because I loved him with my soul. On sad nights I still do.” She pushed her hair back and gathered the black thickness in a band to make a ponytail.
I moved to find more ribbon and returned with another stack. “I saw several women working at Duban. Isn’t it acceptable for a woman to have a family and work here?”
“More the exception than the rule, especially in families with any kind of power or wealth.” Shera took a deep breath as if trying to rid herself of the sadness. “You know as well as I that there are millions of women around the world who have families and successful careers, but it isn’t a suitable lifestyle for his family. It still hurts because I thought he loved me.”
“He did love you, dear, but he’s a man and he can’t help being an idiot,” Kazamar stated simply.
In many ways Kazamar reminds me of my own mother. She speaks her mind, protects her children, and runs her home and the women’s foundation with the efficiency of a top CEO. Yes, Mom and Kazamar would get along very well.
“So, Shera, what do you study in school and what grad school do you plan to attend?”
“I did my undergraduate studies in physics at MIT, but I’m thinking of studying aerospace engineering at Caltech this summer. I took some time off to help my mother and Kahab with the foundation.”
“And to mend your broken heart,” added her mother.
“Yes, I suppose I needed time. Perhaps someday I’ll find a man who is open-minded and can accept me as I am.”
“As far as I’m concerned, unless you have some kind of extreme need to have children, men aren’t worth the trouble,” I said, trying to lighten Shera’s mood.
Kazamar laughed and the sadness lifted from her daughter’s eyes. “Bronwyn, you are both beautiful and brilliant, much like my daughter. And your assessment of men is as accurate as any I’ve ever heard. Now that we are finished with the charms what happens?” She stood and stretched her back.
“I need to gather them all into the center of the room and place candles around the charms.” They helped me move the pile and make a circle of light with the red and black candles.
I shook their hands, expecting them to go now that the work had been completed. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m ready to do the spell now.” I motioned them toward the door.
“We will stay,” Kazamar stated firmly.
Well, okay. I raised my arms in preparation for the spell and noticed Azir in the doorway. His mother turned to face him. “Well, don’t just stand there, come in and watch the magic. She’s beginning the spell. Your witch is a talented young woman.”
“Bronwyn isn’t my witch , Mother, she is very much her own woman. But I grant you that she is talented.” And he winked at me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the sheik tried to flirt with me. He came in to stand between his sister and mother and watch the show.
I don’t normally have such an audience for this kind of thing and couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I felt so nervous. Breathing slowly, I calmed my emotions so the energy within could build.
In a few seconds I could feel a white light spilling out around me. Waving my hands across the charms, I recited:
Door to door
Window to window
With this flame I protect all within;
Evil shall not pass these borders.
As I will, so mote it be.
A burst of energy flew from my fingertips and circled around the room, then landed on the charms. For a moment they glowed.
I looked up to see Azir’s family wide-eyed and openmouthed. Good magic does that to people.
“It didn’t rhyme,” Shera whispered.
I smiled. “Doesn’t have to, just need to get my point across.”
“That was incredible. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve lived a very long time.” Kazamar shook her head. “Our Bedouins do magic, but they keep it very secret. I’m most impressed, young woman. How do the charms get to the shelters?”
Azir stepped
I moved to find more ribbon and returned with another stack. “I saw several women working at Duban. Isn’t it acceptable for a woman to have a family and work here?”
“More the exception than the rule, especially in families with any kind of power or wealth.” Shera took a deep breath as if trying to rid herself of the sadness. “You know as well as I that there are millions of women around the world who have families and successful careers, but it isn’t a suitable lifestyle for his family. It still hurts because I thought he loved me.”
“He did love you, dear, but he’s a man and he can’t help being an idiot,” Kazamar stated simply.
In many ways Kazamar reminds me of my own mother. She speaks her mind, protects her children, and runs her home and the women’s foundation with the efficiency of a top CEO. Yes, Mom and Kazamar would get along very well.
“So, Shera, what do you study in school and what grad school do you plan to attend?”
“I did my undergraduate studies in physics at MIT, but I’m thinking of studying aerospace engineering at Caltech this summer. I took some time off to help my mother and Kahab with the foundation.”
“And to mend your broken heart,” added her mother.
“Yes, I suppose I needed time. Perhaps someday I’ll find a man who is open-minded and can accept me as I am.”
“As far as I’m concerned, unless you have some kind of extreme need to have children, men aren’t worth the trouble,” I said, trying to lighten Shera’s mood.
Kazamar laughed and the sadness lifted from her daughter’s eyes. “Bronwyn, you are both beautiful and brilliant, much like my daughter. And your assessment of men is as accurate as any I’ve ever heard. Now that we are finished with the charms what happens?” She stood and stretched her back.
“I need to gather them all into the center of the room and place candles around the charms.” They helped me move the pile and make a circle of light with the red and black candles.
I shook their hands, expecting them to go now that the work had been completed. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m ready to do the spell now.” I motioned them toward the door.
“We will stay,” Kazamar stated firmly.
Well, okay. I raised my arms in preparation for the spell and noticed Azir in the doorway. His mother turned to face him. “Well, don’t just stand there, come in and watch the magic. She’s beginning the spell. Your witch is a talented young woman.”
“Bronwyn isn’t my witch , Mother, she is very much her own woman. But I grant you that she is talented.” And he winked at me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the sheik tried to flirt with me. He came in to stand between his sister and mother and watch the show.
I don’t normally have such an audience for this kind of thing and couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I felt so nervous. Breathing slowly, I calmed my emotions so the energy within could build.
In a few seconds I could feel a white light spilling out around me. Waving my hands across the charms, I recited:
Door to door
Window to window
With this flame I protect all within;
Evil shall not pass these borders.
As I will, so mote it be.
A burst of energy flew from my fingertips and circled around the room, then landed on the charms. For a moment they glowed.
I looked up to see Azir’s family wide-eyed and openmouthed. Good magic does that to people.
“It didn’t rhyme,” Shera whispered.
I smiled. “Doesn’t have to, just need to get my point across.”
“That was incredible. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve lived a very long time.” Kazamar shook her head. “Our Bedouins do magic, but they keep it very secret. I’m most impressed, young woman. How do the charms get to the shelters?”
Azir stepped
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