at the Lunar Fields, and I feel at home, it’s like my soul knows where I belong. I see lush in greenery all around, from the grass to the trees to the gently rolling hills. The Hallowed Hall is ahead of us, with beautiful manicured gardens and fountains. There are people scattered throughout the space, talking and sitting together. All are dressed in cloaks of various colors and patterns. I look down at myself and conjure a red cloak, similar to those I see in front of me. Rhydian’s eyes open wide and he nods at the change in my clothes. My ability to use my magick is becoming easier, and I feel strong, even if the chatter in my head is going off kilter and shouting this is a stupid idea!
Rhydian turns to me. He’s very close. Our agreement is that I will enter the Hallowed Hall by myself, and he will wait on the outskirts while the others cause some chaos elsewhere in the Lunar Fields to help distract the Guardians searching for me. The Guardians are ordered to retain me, if they catch me. Where it goes from there, is unclear but I have the impression from Evan that someone in the High Coven is pulling strings to be rid of me.
“It’s hard for me to leave you here,” he breathes.
He’s too close, and I could easily be pulled away from what I need to do, and who I am. I’m with Daniel. I step away from him.
“Thank you for the lift. I’ll ring you when I’m done.” I tap my head, grin at him, then walk down the path to the entry of the lush gardens.
My ability to walk into the Hallowed Halls unnoticed is abated with the arrival of Sabine. She’s in a deep purple cloak, she stands out. She sees me and approaches. There are many eyes on her.
“Willow?”
My magick stirs in my hand as nervous energy. Is Sabine someone I can trust? Will she allow me to attend?
I nod, but keep my hood in place.
“I’m glad you’re here. It’s a good step to meet with your High Coven and show your intent — and good will toward our ways,” she says.
I follow Sabine through the large wooden doors. Once inside, Sabine walks through the open courtyard to the far side, where there’s another pair of large arched doors. She places her hand on the door, and it glows around her hand before opening. I follow her into the room.
Inside is a large room with a circular table at its center. There are four purple-cloaked figures, all female, at the table. Their eyes are wide and watching me as I follow Sabine to the empty seat.
“And who is this?” one asks with a snicker.
Another claps her hands together and rubs them vigorously, as if excited for some major event.
Sabine stands by her chair. “You would have felt someone who didn’t belong enter this room. May I introduce Willow, my granddaughter, and successor to the crown.” She sounds proud.
She introduces the snickering female as Celestia and the excited female as Pansy.
I gently pull the hood back to reveal myself fully to the High Coven. They are assessing me, as I am assessing them. Let the games commence.
They immediately begin with a flurry of questions:
Celestia was first, “so, your intention is to come into your birthright?”
“How can you do that when you’re an outsider?” The one with white hair asked.
“Have you used your magick yet?” Pansy was all smiles.
“What is your elemental magick? I bet she doesn’t even know!” Celestia sneered.
The questions and discussion only include three of the women at the table. The one to my right is surveying her fingernails, looking bored. She looked rather young among these women, not much older than me.
Part of me wants to run out the door. The other part of me wants to scream. I always hated it when I had to do presentations in class, and this feels no different — except that I feel even less prepared, on a topic I can’t research.
“Stop throwing questions at her,” Sabine thunders over the chatter.
I take advantage of the silence. “I’ve come here to ask for your approval and
Rhydian turns to me. He’s very close. Our agreement is that I will enter the Hallowed Hall by myself, and he will wait on the outskirts while the others cause some chaos elsewhere in the Lunar Fields to help distract the Guardians searching for me. The Guardians are ordered to retain me, if they catch me. Where it goes from there, is unclear but I have the impression from Evan that someone in the High Coven is pulling strings to be rid of me.
“It’s hard for me to leave you here,” he breathes.
He’s too close, and I could easily be pulled away from what I need to do, and who I am. I’m with Daniel. I step away from him.
“Thank you for the lift. I’ll ring you when I’m done.” I tap my head, grin at him, then walk down the path to the entry of the lush gardens.
My ability to walk into the Hallowed Halls unnoticed is abated with the arrival of Sabine. She’s in a deep purple cloak, she stands out. She sees me and approaches. There are many eyes on her.
“Willow?”
My magick stirs in my hand as nervous energy. Is Sabine someone I can trust? Will she allow me to attend?
I nod, but keep my hood in place.
“I’m glad you’re here. It’s a good step to meet with your High Coven and show your intent — and good will toward our ways,” she says.
I follow Sabine through the large wooden doors. Once inside, Sabine walks through the open courtyard to the far side, where there’s another pair of large arched doors. She places her hand on the door, and it glows around her hand before opening. I follow her into the room.
Inside is a large room with a circular table at its center. There are four purple-cloaked figures, all female, at the table. Their eyes are wide and watching me as I follow Sabine to the empty seat.
“And who is this?” one asks with a snicker.
Another claps her hands together and rubs them vigorously, as if excited for some major event.
Sabine stands by her chair. “You would have felt someone who didn’t belong enter this room. May I introduce Willow, my granddaughter, and successor to the crown.” She sounds proud.
She introduces the snickering female as Celestia and the excited female as Pansy.
I gently pull the hood back to reveal myself fully to the High Coven. They are assessing me, as I am assessing them. Let the games commence.
They immediately begin with a flurry of questions:
Celestia was first, “so, your intention is to come into your birthright?”
“How can you do that when you’re an outsider?” The one with white hair asked.
“Have you used your magick yet?” Pansy was all smiles.
“What is your elemental magick? I bet she doesn’t even know!” Celestia sneered.
The questions and discussion only include three of the women at the table. The one to my right is surveying her fingernails, looking bored. She looked rather young among these women, not much older than me.
Part of me wants to run out the door. The other part of me wants to scream. I always hated it when I had to do presentations in class, and this feels no different — except that I feel even less prepared, on a topic I can’t research.
“Stop throwing questions at her,” Sabine thunders over the chatter.
I take advantage of the silence. “I’ve come here to ask for your approval and
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