summoned the G.o.ddess to help me when I was littlea"to cool a feverish head, to guard me against eating a poisonous herb, to give me the wisdom to learn my runes. Ma and I had been at odds so much of late, but I knew that despite all of her disapproval and criticism, she did love me, her only daughter.

And in time, she would come to love Diarmuid as a son.

7. Beltane Rites, the Fifth Day of May.

aSpring daisies and cornflowers,a Kyra said, climbing over some flat rocks to reach another patch of wildflowers. aWith the early spring weave had this year, atwill be one of the most colorful Beltane rites ever.a As was our annual practice, Kyra and I had risen before dawn to creep into the woods on a quest for flowers. We would hang fresh flowers on the doors of our cottages and strew them about the circle in gay decoration for the nightas festivities. We would also make a crown of fresh flowers to be worn by the high priestess. Today I would make an extra crowna"one for myself.

aI think Beltane is my favorite celebration of the year,a I said. aAnd this year atwill be my most memorable.a I silently thanked the lilac bush for her offering, then used my bolline to cut off a fat bunch of fragrant flowers.

aBecause you are in love?a Kyra asked.

I pressed the lavender blooms to my cheek. aBecause I shall become a woman in love, in every rite.a When Kyraas brows lifted in curiosity, I explained, aDiarmuid and I shall have our own maypole celebration tonight. Do you see the ribbons I took from the cottage?a I reached into my pocket and pulled out streamers of red and white ribbons.

aWhat?a Kyraas mouth dropped open.

aAye, red and white ribbons to signify the blood that flows from a woman when her purity is taken. For thatas how Diarmuid and I will celebrate Beltane.a aThis I cannot believe!a Kyra screeched. aDo you know what youare doing, Rose?a aAye.a I twirled around in the field, letting the ribbons stream behind me. aI know quite well. I believe the G.o.ddess has called us together for this. And Beltane is a festival of love and union, is it not?a Kyra swallowed hard. aI donat know that the G.o.ddess intends us to take every detail so literally.a I danced over to Kyra and tugged on her hand. aDonat be an old toad in the mire! Weare seventeen years under the G.o.ddessas sky.a aAye, but thereas been no handfasting, no joining of the two of you in the circle.a aThat will come later,a I insisted, pulling her into my dance.

She dropped her basket and spun around with me, our eyes meeting in laughter until we grew dizzy and dropped to the gra.s.s.

aOh, dear G.o.ddess, now Youave convinced me,a Kyra said, staring up into the clear blue sky. aRose has lost her wits.a aI have not!a I protested. aAnd Iall wager that youall be telling me the same thing soon, about you and Falkner.a aI canat imagine it, though I am so in love.a I rolled onto my side and squeezed her arm. aYou must pretend that Iam with you, tonight after the circle.a aOh, Rose, you know I am a terrible teller of tales.a aaTwill be nothing. The younger coveners always end up celebrating a bit on their own as the others dance by the light of the Beltane fires. Just tell Ma I am with you.a aLying to the high priestess,a she said. aG.o.ddess, forgive me.a aI knew I could rely on you.a I stood up and brushed gra.s.s from my hair. aWead best go and see to the decorations.a We filled our baskets until they were br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with blossoms, then headed back to our cottage. Ma looked on as we made bunches to hang on the doors, leaving aside other flowers to decorate the circle. Then Ma set some sage leaves afire in a clay pot, and we blew off the flames until the burning ashes produced a pungent smoke, which we spread through the cottage.

As we set about our tasks, Kyra spoke of Falkner, how he thought her the best baker in the Highlands, how he had come to visit her just the day before. Ma did not comment until we were finished smoking the house and ready to head over and do the same to Kyraas cottage. That was when she brought out the sewing basket along with a few old s.n.a.t.c.hes of cloth.

aHearing you talk of young Falkner, Iave come to think you should put your thoughts into action,a Ma told Kyra. aIf you truly want to bring love into your life, itas wrong to trap a particular person, as you did with the charmed moonstone.a Kyra lowered her head. aIam sorry, maaam. I know.a aTrapping a person with a spell is dark magick,a Sle said. aIt has the potential to harm someone by tinkering with their destiny and stripping away their free will. However,a Ma went on, athe G.o.ddess can help you bring love into your life, as long as youare not targeting a particular person and meddling with their destiny. You can work love magick through poppets.a She placed two pieces of cloth together and began to cut. As she trimmed away the cloth, the shape of a gingerbread man began to emerge. aYou must make two small dollsa"one to represent you, the other to represent the boy, or man, of your dreams.a I watched carefully as Ma showed us how to make the poppets. She helped Kyra sew brown ribbon on the girl doll to make it resemble herself.

Then Ma handed Kyra the boy doll to decorate. aMake him handsome in your eyes, but donat inscribe him with a name or a rune that points to a particular person.a Kyra thanked Ma when we finished, then we raced off to decorate her cottage and our covenas meeting place in the woods. It was afternoon when our work was done. Kyra headed home to bake some of the ceremonial cakes with her ma, and I headed off to decorate my own maypole. We were just about to go our separate ways, when a tall chestnut horse came trotting up the road. It was a majestic sight, the rider sitting tall.

aItas Falkner,a Kyra said, patting down her hair.

a aTis not,a I muttered, blinking into the sunlight. Kyra was right, though I had not expected this beanpole of a boy to be transformed into a knight.