The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga by Taliesin Govannon (important books to read .txt) 📕

your children as we walk the old ways.  Live in our hearts, our voices, and in our joy.  Come dance the circle round with us on this ancient night of Samhain.  You are welcome.  Blessed be.”

                “Blessed be.” we said back to him.

                “Blessed be.” came a deep male voice.

                I looked, and standing between Jack and Gaia was a towering figure, a naked human male shape with cloven hooves and towering stag antlers on his head.  His bearded face had a wide smile as he met the gaze of all there.

                “Herne?” Raina said, recalling the name she had used so often for the Horned God of modern Witches.

                “You called, I came.” he said simply.

                “Nice to see you again, Herne.” Eloise said with a wicked smile.

                “My lady...” he said with a bow.

                I’m not gonna ask I thought.  “Raina?” I said, looking at her.

                “Yeah?” she said, bewildered.

                “Be careful with the next part.” I said.

                “Oh, right!” she replied, pulling herself together.  She closed her eyes, raised her hands, and began her Goddess invocation.

                “Blessed Lady,” she said, “Great Mother, protector of families and children, passage into and out of life, we do call to you on this sacred night.  Come and join us as we mark the turning of the year and the turning of the wheel of life.  Join your children as we walk the old ways and raise the ancient magicks.  Goddess of the gates and what lies beyond, we do invite you in.  Blessed be.

                “Blessed be.” said the humans and Fae in the circle.

                We then heard Eloise and Herne say “Blessed be.”  Then, to nobody’s great surprise, a new woman’s voice added her own “Blessed be.”

                I looked, and between myself and Jack stood another familiar, to me anyway, face.

                “Hello Arianrhod.”

                She looked like she did the first time I had seen her… tall, fair-haired, in a gown spun from pure moon and star-light.

                “Hello, Annabelle.”

                “Uh,” Jack said, leaning in close to me, “That’s the Welsh Goddess Arianrhod?”

                “Yep.” I replied.

                “And he’s an actual Horned God?”

                “Looks that way.”

                “OK, just checking.”

                “The circle is perfect.” Raina said with a smile.

                We did no magick that night.  It was a celebration of the turning of the year, so we sang songs, danced, and generally had a wonderful time.  Herne made drums echo through the woods when we wanted to dance, and Jack cracked a wide grin when Arianrhod danced with him. Eloise danced with Herne, and I made a note to ask her sometime about her past with him… they seemed very familiar.

                When all was said and done, we blessed cakes and mead… along with a few joints… and sat together in the glow of the fire.

                “This is fine mead!" Herne said, draining the cup when it came to him.  "Here, allow me to contribute."  He waved his hand over the ritual cup and it refilled with an amber-colored liquid.  He passed it to Gaia, and she took a sip.

                “Oh my, that’s divine!” she purred.

                “And then some!” Herne replied with a smile.  “It’s from honey raised by Pan himself. A wonderful vintage.”

                “Wait,” Raina said, taking the cup from Gaia, “Pan?  As in the Greek God?”

                “That’s how most of you know him.” Herne said.  “Lovely fellow, great in bed!”

                “You can say that again!” Arianrhod and Eloise said in unison.  Eloise blushed, but Arianrhod just grinned.

                “So, how am I doing?” I asked Arianrhod.  I looked at Eloise as well.

                “Your powers are progressing nicely.” Arianrhod said.

                “And you’re still on this side of the veil,” Eloise added, “so you’re all good there.”

                “The Sorceress’ journey is an individual one.” Herne said.  “There’s really no yard-marks that are generally accepted.  You’re doing just fine, for you, and you’ll continue to do fine… until something bad happens.”

                “Which may never happen.” Eloise added.

                “So really, don’t sweat doing ‘fine’, just do you.” Arianrhod concluded.

                It was time to taste Pan's mead.  I took a sip and felt what could only be called sheer pleasure spreading down my body.

                “Damn!” I said, grinning.  “I wish this Pan guy grew weed!”

                Herne reached behind him and pulled out a bundle wrapped in broad, flat green leaves.  He handed it to Jack and motioned for him to open it.

                Jack did, and a pile of the sweetest smelling, multicolored buds were inside.

                “I love you." he said to Herne, slack-jawed.

                Even the Deities had to laugh at that one!

                                                                                                *                *                *

                I hit the trails in the forest around the compound early the next day.  Dawn had just broken, and the woods around me were waking up.

                I would have to be dressed WAY warmer if I was at home! I thought.  However, November first in Hawaii was far fairer than in Ohio.  I love the autumn time, don't get me wrong, but sometimes a vacation someplace nice just recharged the old batteries.

                I walked along the path sure-footed and unencumbered.  I had skipped my usual long dress that morning for stretch pants and another one of Raina’s hoodies… this one a dark green with ‘Kiss the Witch’ screen printed on the front.  Even my shoes… a pair of sturdy boots from Evelyn’s collection… were practical.

                I’m ready for anything! I thought.  But nothing’s probably going to happen.  I knew that, unlike the mansion back home, this property was walled on three sides, with the ocean making the fourth.  Nobody was likely to cross my path, which made this more of a nature walk for me.

                Doing magick on the wilting and dying plants had become so easy I hardly had to slow down anymore.  Just a wave of my hand and whoosh… the plant was whole and green again.  Even though it was easy, it was still enjoyable.

                All of this talk about malicious forces and powerful enemies, it’s nice to be able to help life thrive!

                Of