Page 60 of Pure Magic
The tree vibrates with magic.
Lynda gasps.
“Hmmm?” Laura hums.
Worry for me and curiosity mix with Adam’s excitement.
His feelings mirror my own. When I place my other hand over the same spot, the knot loosens. Light flashes and covers me in fierce magic unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Clearly the magic of Perses feels nothing like Hecate’s.
The light fades, and a smooth staff of pure white is in my grasp.
Adam grins proudly at me.
The other three witches gape.
From the pouch at my waist, I draw out the blue crystal Prudence gave me the day we left Windsor and hold it to the broader end of the staff. The stone grows hot and seems to melt into the wood. Another flash, and it’s as if stone and staff had always been one. The lapis blue lodged inside the shield staff catches the sunlight.
“I thought it was just a children’s story.” Lynda’s mouth is wide, as are her eyes. “Mother told us of the brothers who tried to take the world. She told us of the items left behind to keep the next attack at bay. She never said one of them was here in Birchover.”
Running my hand along the staff, I’m as in awe of it as anyone. “Perhaps she didn’t know.”
“Even if she had, she might not have said.” Laura smiles. “Mother loved her secrets, didn’t she, Lynda?”
“Aye, she did. We should go home and talk about this. Someone was bound to have heard or seen some of what happened in the last twenty minutes. When they come to inquire, we’d be better served to be absent.” Lynda ruffles her son’s hair and walks out of the churchyard.
Isaac and Laura follow. After a moment, Laura looks back. “That invitation was meant for the two of you as well. Unless you have other matters to attend to?” Her grin is mischievous.
With a chuckle, Adam holds out his hand for mine, and we join them on the walk to their coven house.
The one-story stone house sits at the west edge of town. Several people wave and bid the witches good afternoon. The small wooden door is thicker than I expect.
With a wave of her hand, Lynda opens the window shades and lights the wood stacked in the hearth.
Isaac rushes to take the kettle from the hook and goes out the back door with it. He returns a minute later and swings the hook and kettle over the fire.
“Thank you, Isaac.” Lynda beams.
Laura invites us to sit with her at a grouping of six chairs that surround a round low table.
Sitting, I lean the staff on the chair next to me. It’s hard to keep my gaze from the marvel. When I look up. Adam is smiling at me.
Our hostess is patiently waiting.
They saved our lives. Goddess, I hope this is what you had in mind. “Our names are not Adam and Elizabeth Drummond. This is Adam MacNab, and I am Sara Beth Ware.”
Laura’s eyes widen. “High priestess of Windsor’s coven.” She lets out a breath. “May I ask why you lied about your names?”
Clearing his throat, Adam sits forward with his elbows on his knees. “The witches at the church are my brother and sister. They’ve been hunting me for many years. We believe they plan to use me as one of three and attack the world of man and Goddess. If they succeed, they would then likely create an army of witches and turn the nonmagical into slaves.”
“It is the woman who is in charge. That man seemed possessed.” Lynda stands at her sister’s right hand.
Nodding, Adam says, “It did look like Ariana had Kaden bespelled in some way. The last time we saw them, his will seemed not his own. I don’t know what’s changed that she’s keeping him in thrall.”
“If the story is to be believed,” Laura says and shakes her head, “time is running out for Ariana’s plot. The coming together of threes is soon at hand. Do you have the three weapons?”
It’s hard to see the staff as a weapon. “We have two of the items Goddess sent us for.”
Cups rattling on his tray, Isaac brings the tea and sets it on the table. “The great hart will be in the fae woods. It’s a half day’s ride north of here.”
