A Modern Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,79
in her tower, scrying bowl in her lap. She was a woman who fully understood the weight of what would happen tonight in California. Aervyn would be the most important witch of his generation, and tonight was a very important step in accepting the responsibility that came with great power.
Being Irish, Moira accepted that his fate had been set before he’d been born. She also knew it was his fate to choose, and being Irish, she understood that sometimes people made poor choices.
Aervyn would do right by his power, his family, and a witching lineage that stretched back thousands of years. She was sure of it. No one who had felt the powers and portents present at his birth could ever doubt it.
What no one had seen, thought Moira with satisfaction, was the girl who would stand as his partner. The girl she’d had a small role in finding. Fetching spells, indeed. Well, perhaps it was fitting that a most modern witch, unfettered by any history at all, supported a witch who carried the weight of history.
Lauren had yet to fully understand what her power would ask of her. Tonight, they’d see what the girl was truly made of. Moira had an idea she’d rise to the challenge.
And she intended to watch. As witch historian, it was only right. Moira waved a hand over her scrying bowl.
“Bowl of great and powerful sight,
Let this old and weak woman see tonight.
Show the young witch
And new witch dear to me,
As I will, so mote it be.”
…
Lauren looked out in awe at the headlands of Point Reyes National Seashore. Sheer cliffs fell to sandy beaches, and the setting sun played with wisps of fog lifting from the headland hills. It was not hard to believe magic could be done here. Except for the fact that it was national park land and a bunch of tourists might walk into the middle of their gathering at any moment.
She looked over at Jamie. “So, how do a hundred witches put on a magic show without attracting attention?”
Jamie gestured toward the two park rangers currently chatting with Jennie. “We’ll take a short walk to a valley that’s hard to trip across by accident, and the rangers will watch nearby trails to make sure we have privacy.”
“Do I want to know how you get national park rangers to provide these services?”
Jamie took Nat’s hand and offered Lauren his other one. “The ranger on the left is my cousin Maria.”
Lauren laughed and joined the motley line following Nell and Aervyn deeper into the headlands. Aervyn was going to yank Nell’s arm out of its socket if he bounced any harder.
Sophie came up beside Lauren. “How are you doing?”
Lauren gestured toward the front of the line. “I think my stomach is attached to Aervyn’s feet.”
“I can help with that a bit if you want.”
“That might be good. I don’t want to be remembered as the witch who puked.”
Sophie laughed and reached for Lauren’s hand. “You wouldn’t be the first.”
Lauren felt her lapis pendant heat briefly, and then the worst of the knots in her stomach relaxed. “Hey, thank you—that’s a lot better.”
“You’re welcome, and blessed be, my new sister. We’re here now.”
Lauren looked around and felt the awe return. They had come through a narrow valley that widened into a flatter meadow, if rocks and moss could be called a meadow. The low hills on three sides bracketed the mad crayoned sky and enormous orb sinking into the ocean.
Jennie’s mind-augmented voice spoke to the group. “Welcome to Ocean’s Reach, where witches have gathered for centuries. We come here today to respect the old, root in the present, and welcome the new. I ask the inner circle to join me now, so the outer circle can form around us.”
Thirteen witches moved to Jennie’s side, and most drew snacks out of bags or pockets. Jamie handed Lauren a yogurt drink, and then dropped two pillows on a flat, raised rock. Aervyn hopped up and sat on one, and Jamie pointed her to the other.
The rest of the inner circle quickly took shape around them. Jamie sat facing the ocean with Aurelia and Scott on either side of him. The other nine in their trios formed each of the remaining cardinal directions of the circle. Jennie winked at Lauren.
The remainder of their group formed into an outer circle. Lauren saw the triplets, Ginia in her usual spot at Nat’s elbow. Jennie’s daughter and her partner each had a purple-haired toddler in their lap. Others