Page 13 of Magic Touch
"Sir William Meriwether?"
"Yes, madam."
Pressing her hand to the center of his chest, she closes her eyes. The blue light of his magic surrounds him.
His eyes close.
I push forward to protect him, even if it means going against Prudence and the entire coven.
Minerva grips my arm. "She's only assessing what he has. She'll not harm him. You have my word."
Trusting Minerva is easy when I offer her potions, and she in turn does the same, but I can't risk William. "Great Mother, please stop what you are doing."
A gasp from Sara Beth proves this doesn't happen often. Whatever Prudence wishes is accepted.
The high priestess lowers her hand but looks totally at ease, and not at all put out by my outburst. "I cannot take this gift away as you had hoped, child. You are a witch."
William takes her hand as the glow of his magic slides back inside him. "Madam, I had no knowledge of this power before. How is that possible?"
Moving her hand to the crook of his elbow, she walks with him to a pair of chairs near the wall to the left of the hearth.
I follow but remain standing as they sit.
The other witches gather close to hear what is said.
After several long slow breaths, Prudence says, "Long ago, my kind were hunted and killed for what we were. At that time, many families decided to hide their magic and never use it. For generations, they suppressed their nature, until the power of Goddess could find no way out and went to the shadows."
"And now it has awakened?" William asks.
"Your power is similar in nature to Esme's. When she healed your wound, she unintentionally awakened the magic." Prudence smiles, showing crooked yellow teeth. "I've never seen this in all my years, but I have heard it can happen."
"Great Mother," Sara Beth asks, "why did we not detect him as a witch when he arrived?"
Prudence's shoulders lift in a slight shrug. "He's holding it tightly behind his heart. Interesting that's where you chose to put it, William. If you wish to remain human, you might have put it someplace less powerful, such as your toe." She giggles like a girl at her own joke.
I don't know what to say or even think. "Then he cannot go back to what he was?"
"Not without being bound." Prudence sounds grim.
To spellbind a witch is the worst possible punishment.
"He should be bound." Sara Beth props her fists on her hips. "He knows nothing of magic. He's had no training. He is the perfect object for dark magic to embody."
"Hold your tongue, Sara Beth." I face her, my magic simmering under the surface, ready for the first sign of a binding spell.
Prudence lifts a hand. "Peace, children."
Both Sara Beth and I quiet and face her.
Tears pool in my eyes, blurring my vision. "I don't want him harmed because of my mistake, Great Mother."
Prudence's fearsome gaze burns into mine. "If Sir William chooses binding, he will not be harmed. He will feel the magic in his soul, but not use it. He shall not necessarily miss what he never had. However, Sara Beth has a point. If he chooses to remain a witch, he will need to be trained."
WILLIAM
When I was a soldier, my world got flipped upside down more often than not. The last two days have rocked me more than I’d like to admit, yet somehow it all seems right. I can’t explain it.
"Remain a witch. Is that possible?"
