The Libertine (Taskill Witches 2)

The next time the coven came together in ritual it was to summon a good harvest for the sake of a local farmer. Griffin had come to Somerled when his family had fallen on hard times after the death of the eldest son, and they needed a good crop to trade or they would lose their tenancy.

Lennox made his way to the clearing where the group met for ritual. Dusk was closing in. The sun was low on the horizon and the sky was streaked with radiant shades of russet and pink. It sent long shadows through the forest and across the place where they gathered. When Lennox took his place and glanced around the assembled group he saw restlessness in their eyes, questions. Something was amiss.

“We are only twelve,” he commented.

“Nathan is still scouting about,” Glenna informed him, “to make sure we are not being observed.” There was an unhappy set to her mouth.

“I would know if there were strangers nearby.” He had already circled the forest on his horse while the others built and kindled a fire on the clearing.

Glenna nodded, but she looked uneasy.

“What troubles you?”

Glenna glanced over at Ailsa and then at Nathan as he made his way through the trees to join them. It was Ailsa who spoke up and when she did Lennox saw distress in her eyes.

“It is Keavey’s men, the ones who visit the tenants at the far reaches of his land. These last two days they made their way through the forest instead of skirting it when they returned to Torquil House.”

“Through the forest?”

“The first time I saw them I thought it was by chance. Then I was out there late this afternoon and they came through again. I was hidden in a thicket between the trees and when I glanced back I saw they were watching Nathan from a distance. I heard them talk amongst themselves.”

There was a hunted look in her eyes, and Lennox knew why. Bad memories of what she’d seen haunted her. It was how she’d looked when he first found her, and it returned when her liberty and her innate craft were under threat of discovery by those who would lead them to the gallows.

“They were trying to observe what Nathan was harvesting. Once I knew, I caused a distraction in the trees and they moved on. But I fear they will return, and often. They are watching us, Lennox.” Unhappiness poured from her.

“Do not fear, for this ground is protected by my magic.”

“Is your magic strong enough to protect us all?” It was Glenna who asked.

“I will strengthen the bond this very night. They will observe nothing in the forest. In our domain we will be safe.” He locked eyes with each and every one of them in turn, giving them his promise. “Be on your guard if you’re elsewhere or in the town, however.”

He reached out his hands and the circle followed, each joining hands. “Let us move quickly and call on nature’s bounty for the sake of Farmer Griffin.”

Lennox felt their concerns diminish as they pooled their craft.

He threw his head back and breathed deeply, allowing the tides of time and nature to flow through him. Beneath his feet, he felt the richness of the earth and channeled his thoughts to it. When he began to chant the ancient words aloud, the coven followed. Some of them stood still, some swayed gently. The essence of each and every person gathered there rippled around the circle, into him, and connected with the ground they stood upon. When it grew strong and vital he raised his arms, then knelt and thrust his hands into the earth. Behind him the circle closed and a charge like lightning ran up his back. Heat and light flooded from his fingertips into the ground. He lowered his head, humbly offering himself, requesting nature’s good fortune to benefit the kindly farmer who had asked for their help. Again their pooled essence shot from his fingertips into the ground.

Only when he was satisfied did he break with the ritual and rise to his feet.

He noticed that the ritual had restored unity to the coven. Grateful that it had brought some peace, he thanked them. Glenna smiled and the men embraced the women.

Nathan spoke up. “Do you want me to stay?”

“See to the others, take them back to Somerled.”

Nathan encouraged them and the crowd dispersed, meandering back toward the house in the woods. Only one remained. Ailsa.

When Lennox went to her side he quickly saw that the distress in her eyes was now tempered by a plea. A plea for understanding. “You are hurting, Ailsa?”

“Aye. I’m afraid.”

“Do you wish to leave Somerled?”

She shook her head. For a long moment she was silent, and when she spoke her voice faltered. “Lennox, you came for me. When my sister was charged and taken to the gallows and my life was over, you came. You took my hand and led me to safety.”

Before him, Lennox saw a woman humbled. He rarely saw her that way these days, for she had grown strong and boisterous within the safety of the coven. “I know what it’s like to lose kin,” he answered.

She nodded, a tear dropping from her eyelashes to her cheek as she did so. “It was only a matter of time until all of Berwick turned on me as they had my sister. Had you not come, I would have been unprotected. You saved me, Lennox.”