Page 67 of Pure Magic
We nudge our mounts into a trot and then a gallop. Within a few seconds the scenery is whipping by so fast, I can barely make out the trees and houses. Everything is a blur as we move at impossible speeds down the road.
Through my connection to the horses, I sense only their joy.
“Beth, are you all right?”
“A little nausea, but I’ll be fine. It’s remarkably smooth, considering.”
She’s right. It feels as if we’re flying down the road and hardly touching hoof to dirt.
As the sun reaches its peak, we slow. The Salisbury Plain comes into view, awe-inspiring on its own with the standing stones rising up from the plateau, but the multitude of people camped around Stonehenge takes my breath away.
Sara Beth sways in the saddle, closes her eyes, and opens them. “I hope we never have to do that again.”
Chapter
Twenty-One
SARA BETH
Adam’s agape. “Who are all these people?”
Sylvia stands at the edge of the crowd, shielding her eyes from the sun. Waving, she calls over her shoulder.
“These are the witches coming together to save this world and Goddess, Adam.” My heart is fuller than I’d have thought possible.
“I never dreamed there would be this many.” His voice is tight.
We dismount. The horses seem no worse for wear, though I expect they’ll need good food and water as soon as we can arrange it.
Zephyr is breathing hard, but no harder than she might after a good run. I pet her neck as we walk uphill toward the masses of witches.
Windsor coven has gathered beside Sylvia, who immediately pulls me into a hug. “I’ve missed you. Are you well? We thought you might stay away until the day passed.”
“Fine. We could not stay away. Goddess told us we are needed.”
Minerva rushes to the front and grabs me as well. “I was worried you might not make it or that you’d come to harm.” She lets go of me and hugs Adam with equal enthusiasm.
Grinning, Adam pats her back like an affectionate brother. “I’ve only ever moved myself with that spell until today.”
Minerva pats his cheek. “We’re all relieved you’ve come. We called the Kent coven, and they brought two covens with them. Then your friends from Derbyshire arrived with three other covens. Others have been arriving for three days. We don’t know how so many heard of the trouble.”
With June beside her, Great Mother approaches. “Perhaps Goddess told them.”
The covens are arranged in tents around fires. I hug Prudence. “Should you be living so rough, Great Mother?”
“I’m not a child, and I’ll not miss what’s to come,” she scolds. Then softer, she says, “I’m guessing you found all you’ll need?”
I nod. “We have the items, but no instructions for how to use them.”
Looking around and counting in his head, Adam frowns. With panic in his voice and in his heart, he asks, “Where is Trina?”
I search the crowd as well. Katrina Davidson would not be left behind. No witch would be excluded from such a gathering. A knot tightens in my gut.
Eyes filled with worry, Prudence sighs. “She disappeared a week ago. We looked everywhere. I even scried for her. Wherever she is, my magic cannot go there.”
Sir William and Henry Dove come and take the horses to be cared for. “Glad to have you both back,” Sir William says.
I don’t want to say it or even think it, but there is no way around it. “It’s her who has taken your place, isn’t it, Adam?”
