Sweep - Origins Part 6

Pressing a hand against my belly, I realized I would have to return to Sle tonight. It was late, and it would be far too dangerous, not to mention foolhardy, for me and my babe to try to make the journey into Lillipool tonight.

Oh, how had I gotten myself into such a position?

aYou cannot let this matter rest,a Aislinn said, her eyes lit with determination.

aAye, my heart will not let me.a Nor will the child inside me, I thought as I slid off the log.

aYou must fight back,a Aislinn went on. aSle and her coveners keep trying to tamp down the fires, but thereas no quenching the blaze now. The other clans have struck the first blows, and now itas up to us to show them the strength of our magick. We have the power to punish the other clans. Why donat we use it?a aIndeed.a For once I agreed with Aislinn. I had borne so many slights as a result of hatred against the Wodebaynes. It was all too much. I could barely hold my head steady as I started to trundle home.

aI will see you home,a Aislinn said, slipping an arm around my waist. aWeall talk more when youare feeling better.a Grateful for the firm hand at my waist, I tried to concentrate on making my way home. What would I say to Ma when I got there, and how would she react?

I meandered up the path to Maas cottage cautiously, expecting her to fly out the door and have at me. But the cottage was silent and dark, and when I opened the door, I saw that Ma was not there. I stepped inside the shadowed house and slipped off my shoes, greatly relieved. Sleep could not come soon enough. Wanting nothing more than to fall into bed, I removed the girdle at my waist and slipped off my light summer gown. Standing before the washbasin, I tipped the water pitcher over it to rinse my face and hands.

And out hopped a frog.

I shrank back. A frog? In the cottage? As I went to light a candle from the fire, I heard a croak. And when I turned back toward the room, I saw thema"frogs everywhere! b.u.mpy, spotted frogs dotted the floor, rode the chairs, perched on the bed.

I shrieked. They were surrounding me! How had they gotten in here?

Feeling as if I had nowhere to turn, I grabbed the broom, threw open the door, and began to coax them out. aBegone!a I said. aBack to where you belong!a I didnat want to harm the G.o.ddessas creatures, but their presence unnerved me. I scooted them off the bed, pushed them from the chairs, swept them across the floor. The fat, slimy creatures burped in response. I swung the broom, sending them hopping. aBegone!a I cried through tears of frustration.

As I shooed out a tiny creature who seemed determined to turn back, I noticed a lantern bobbing along the path. It was Ma. Her face seemed placid, even amused as she ventured closer for a better look. She eyed the creatures now dotting the path to our cottage. aFrogs?a aThe cottage was riddled with them when I returned.a aWhat sort of infantile spell is this?a she asked, stepping aside as a frog skittered out the door.

A spell! Of course. aTwas a spell from Siobhan, the wicked wench.

aI havenat seen the likes of it since I was a young girl,a Ma said. a aTis a silly little thing, usually in a childas Book of Shadows.a I stopped sweeping as a tear rolled down to my chin and fell, plopping onto a frog. Suddenly something inside me snapped, and my tears turned to laughter. The tear-struck creature hopped out the door, croaking its complaint.

Ma laughed, too, and we fell together, embracing in the midst of the ludicrous scene. Soon after, we recovered enough to shoo the remaining frogs out the door. As Ma moved about with the lantern, checking the corners of the cottage for stragglers, she spoke. aI have been worried about you. I was just out searching, knowing how unlike you it is to miss a Greater Sabbat. Are you ill?a aaTis terrible, Ma,a I said. aThough I am not ill.a I sat down at the table and told her. I told her how I had fallen in love with someone from another clan, another coven, and how I had lost my Leapvaughn love because of his arranged marriage to a Vykrothe. I told her everythinga"omitting only the mention of the babe, for atwould be too much to lay upon her in one sitting.

a aTis no wonder Iave been concerned,a Ma said. aI knew you were carrying a heavy load these days, though I did not know the specifics.a She stood up from the table and went over to her cupboard of magickal things. aI must admit, Rose, I was quite alarmed to discover this just before I left for the Sabbat.a From the cupboard she removed a white satchel. No, not a satchela"a white cloth. She lifted it to reveal the two poppets Iad made! But they were no longer bound together with red ribbon! They were separated. Ma placed them on the table between us.

aWhere did you find these?a I asked.

aOn the floor.a They must have dropped out of the rafters! And Ma had been the one to cut them apart. aWhy did you meddle with them?a I asked. aWhy did you foil the magick?a aI was going to leave them together until I noticed the runes youad embroidered upon them.a She held up the one that said Diarmuid. aYou put a boyas name on this! Truly, Rose, you know itas wrong. Iave said that time and again. This is dark magick, and Iall not have it coming from my daughter, or any Wodebayne, if I can prevent it.a The sight of the unbound poppets frustrated me so, I barely heard her words. So my spell had worked until Ma had discovered the dolls and separated them. I felt fresh anger, this time at Sle. She was putting her beliefs about magick before me.

And what of Diarmuidas own love for me? Was it not strong enough to see our marriage through without help of my magick? It was all so confusing.

aRose...a Maas voice interrupted my thoughts. aYouare not listening! You have no right to tamper with that boyas destiny! It may seem like atis the easy way out, but your intrusive spell will come back to haunt youa"threefold! And I worry about you tangling with a Vykrothe girl. They are a fierce tribe, and you have a history with them that Iave dared not speak of before this.a aI do?a I winced. aWhen did I engage a Vykrothe?a aDo you remember your trip to the coast with your father?a she asked. When I nodded, she went on. aWhile you were there, the rains fell, causing terrible coastal flooding. Many of the neighboring Vykrothe homes and fields were flooded. ruined. And thereas rumor that the floods came as a result of a spell cast by your father.a aSo Da did practice dark magick?a Ma sighed deeply. aI do not think so, but that is how the rumor goes. They say there was an angry confrontation between Gowan and a Vykrothe man in a village inn. As a result, they say, your father cast a black spell upon the village. Hence the flooding.a aDid you ever ask Da about it?a Ma looked down. aI didnat even know of the flooding at the coast until after your da was gone.a I shook my head. a aTis quite a tale.a aAye, thatas what I believe it to bea"a fanciful tale.a Ma rose from the table and poured fresh water into the basin. aNow, off to bed. Weall talk more of this come the morning.a I washed off and curled onto my sleeping pallet. Sleep would come quickly, I knew, as my body and mind were worn weary. But as I drifted off, the image of Aislinn popped into my head. Her fiery red hair was aglow in the moonlight, her eyes wild. aWe have the power to punish the other clans,a shead said. aWhy donat we use it?a Because power could be dangerous? But witches wielded the G.o.ddessas power all the time. Did not the G.o.ddess impose her own sense of justice? Besides, I had not cast the spell of frogs. And I had not stolen anotheras love away. Diarmuid had pledged himself to me under the G.o.ddess; his bond with Siobhan was a business matter determined by his parents. Could I not defend myself against this vengeful girl? I was merely protecting myself and my babe. Even as my father might have defended himself from a Vykrothe all those years ago.

It was all too much to sort out this night. I yawned as Ma came close, tucking a light blanket over me. aGood night, Rose. Weall undo your spell in the morn.a Mayhap, I thought. Or mayhap I would find a way to cast a new spell upon Diarmuid. I breathed softly, feeling coddled by her love. aTwas a lovely feeling for now, but I knew it would not sustain me.

I had reached a time when a motheras love was not enough.

I needed Diarmuid.

The next day the Sun G.o.d sent splinters of sunlight into the cottage. The light awakened me, infusing my body with refreshed strength and hope. I thought of the words from the Lughna.s.sadh rites.

aG.o.ddess, we thank thee for all that has been raised from the soil.

May it grow in strength from now till harvest.

We thank thee for this promise of fruits to come.a I rubbed my belly. My baby had been but a seed at Beltane, but atwould be a fine child to be born around the time of the Imbolc rites.

Grow in peace, little one, I thought as I rose from my bed. Your ma will take care of these difficult matters and bring your da to you.

That morning I enlisted Kyraas help in fighting the battle. I knew if I wanted to get to Diarmuid, I would first have to stave off Siobhan.

aA minor spell is necessary,a I told Kyra. aSomething to scare her off.a After some thought I added, aSomething to mar her lovely golden hair.a We were sitting in my sacred circle, trying to remember anything wead ever heard of dark spells. This was not the sort of thing you learned at the circle or looked up in your motheras Book of Shadows.

aIave heard tell of turning a personas nails black,a she said. aOr perhaps you can send a lightning bolt upon her head?a aThatas a bit too much,a I said. aI canat be causing her serious harm, though I must say, atis tempting.a We meandered through the woods, talking about what we knew of herbs and spells. When we came upon a th.o.r.n.y plant, I went over and circled it with my bolline. a aTis just the thing to tangle her lovely hair. Can you imagine Siobhan stuck among a bramble of thorns?a On the way back to my altar I cut a lovely purple iris to give me the wisdom to work a new spell. Working together, Kyra and I swept the circle and consecrated the thorns. Then I made up a chant: aO G.o.ddess of Light, G.o.ddess so fair, Please bring these thorns upon her hair.

Let Siobhan know my wrath, Let her nevermore cross my path!a aSo mote it be!a Kyra said, her eyes lit with expectation.

Afterward we could barely contain our curiosity. Would our spell be a success?

aPerhaps we should go and see with our own eyes,a I said. aBesides, I am due a trip to Lillipool. I must speak to Diarmuid and try to work things out.a Kyra tucked a cornflower behind her ear. aPerhaps we should pay a visit to Falkner at his fatheras shop? If he can get use of a horse, weall be in Lillipool in no time.a I smiled. aIs it because you want to see the spell or because you want to see Falkner?a A mischievous gleam danced in her eyes. aBoth!a At the Kirkloch blacksmithas shop we found Falkner, who talked his da into making a run to a merchant in Lillipool. Falkner had met Siobhan at market on more than one occasion. aThat one thinks sheas the queen of the Highlands,a he said, rolling his eyes. a aTwould be quite satisfying to see her get her comeuppance.a In no time we were in the dusty Leapvaughn village, searching the marketplace for Diarmuid. It turned out that he was off tending sheep in the hills, but Falkner managed to learn the location of Siobhanas cottage. We left the horse tethered near a water trough in the village and went out to the MacMahon cottage on foot. The house was a small affair, overlooking a field of dry heather that gave way to a bog. The shutters had been thrown open from the windows, and smoke rose from the chimney.

We perched on a nearby hillside, just behind a fallen log.

aIs she home?a Kyra asked. aI donat see anyone about.a aI donat know,a Falkner said, abut I cannot stay here watching a lone cottage all afternoon. Daas got work to be done. Besides, atis deadly dull.a aA bit of waiting would be well worth the sight of seeing Siobhan in distress,a I said, watching the cottage.

Over in the bogs a few birds squawked. It was a lazy, still August afternoon. aPerhaps we could take turns napping while we wait?a I added.

Just then the wind kicked up over the heather, rattling through the weeds. It swept up from the bogs, bypa.s.sing our little hill but heading straight toward the cottage. As it churned, it blew seeds and thistle toward the house.

The door of the cottage swung open, and Siobhan flew out in a fury.

aThere she is!a Kyra cried.

With her skirts gathered high Siobhan raced about the cottage, trying to shutter the windows. She pressed a shutter closed, but the strong wind sucked it back open. She reached for the shutter again, but dust and thistles and seed clods were swarming to her face, forcing her to cower. The th.o.r.n.y seeds blew directly upon her, hooking onto her skirts and ap.r.o.n. Dozens of burrs snagged in her hair, but when she reached up to tug them out, they pierced her fingertips.

aEeow! Ow! Ooh!a she yelped, dancing about as the th.o.r.n.y seeds flew under the straps of her sandals.

aHa!a I laughed with satisfaction. The three of us no longer hid behind the log but sat up for the best view of our quarry.

aOh, G.o.ddess, look at her!a Kyra laughed with me. aSheas a sorry sight.a aFrom what I know of her, she quite deserves it,a Falkner said. aI never thought Iad see the likes of her yelping about.a aIndeed,a I said as Siobhan continued to hop around, pulling burrs from her clothes and hair. aAt least this should stop her from sending more spells my way.a And, I thought, perhaps it will keep her away from Diarmuid, too!

aOh, dear,a Kyra said, her hand flying to her mouth. aShe sees us! Sheas coming this way.a I arose and stood tall, not afraid of this petty Vykrothe wh.o.r.e.

aItas you!a Siobhan yelped, stomping toward me. aThis is your magick, is it not?a aAye, though I must admit, I had to practice restraint,a I said. aItas far less than you deserve.a aBlast you all!a Siobhan said, raising a fist in the air. aIall curse you and your families, too!a She was quite a sight, her blond hair matted and tangled like so many rough cuttings of dirty wool. She moved without grace, as if every turn pained her.

aTwas satisfying indeed.

aEasy!a Falkner stepped toward her and gently touched her shoulder. aEasy, now! You rail like a savage beast. Perhaps youare in need of soothing!a aDonat touch me!a she shrieked, stepping away from him. aIall have you know that Iam betrothed, and you must mind your hands.a Falkner lifted his hands defensively. aI apologize! I was just trying to help.a aTake your leave, all of you!a Siobhan cried as she turned back to the cottage. aBegone, you and your vicious spells.a aLikewise to any witch who would summon frogs from the pond,a I called to her.

As Siobhan slammed into the cottage, I turned to my friends. aThat was worth waiting for, and youall be back to your daas shop in no time,a I told Falkner.

aBut wait!a he said mysteriously. He held out one hand as if he were cradling an invisible tool.

aWhatas this?a Kyra said. aMore magick?a He smiled. aWhen I touched Siobhanas shoulder, I managed to extract a valuable itema"a strand of her hair.a He waved his closed fingers before me, and I saw ita"a thin line of gold.

I was most impressed. All this time I had thought Falkner a bit dim-witted, but perhaps he had simply been keeping his thoughts to himself. In any case, I had to admire his foresight in stealing something that could prove quite valuablea"especially if I needed to cast another spell against Siobhan. aThank you,a I said, sweeping the golden hair from his hand and tucking it into a tiny pouch from my pocket.

Kyra brushed off her skirts as we headed back toward the center of Lillipool. aThat was amusing indeed, though I think Siobhan is a waste of your time and power,a she told me. aYou need to go directly to Diarmuid. Speak to him. The true power is with him, not that silly girl.a aI do believe you are right,a I said as we walked along. aAnd I shall go to him tonight when he has returned from the fields. The G.o.ddess will give him the strength to defy his name and clan. I know it to be our destiny.a I could not wait for the evening.

11. Spelling a Death Drink with Dark Powers.

Falkner delivered me to the path to Maas cottage, and I waved good-bye to my friends with a firm resolution to work things out before nightfall. But as I neared the clearing, I noticed a group of coveners lingering outside our cottage. Panic ran cold within me. Something was wrong. Their expressions were somber as I ran up to them.

aWhat is it?a I called breathlessly. aWhatas happened?a aaTis your ma,a Ian MacGreavy answered. He came to me and took my hand. aSheas been hurt, Rose.a Gripped with fear, I broke loose from him and pushed past the others into the cottage. A few women from the coven were huddled around Maas bed, stroking her hair and speaking in hushed tones. As I pressed closer, I saw Ma lying there, her eyes open but glazed. A pool of blood stained the blanket beneath her.

aMa!a I knelt beside her, taking her hand. aWhat happened?a Her face was a mask of pain, and from the look in her eyes I could see she was not completely in this world.

aShe cannot speak,a one of the elders told me. Mrs. Hazelton put her hand on my shoulder. aSeems that a stray hunteras arrow hit your ma. She was just leaving my cottage, having delivered a salve for my husbandas breathing. She went down so fast! The huntsman never came forward, but I did hear his arrow whirring amid the tree.a aIall wager it was an arrow from a rival clan,a Aislinn said, her face pinched with anger. aA deliberate act of aggression.a aWe donat know that,a Mrs. Hazelton pointed out.

I stood and looked over Maas body. The arrow was still in her back. aThis must be removed,a I said, wondering how deep it had penetrated.

aBut the heat in her body is high,a said another elder who went by the name of Norn. She was a shriveled prune of a woman, but I had always been fond of her humor and her spirit. Norn touched Maas forehead, clucking her tongue. a aTis dangerous to take the arrow while she is feverish.a aThen we must take care of her fever.a I pushed back my hair, then went to the basin to wash my hands. If there was ever an occasion that I needed to call upon the magick I had learned, this was it. I handed the broom to Aislinn to sweep the circle, then I went to Maas Book of Shadows for remedies. aWe need something to bring down the fever, and we must help her sleep. Removing the arrow might cause her great paina"itas better if she can rest.a I leafed through the book. aI know we can start with chamomile and pa.s.sionflowers.a aAnise in the tea will help her sleep,a Norn told me. aAnd rosemary will help the pain.a aAdd cayenne to stay the flow of blood,a Mrs. Hazelton said.

I nodded as I leafed through the book. Finally I found a remedy for fever. aWeall need boneset in the tea to lower the fever,a I said, rus.h.i.+ng over to the jars and pouches to retrieve the herbs. aPray G.o.ddess that sheas able to drink this at all!a Norn had already put the kettle on the fire. Working together, we steeped a strong tea for Ma. As it brewed, I went to the altar and consecrated the tea and the comfrey poultice that Norn was preparing. I donat know what I said in the heated, dreadful moment, only that I summoned the G.o.ddess to heal Her daughter and to work through my hands, and the others chanted, aSo mote it be!a We managed to prop my mother up so that the tea could pa.s.s over her lips. Still dazed, she sipped most of the contents. After that, her eyes closed and her breathing slowed.

aaTis working,a Norn said, dousing my motheras head with a cool cloth. aThe fever is lifting.a Thanking the G.o.ddess, I set to work on the arrow. I had to cut the skin a bit with my bolline to remove the barbed head, and as I worked, Maas blood ran out steadily. At last the arrow was out, and I dressed the wound with the poultice and covered it with a clean white cloth.

aNow. she must rest,a Norn said, her own voice cracking with weariness. aAs should we. Weall know more when she awakens.a I lifted the plate containing the bloodied dressings and the arrow that Iad removed. Glancing down at the base, I noticed that it was marked with runes.

My body went cold as I deciphered their meaning. aVykrothes...a So this was no hunting accident. The arrow was part of a spell cast by Siobhan, I was sure of it. Had not Mrs. Hazelton said that a hunter had never appeared? Surely a hunter would come forward to claim his prized deer or rabbit? No, this was not a normal arrow. It had been spelled by Siobhan.

Had she intended to hit me? I couldnat be sure. But one thing I was sure of: Siobhan had gone too far. She had to be stopped.

aA Vykrothe arrow...a Norn gasped.

aWhat?a Aislinn darted over to my side to study the arrow. aOh, G.o.ddess, this is truly war! To have our high priestess struck down by another clan!a aIt might have been an accident,a Norn pointed out. aCome along now, Aislinn. You get yourself all liverish at every turn, girl!a aOh, some accident!a Aislinn exclaimed. aIf it were not intended for Sle, why did the huntsman not come forward and state his mistake?a aQuiet, girl!a Mrs. Hazelton hushed her. aYouare loud enough to wake the dead, and Sle must sleep.a aSleep, she will,a Aislinn said in a quieter voice. aBut when she awakens, she will find a changed world. A clan at war! For we cannot sit back and let our priestess be attacked!a aEnough!a Placing a wrinkled hand on Aislinnas shoulder, Norn led her to the door. aLet us go so Sle can rest. Rose will watch over her.a She ushered Aislinn out, then turned back to me. aYou performed some powerful magick today,a she told me softly, her eyes gleaming. aYour ma would be proud.a I nodded, my lips twisted with pain as the women filed out the door and returned to their own cottages. I closed the door and sighed, alone but for the quiet breathing of my mother in the bed. I cleaned up the bloodied things, dumped the old water, tidied the cottage, nursed Maas head with a cool cloth. All the while I felt embittered and frightened.

I had brought a Vykrothe arrow upon my mother.

It was time for Siobhan to have a taste of her own evil.

Listlessly I paged through Maas Book of Spells, praying for an answer. Aislinn was right. The Vykrothes deserved a taste of their own dark magick. But where do you begin if youave not been trained in the ways of darkness?

I turned to a spell called Death Drink and paused. I had never had much interest in this ritual. It called for a covener who wanted to visit their own mortality to drink a bitter brew. The potion sometimes made them a bit ill, but it was never fatal. As far as I was concerned, this was a tedious mind journey. So what if it led to inner wisdom?

But now, in this light, I wondered if I could use the death drink as a spell upon an unwilling victim. Siobhan.

I would add a few poisonous ingredients and a dark spell that would send Siobhan to deathas door. She would not die, though she might wish she could. As I doused Maas forehead with a cloth, I imagined Siobhan writhing in pain. Oh, I would send her a spell to end her viciousness.

aIall need bitter ingredients,a I whispered as I combed Maas hair back with my fingers. aCranberries from the bogs. Toadstools. And bitter essence of appleseeds.a Ma sighed contentedly, and I realized her fever had cooled. She slept soundly while I shuffled about the cottage, a.s.sembling herbs from our collection. When I was sure she was resting comfortably, with no sign of fever, I slipped out to consecrate the brew at my sacred circle.

Along the way I found a small wren hiding in the bushes. I paused, my life force pounding in my ears. I had never hurt one of the G.o.ddessas creatures before, but everyone knew that the blood of a living animal made for potent dark magick. Quietly I knelt beside it, taking a large pouch from my belt. In the blink of an eye I swung the open pouch over the bird, trapping it with such deftness, I felt sure the G.o.ddess intended it.

The stars were shrouded by clouds as I reached the clearing. I had expected darkness, with the new moon this eve. I squeezed the nectar from some sweet honeysuckles, thinking that if the potion tasted a bit palatable, Siobhan might drink it all. I added Siobhanas golden hair from her very own body. And much to my surprise, I barely flinched when it was time to cut the wrenas neck and add its blood to the potion. There. the death drink was complete.

aOh, G.o.ddess,a I whispered, ahere I do display the chalice of death. Whoever drinks this shall journey to the land of darkness and dwell there until she comes to realize the error of her ways.a I dipped my athame in the chalice, then held the blade up to the sky. aA bitter potion to end a bitter evil!a I said. I placed a cloth over the chalice as drops began to fall from the sky. Cool, cleansing raindrops. From the distant hills came the rumble of thundera"the G.o.ddessas answer. She had heard me. aSo mote it be,a I whispered.

The sun rose on a newly cleansed earth. I sat in bed, grateful that Sle was still resting comfortably. I arose and began to wash and dress. It was getting more and more difficult to find a place for my girdle between my belly and my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Soon the world would know I was expecting a child. If all went well, I would have a husband before then.

I had just finished eating my breakfast of warm gruel and apples when Norn appeared at the cottage door, bearing a basket of biscuits.

aI have come to give you a rest from nursing your ma,a she said, her beady eyes s.h.i.+ning in her wrinkled face. aGo forth. You need some fresh air and release.a aThank you,a I said, taking a cloak to cover my belly and ward off the morning dew. aI have need of some time to commune with the G.o.ddess,a I told her. I started out the door, then turned back to retrieve the pitcher containing the death drink. aLet me not forget the ceremonial wine,a I said.

aIt is good that you are working your own spells,a Norn told me. aYour mother must be pleased. Has she told you that youare likely to be our covenas next high priestess?a aN-no,a I said, surprised at her words. aBut Ma has taught me well.a Norn smiled brightly as I headed down the path, on my way to Siobhanas cottage.

The trip to Lillipool had begun to seem shorter now that Iad traveled this way so oft of late. The sun was still low on the eastern hills when I rounded the hilltop near the heather fields. The MacMahon cottage sat in the sun, a young lad of five or six playing about near the woodpile beyond the house. He had long golden hair that hung to his shoulders and a smudge on his cheek. Probably Siobhanas younger brother, I wagered as I approached him. Perfect!

He was scalping the bark from various tree branches, his own unskilled attempts at carving figurines. When I drew close, he glanced up at me curiously. aHark!a he said. aDo you come to visit me?a aI come with a gift for Siobhan,a I said, holding up the pitcher. aBut since the hour is so early, I dare not disturb the household. Do you know her?a I asked.

aAye! I am her brother Tysen.a He eyed the pitcher curiously. aBut what gift have you there?a a aTis a sweet nectar from her love,a I said. aSiobhan is to drink this first thing upon awakening.a I lowered my voice, adding, aI think perhaps he has put a love spell upon it, hoping to capture your sisteras heart. Do you know Diarmuid?a He grinned. aAye, I know him well. He owes me a ride upon his shoulders.a aI shall remind him of that,a I said. Carefully I handed the pitcher to the boy. aDo you think you can handle a task of this magnitude?a aAye.a He smiled proudly, his pale eyes gleaming. a aTis an easy task.a Tysen headed toward the house, and I headed back the way I had come with a new sense of righteousness and balance. Siobhan had struck down my mother, but her evil magick was now cycling back to her.

When I returned to the cottage, Ma was sitting up and eating biscuits with Norn.

aLook whoas feeling better,a Norn said, all smiles as she took the kettle of tea off the fire. aThatas some powerful magick you wrought yesterday, Rose. Sle, your daughter is truly blessed by the G.o.ddess.a aIndeed,a my mother said. aI have always admired her powers. I am fortunate she was at hand yesterday when I was in dire need of them.a I thanked Norn for her help, and she insisted on leaving the biscuits behind. After she departed, Ma moved back to the bed to drink her tea.

aWhat a world of difference,a I told her as I sat at the table. I bit into a biscuit and brushed flour from my fingers. aYou look so much better.a aThanks to you,a she said. aYou have come a long way in your magick, Rose.a I smiled. Perhaps Ma finally realized that Iad been working hard to learn the ways of the G.o.ddess.

Ma sipped her tea, then let her head drop back. aBut I must say, my mind traveled to some frightening places in my dreams. I saw you concocting a dark spell, inviting in evil, conjuring a potion with the intention to hurt someone. I saw your athame raised to dark thunderclouds anda"did it rain last night?a aI think it did,a I said innocently. The biscuit was now wedged in my throat, and I no longer had the appet.i.te for it. Maas insightfulness scared me. It was difficult to fool a high priestessa"especially if she was your mother!

aSuch frightening visions,a Ma said.

Brus.h.i.+ng off my hands, I went to my motheras bedside. aShall I change the dressing or wait?a aLet it wait,a Ma said, lifting the cloth to show me the wound. aIt seems to be healing.a I nodded. aIt does look much better. But you should sleep. You need to heal.a aI will, though I fear my sleep will be haunted by more of the same dreams.a aaTwas but a vision of your delirium,a I a.s.sured her. aNow that you have no fever, your dreams will be gentle.a Sle smiled. aAdvice from my daughter?a I nodded. aSage advice.a

12. Reversing a Spell.

While Ma slept, I went down to wash at the brook, trying to think of a way to sneak off and see Diarmuid. I could not abandon Ma in her current state, not for a long period. And although I was grateful that she was healing quickly, my patience was wearing thin.

aYou need your da,a I said, rubbing my belly as I waded in the cool shallows.

I would have to give Ma one more day. After that, perhaps I could convince Kyra or Norn to stay with her while I went to fetch the man who would become my husband.