there’s a good chance you’re right about that. I mean, it sounds plausible. I just can’t believe that book has been in the library this whole time, and I never knew.” She shook her head in disgust.
Brenna couldn’t help a chuckle. “To be fair, I only found it because I had a little help.”
Hazel Eyes sighed. “I wish I had powerful ancestors sending me on thrilling journeys.”
“It isn’t as fun as it seems,” Brenna said, thinking of Maggie.
“I know, sorry.”
“It’s fine. Anyway, the problem is, the book didn’t mention the name of the judge anywhere. Would that sort of information be kept on file?”
Celestine made a thinking face. “Yeah but whether or not the records survived this long, who knows? I’ll look into it.”
“Thank you. Failing that, I think Ronan will be able to find out.”
“Oh he’s gorgeous!” somebody called out.
Brenna blinked, then she remembered they have been having the same dreams as her, so they know what he looks like. “Well, he certainly isn’t ugly,” Brenna said, barely containing a blush.
“You could say he’s downright dreamy!” Hazel Eyes said. The rest of the coven laughed. “But wait, how will you ask him?”
“He’s in town.” Brenna shut her eyes and waited for excited screams.
“He’s what?”
“How?”
“Where?”
“He was outside the library,” Brenna said, laughing with the giddy ladies.
“He was outside my library?” Celestine said, eyes huge.
“Yes. I’m seeing him again tomorrow night. I’m hoping he will be able to tell me the name of the judge.”
“Is that all you’re hoping for?” a nosy girl asked with a giant smile.
“Uh, yes.” Brenna laughed, gently shaking her head.
Celestine walked into the middle of the painted pentacle where there was a table set up as an altar. On the altar was a miniature pentacle, white candles, jasmine flowers, acorns, pumpkins, crisp golden leaves, salt, a container of water, an ornate pewter chalice decorated with trees and full of red wine, and a round Goddess figure, sat proudly on the table. Brenna smiled at the sight of the statue that looked like a chubby faceless baby and was small enough to fit in her hand. Her grandmother always used to say she and the statue shared the same shape, always making Brenna laugh.
Celestine motioned for Brenna to enter the circle of the pentacle and, raising her hands toward the ceiling, she started to whisper. Brenna made her way into the circle, feeling an incredible warmth envelop her. It was like coming in from the cold.
Celestine raised her voice. “We ask the elements of earth, air, fire, and water to join our circle in peace and love. We ask the Goddess to give us protection during our ritual.” Celestine lit some incense and put it next to two white candles. Smoke floated from the incense, filling the air with a sweet lavender scent. The coven linked hands and started to chant with Brenna standing in the middle of the circle. She hadn’t been to a coven meeting before, so had never witnessed a ritual so large.
The low hum of the coven’s voices rose in unison. Her skin tingled. Warm vibes coursed through her.
“We ask the Goddess and God for their protection during this harrowing time. We and the spirit of hundreds of slain witches are under a vicious attack. We ask that you guide Brenna in her quest to save the souls of these women, and her friend who has been cruelly taken by the dark force that haunts this town.”
The chanting ceased. They stood in silence for a minute, soaking up the magical warmth in the circle. Everybody sat down on the floor, crossing their legs. Celestine took a biscuit tin out from under the altar and opened the lid revealing crescent moon shaped cakes. She took one then passed the tin along. Then she opened a bottle of red wine with a loud pop. The cork hit the floor with a thump as Celestine took wine glasses out from under the altar. Dark red liquid spilled into the glasses, and when all of the glasses had some, she passed them around. Brenna always enjoyed this part of rituals. It was the custom to have cakes and ale after doing a spell because normally there was no eating before.
Brenna took small sips of her wine and enjoyed the crisp crescent cake that tasted like vanilla and smelt like roses.
“So, Brenna, what do you do when you aren’t fighting evil forces?” a blonde coven member asked.
“I have a shop that I share with—” Brenna was interrupted by