Running witch, p.9
Running Witch, page 9
“I haven’t been able to get any information yet.”
Which was strange. Usually, the Seashell Cove gossip line ran on overdrive. But it ran a little slower in summer, just because everyone was too busy to be nosy.
“Delta and Preston told me, but they didn’t know any more than what I said.”
“So, what do we do now?” Tabitha asked.
I thought a moment.
“Well, are you two willing to go undercover at this thing?”
“That’d be cool!” Tracy said, looking at Tabitha. “Right?”
“I always wanted to be a spy.”
Carol sighed. “I’m not too happy about this, but it does make sense. They’re the only ones that won’t look suspicious at a party like this. But we’ll plan it all out, right? And have solid backup?”
Her mouth said yes, but her face and tense shoulders told me she was worried as heck.
I nodded. “I’ll get Stefon and Rolf on it. They can be backup, and probably have some elaborately geeky communications devices they’re dying to try out.”
And Strawberry Cove had a decent overlook and a gently sloping pathway that I might even be able to navigate.
“There’s a cave there. That’s the likely spot for the party,” Tracy said.
It was perfect, actually. Easily accessible but hidden from casual passersby.
“Okay,” Carol said, exhaling loudly. “You’re sure about Stefon and Rolf? Because cell phone coverage is spotty on the beach.”
“Oh, they’ll definitely have walkie talkies or something more high tech. I guarantee it.”
That’s what came from knowing geeks. You had access to geeky tools. “Meanwhile, I have a Wag a Lot meeting to get to. And then we should probably go grill Carlson. And the other thing we need to do?”
“What’s that?” Tabitha asked.
“Track down that grig.”
“Oh! You know who I bet would know about a grig?” Tracy said, bouncing in her high-top sneakers, face pink with excitement.
“Who?” I racked my brain and came up with nothing.
“Remember that weird alternate universe you and Rhiannon ended up in?”
Rhiannon leapt onto the the counter, startling me. I hadn’t even heard her coming. She proceeded to wash her left front paw.
“Yeah, what about it?”
::Think, you dolt,:: Rhiannon said loudly in my head.
Realization dawned. “Oh! You mean Uli the tree spirit?”
“Yeah,” Tracy said. “You said Uli seemed wise, right?”
Both teens looked at me expectantly, as Rhiannon pawed at my arm.
::I think we should go.::
“But my meeting!” I looked at my watch.
“Text and tell them you can’t come,” Carol said.
::She’s right. Text them. How hard is handing out dog treats, anyway?::
Hmph. She was right, but that didn’t mean I liked it. When did the cat get so savvy about human technology and meetings and all of that?
Rhiannon sneezed and shook her head. ::You think I don’t pay attention to everything that goes on in the store, but I do. You humans are always doing something with your phones.::
“What’s she saying?” Tabitha asked.
I looked at the Goth teen. “How do you know she’s saying anything?”
Tabitha rolled her eyes at me. “I may not be a hereditary witch, but I’m not stupid.”
“She agrees with Carol and says we should visit Uli in his realm.”
“In other words,” Tabitha started.
“We were right,” Tracy finished. The teens high-fived and Carol smiled.
“Carol, you really think this is a good idea?”
“I do. And now is as good a time as any. Especially since I’m here to monitor things. And the teens can go for help if need be.”
“You think I’m going to need help?”
All of them turned and just stared at me silently. Including Rhiannon. I bristled. Uli was great, but that realm was kind of creepy.
“Why are you all ganging up on me?”
“Sarah,” Carol’s voice was gentle, as if she was about to explain something to a small child and didn’t want to upset it. “You’re known for getting yourself into sticky situations.”
“And you’ve been a little accident-prone lately,” Tabitha said.
I straightened my spine.
“I’ll have you know that I’m a witch and a Justice.”
They all smiled.
“We know,” Carol said. “And that’s why we’re going to let you do it. Otherwise, we’d all sit on you and make you stay at home.”
“Fine,” I huffed. “You remember which book was the portal?”
“On it!” Tabitha replied, and the teens scurried to the back of the store.
Carol leaned across the counter, face intent. “You’re the only one who can do this, Sarah.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t it something any witch can do?”
“It doesn’t appear so. You know how you’re always jealous of the way your Uncle Cyrus can pop in and out of space and time?”
“Yeah.” As a matter of fact, he was probably in Paris right now. Again. Just when I needed him.
“Well, I think you can do that with alternate magical dimensions.”
“Really? Hmm. I never thought of it that way.”
“I’m just saying…” Carol wiggled her fingers as if making a magical gesture.
::Yeah, just saying,:: Rhiannon echoed.
When four people I trusted told me something, I needed to listen. I guess this was another wake-up call for Sarah Endora Braxton.
“All right. Let’s head to the back. And could you grab an ottoman for me?”
If I was traveling into an alternate dimension, I needed to be comfortable.
We headed to Biff’s Corner. I flopped into the comfy reading chair set in the back corner as Rhiannon perched on the shelf where the gargoyle had been. The teens leaned against a couple of bookcases.
Once I got settled, I looked at Tracy’s mom. Blond and slender, in neat jeans and summer sandals, she looked nothing like an accountant. Or a witch. Carol stood in the center of the aisle, body loose, face perfectly calm. But then, she wasn’t the one about to fall through a book and into a truly weird space.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“I guess so. It’s just weird thinking of doing this of my own volition. I’m used to getting yanked here and there, so I’m not sure exactly the best protocol to go about this.”
“Well,” she said, “what happened last time?”
“I was reading that book—” I pointed, and Tabitha waved it in the air in illustration “—and just kind of tumbled in.”
“Okay. Well, this time,” Carol said, “try going through your usual magical protocols. You know, centering and all that. Turn to the page you remember and will yourself there.”
::Wait!:: Rhiannon thought very loudly in my head. ::You need to set up a protocol to get out, too. Remember?::
“Right. Thanks, cat.”
“What’d she say?” Tracy asked.
“She reminded me that I need to set up a way to get us out of there. So we don’t get flung out, like last time.”
::Set up a way to get you out. I know my way around just fine, thank you.::
I smiled.
“Well, that insulted her,” I said out loud. “Correction. I need a way to get myself out. Rhiannon said she can take care of herself.”
“That’s good,” Carol said. “Because I have no idea how we’d get a cat to do anything.”
I swear Rhiannon smirked.
18
“All right,” I said. “Let’s do this.”
Tabitha handed me the book. Unexplained Mysteries of the Faery Kind was written in gilt lettering on the embossed leather cover. I flipped through the pages the way you’d do through Tarot cards: half looking and half feeling, trying to sense the page that drew me in before.
When I reached it, somewhere around one third into the book, I felt a sort of magical snap.
“That’s it,” I said.
Book open on my lap, feet propped up on the ottoman, I focused on the breath moving in and out of my lungs.
Rhiannon leapt up onto the arm of the chair and sat, alert and ready. I closed my eyes, slowed my breathing down, and found the deep anchor that rested in my center, in that place between the solar plexus and the pelvis.
I slowly traced a clockwise spiral onto the page, reciting a magical cantrip out loud. This would be our entry and exit door.
“When I open my eyes and read out loud, to the realm I shall travel with ease. And once in the realm, when ready to leave, I shall ride home as light as a breeze.”
I opened my eyes again looked at my friends and shared a green-eyed gaze with Rhiannon for a moment.
“All right, here goes,” I said. I traced the spiral on the page as I read the words and then, just as before, I was tumbling, falling, flying.
But this time, it felt gentler, and I landed softly in the other realm instead of crash landing.
I was greeted by the sound of the Babbling Brook. “Merry, Humphrey, Faery, Foo. Wizards laughing. Primal goo.”
Rhiannon landed gracefully at my side.
We both looked around. The place was just as magical as before. The Babbling Brook was still a multicolored flow of water—like the marbled end papers of a rare book—splashing over rocks. Golden sun shone through pink and purple clouds, just as it had before, and silver and bronze birds chirped from ochre trees that were neither apple, nor cherry, nor maple, but some strange version of all three.
It was breathtaking, really. So oddly colored and uncanny, the way magic places often are.
“Is that the witch Umserrah?”
The rustling, papery voice was Uli, the tree person. I looked around and sure enough, moving slowly toward me was the great majestic ent, with a large trunk and waving branches. Knotholes formed kindly eyes and a mouth.
He called me Umserrah because I was so flustered when we first met, I could barely recall my own name.
“Uli.” I bowed my head. “Pardon us for intruding on your realm, again. But we have need of your help.”
“You are always welcome here, Umserrah the witch, and you as well, Rhiannon the cat. What assistance do you require?”
The ent came to a stop next to us and I could feel it rooting in the earth, which was a very strange thing indeed. The large tree looked at me and frowned.
“But first, are you injured, witch Umserrah?”
I shrugged. “Twisted my ankle. It’s nothing major.”
The ent tsk tssked at me. “Nothing major is the perfect sort of injury!”
“What?”
“The Babbling Brook specializes in curing minor wounds.”
Minor wounds? This was some serious D&D territory.
I looked at the Babbling Brook. It was laughing and splashing. “Primal goo. Faery foo. Humpback. Flowers. Sherrie Lou!”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Dangle your feet in the waters as we speak.”
Rhiannon’s shoulders shook with laughter. I scowled but hobbled my way to the creek bed and flopped down. I took off my sneakers and rolled up my jeans, then gazed into the multicolored water and sniffed. It smelled okay. Pretty good, actually. Like cherry soda.
I gingerly placed one foot, then the other, into the water. It swirled and laughed around me, tickling my toes.
“No tickling!” I admonished. “And can you sing more quietly, please?” The water stopped with the tickling, thank the Goddess, and lowered its voice to a gurgle.
That was better. Now maybe I could have an actual conversation.
“The water feels pretty good, Rhiannon. You should try it.”
She hissed, eyes wide with horror. I laughed, then looked up at Uli, who had moved closer to the water. Time to get what we came for.
“We need to know what knowledge you have of grigs.”
“Ah, grigs,” Uli replied. “Grigs are charming creatures.”
“No, they are not,” a second voice said with a snort.
I looked up. Across the Babbling Brook was Serafina the black centaur. She was beautiful and more than a little intimidating.
“Grigs are obnoxious little troublemakers.” The black centaur tossed her human head as if she had a mane, which she most assuredly did not.
“Now Serafina,” Uli sighed, “you are too harsh. Grigs all mean well.”
“Meaning well and acting well are two different things entirely. I will have no part of this foolish conversation.”
The centaur looked at me and snapped her teeth. “But you, witch, you keep Seashell Cove safe, do you hear me? I do not like the goings-on of late.”
Well, that made two of us.
The centaur turned to go.
“Wait, please, Serafina,” I said. “What do you know about the stolen faery dust?”
She stopped, working her mouth as if chewing on a particularly sour apple.
“All I know is that bad creatures are doing bad things, and if you do not fix this, the sprites are in danger of extermination.”
::And?:: Rhiannon interjected.
“And, friend cat, should the sprites be exterminated, all of us are in trouble,” Serafina replied.
“The centaur is correct,” said Uli. “You cannot take one small thing from the realm and expect the whole to remain healthy and sound.”
“Find whoever did this, witch Sarah.” Serafina’s amber eyes flashed with worry and anger.
“I’ll do my best. But if you or the other centaurs have information, that will be useful.”
“I shall inquire.”
She trotted off through the strange forest, black coat dappled with the strange sun.
“She’s always busy, that one,” said Uli. “But now, grigs. Grigs are carefree and cheerful and simply want everyone to have a good time.”
“And,” I said, “this time?”
“Sometimes what grigs consider to be fun and jolly is not so fun or jolly for those they have roped into their shenanigans.”
“Great,” I said. “It sounds like a party with dangerous drunk.”
“Oh yes,” Uli said, nodding his tree had gravely. “That is their specialty. Grigs enjoy the intoxication of others and feed off it and can make their mischief far and wide, heedless of the harm.”
I could tell it pained the ent to admit to such a thing. I got the feeling that Uli only wished to speak well of others.
“Why does no one stop them?” I asked.
Uli looked across the Babbling Brook, who was still singing quietly away.
“It is hard to. One often thinks that the grigs have learned their lesson and will act this way no more. But their nature overtakes them. And as I said, they do not see the harm in it.”
::Well, we shall make them see the harm,:: Rhiannon said.
I looked at the little black cat, my grumpy accomplice in whatever the heck this situation was.
“At least we know where to find this particular grig.”
Uli looked interested.
“How do you plan to do that, witch Umserrah?”
“There’s a big party in a few days’ time, and I have a feeling they’re behind it.”
“Yes, that is wise. Go where there is frivolity and the grig is surely not far away.”
“But you’re there’s no way to find them beforehand? To stop this thing before it starts?”
The ent shook his branches.
“I do not see a way. But if I do hear anything, I shall send word.”
“All right, Uli. Thank you.”
I took one last look around the strange realm, wishing I could spend more time there exploring the pathways through the woods. The trees blinked at me. One grinned, showing stubby wooden teeth.
That was weird. Why would a tree need teeth?
“Friend Uli,” I said, “might I bring more visitors some other time?”
The teens would seriously love this place. Stefon, too, come to think of it. It was straight out of one of his fantasy novels.
“You and your friends are always welcome here. I have many things to show you, should you wish to see them, and many things to teach you should you wish to learn.”
Wow. That was a large offer. And I knew it. I had a feeling ents did not offer to teach very many who were not of their kind.
With a slight bow of my head, I said, “I give thanks to you, friend Uli. I shall return. Ready Rhiannon?”
::Ready.::
I took a deep breath, breathing in the tangy sense of forest loam, apple blossoms and honey, and cherry soda.
I listened to the babbling of the brook and found my own center.
Then I grabbed my shoes in my left hand and raised my right. Tracing a spiral in the air, I spoke out loud.
“We wish to return home now, swiftly and with ease. We wish to return home now. Help us magic, please.”
And with a wish and a thump, I was back in the armchair, Rhiannon perched at my side.
Both teens gasped, and Carol smiled.
“That was so cool!” Tabitha said.
“Can you teach me?” Tracy replied.
I blinked my eyes and stretched.
“I can try. But right now, I need a cup of tea.”
19
I might not have been ready to run yet, but I really needed to get out and be by the ocean. My ankle really was feeling better. The Babbling Brook’s powers must be formidable. I wasn’t yet ready to tackle the steep steps down to our main beach, or to run a 10K, but I was well enough to at least test out my ankle on the soft sand of the beaches of Strawberry Cove.
Stefon kindly picked me up from the shop and drove me out to do some reconnaissance. We both wanted to see where the party might be.
“Sure you’re good to walk, babe?”
“I think so.”
“Well, I’m going to carry your crutches all the same.”
I had to admit that was a good idea. I would hate to get halfway across the sand and have my boyfriend need to carry me back to the car.
Just off the small parking lot was a pathway through some scrub pine trees and sandy soil dotted with wild strawberries. Stefon had my crutches in one hand and my arm linked into his other.
