Page 36 of Call of the Ride
And what a burden that must be.
I’d never been lucky enough to experience the full breadth of motherhood myself. But I’d made it to the gate and carried my child, so a mother I still was, and I could only imagine Mokosh’s feelings of helplessness as the earth perished.
My intuition nudged me to continue this line of thinking. I recalled how Mokosh was associated with various saints and deities who watched over women and women’s work, like cooking, baking, and weaving. I knew vaguely that the very idea of “women’s work” had become divisive over time, but I enjoyed tasks like these—not only as creative outlets, but to connect with all the women before me who’d undertaken both.
I wonder if those women would help me now?
Abruptly sitting up, my gaze shot to the layer of gravel filling the dry well before me, illuminated ghostly white in the moonlight. I crawled forward until my palms rested on the rocks, and allowed my claws to elongate, sinking deep into the soil beneath.
The surrounding field became eerily silent as I closed my eyes and concentrated on connecting with the women who’d come before me. A kaleidoscope of images rushed through my mind’s eye. I saw women in peasant clothing, babies balanced on their hips, laughing with each other while waiting to fill their buckets at the well.
Next, I saw travelers and hikers stopping to quench their thirst at the stream that flowed through Trewsbury Mead in the wet season. Then, I saw older generations showing their descendants how to follow nature’s guideposts to find this fresh source of drinking water. This awareness widened to include women and mothers throughout the world, throughout time, performing the same daily rituals. Suddenly, I felt all of them at my back—every single one.
The air cooled with a hint of chill, like a late spring frost. A rumbling vibrated far below my hands and knees, and gasped as I felt icy-cold liquid kissing my fingertips. This water steadily covered my hands as it gurgled up from the ground beneath the gravel, soon filling the pit and the stream behind me.
Ulysses’ tinkling laugh rang out, and he clapped his hands as if I’d put on a show just for his amusement. “Well done, witch! You simply turned back the clock a few months, to this past spring. Now, you’d better collect that water before time speeds up, bringing us back to midsummer once again.”
He snapped his fingers and a leather canteen appeared on the ground next to me. I snatched it and quickly filled the container before raising it to my lips for a drink, eager for whatever vision awaited.
“No, no, no, Vasilisa,” the Fae scolded, waggling a finger, dashing my hopes once again. “It’s still not quite the righttime,according to the riddle you must solve. And unfortunately—in this case—youwillhave to abide by the laws of nature.”
Chapter 28
Vasilisa
Ahacking cough caused me to spin in alarm, but all I found were Nox and Asa crawling out of the rapidly dwindling river behind me. A moment later, the water I’d summoned evaporated completely—the only hint it was ever there being my full canteen and the dripping men before me.
And I have to say, they look good wet…
“What the hell happened to you two?” A familiar, lilting voice called out from the tree line, and I turned to find Tan emerging from the forest with Veles at his side. “Youmudakslook like a couple of cats that were left in the rain. Like wet pussy...but not the fun kind.”
“Fucking hilarious,lan,”Nox grumbled, taking his long hair out of his topknot to wring out on the ground beneath him. “But apparently, taking a swim in the Water of Life is the only way to exit the…magical womb cave we were stuck in with our mother.”
It sounds a bit like giving birth.
I thought of how I’d just been assisted in a birth of my own. Thanks to the spirits who’d come to my aide, I’d reconnected with and discovered the depths of my own power. It made sense—knowledge was often passed down from mothers to daughters, grandmothers to granddaughters, and women to women.
So why not throughout time?
Sending up a silent prayer of gratitude, I moved to greet my sodden men. A smile twitched my lips as my Beautiful Sun used his heat power to dry them both, even as Nox continued to grumble. Tan quickly joined us, scooping me into his arms for a passionate kiss that left me breathless before moving on to Ace.
“It’s nice to see you didn’t kill the fairy man while we were away, doll. Perhaps you’re learning to control your murderous habits a bit, hmm?” His hazel eyes were sparkling with mischief, and I good-naturedly rolled my own in response.
“Yes, I somehow behaved,” I snorted. “Besides, that empty fence post is reserved for a certainRusskiwho seems to enjoy displeasing me.” I smirked at Nox, hoping to feast on some of his delicious annoyance.
“Not as much as you seem to enjoy giving me lip, witch,” Nox shot back. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think youwantto be spanked.”
He’s on to me.
“Not this again!” Veles barked. “Do you heathens ever think of anything besides copulation?”
“I don’t believe that word is used much anymore, Old Scratch,” Ulysses snickered, emerging from the shadows to taunt the god.
Veles scoffed. “I would say it’s a surprise to find you here, Goodfellow, but that would be a lie, since you live to meddle.”
“Shhh, don’t give the witch any ammunition against me,” the Fae brought his finger to his lips as he threw a saucy wink my way. “She’s had me in her sights since the evening began.”
I ignored the bickering supernaturals in favor of reconnecting with my men. “I’m glad you’re all safely back with me,” I exhaled, feeling answering relief pour down our bond from all sides. “It’s been a challenging night for us all, I assume. But the good news is that I collected water from Thames Head spring—by turning back time to the wet season and pulling it up from the ground below.”
