A Touch of Magic

2 To Forge a Cauldron

5 July 1969, Duddo Five Stones

“I CAN’T BELIEVE we actually walked to Scotland,” Wayne enthused as they opened the door to their room at the little inn. The room was much larger than he expected, and included all of the third floor. Dormers looked out on two sides. “Wow!”

“We walked through a corner of Scotland,” Judith laughed. “We’re back in England now. And you’ve said that every day for the past five. Aren’t you glad for that walking stick now?”

“Yes. And the cape. It was darn cold sleeping on the ground. Why didn’t we just come here last night? We were so close.”

“I thought you would want to be outside for your Independence Day fireworks.”

“There were no fireworks last night,” Wayne stupidly answered.

“I am mildly insulted. I certainly saw sparks.”

“Oh. I mean… oh, shit! You are all the fireworks I ever need. Must we meet the others?” he asked. “We could just slip into this nice clean bed.”

“Sadly, yes we do, and they will be here soon. You should bathe and get a nap. Um… I suppose I could nap with you,” Judith said, pushing Wayne toward the bathroom. Wayne dumped his pack and obediently headed for the bathroom, happy to discover a hanging shower over the tub, unlike most of the places he’d visited in England. He didn’t take long and as soon as he was out of the tiny bathroom, Judith filled the tub for her own bath. Wayne stretched out on the bed under the eaves and was asleep before Judith slipped in beside him.

“Aren’t they cute?”

“Don’t disturb them.”

“I can’t help it. They’re naked.”

“Do you think it’s the first time?”

“Hardly.”

Wayne came groggily aware of the voices surrounding the bed. Judith lay draped over his right side, her bare flesh hot against his. A hand softly caressed his left flank, dangerously close to his manhood. Another stroked Judith’s back from her shoulder down past her butt.

“Can’t wait for tonight?” she mumbled sleepily.

“Couldn’t help it,” Lissa laughed. Wayne recognized the tinkling sound of her voice immediately and opened his eyes fully to see the three women who stood around the bed. “You just look so delicious.”

Wayne had met all of the women but scarcely knew two of the priestesses who smiled at his naked embarrassment.

“Didn’t we lock the door?” he mumbled to Judith.

“Cousin Bea gave us our key. You don’t think you get this entire fabulous room—and big bed—all to yourselves, do you?” the oldest of the trio said. Elizabeth, Wayne recalled. Which would make the shy one standing back a little Meaghan. He sighed. There was no reason to hide his nudity from the priestesses of the Fifth Circle. They’d all seen him naked when he burst into the Circle of Carles on Litha. If Judith’s instructions and information given during the past week were accurate, they’d see him naked frequently for years to come. The scope of the commitment he’d made was only just dawning on Wayne. Judith rolled back away from him and looked up at their playful tormentors.

“Is it time to go already?” she asked. “We didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Fireworks,” Wayne yawned.

“Bea has tea ready for us,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll need our energy for tonight and it will be better to walk out to the stones before it’s fully dark.”

“I could use more than a cup of tea,” Wayne said. “I’m starving. Is there a restaurant around?” The women looked at him and started giggling as he gathered his clothes and began to dress.

“Americans!” Judith huffed.

Indeed, the meal set before them when they arrived in the dining room was more than a cup of tea. Wayne gorged himself on steak pie and rolls. He did not complain about drinking tea with his meal.

After the meal, the five returned to the suite at the top of the stairs and Wayne watched out of the corner of his eye as his companions stripped.

“You’ll have plenty of opportunity to see us in clear daylight,” Lissa said. “And by firelight tonight. But now we need to get ready. Go on, our vagabond. Get your robe on.” Wayne acknowledged Lissa’s statement by stripping and pulling on his black robe, contrasting with red of the priestesses.

This night, the vagabond priest and the four volunteer priestesses would give birth to their mission and truly become the Fifth Circle. They would plant the seed that would grow.

“I’m still adjusting to the scope of this commitment. Are you really taking time off for however long we need and coming to America?” Wayne asked. “I mean, I’m a little concerned about fulfilling my obligations and still earning a living.”

“None of us are rich, if that’s what you’re asking,” Lissa replied. “I act and sometimes I get paid for it. Between jobs, I do what all actors do: I wait tables. Or make doughnuts,” she laughed.

“I’m a student like you,” Judith said. “The college gave me a continuation of my grant so I could come back to school with you. We might want to consider getting an apartment and cooking our own meals instead of living in the dorm. My earnings will be stretched if we are both living on them.”

“I have some income,” Wayne said. “It’s just not full time. How do you make money, Judith? Isn’t there some kind of law about being a foreign student and working?”

“I fight,” Judith said softly. Wayne looked at her quizzically. The other priestesses didn’t react. He waited for further explanation.

“There’s always someone who wants to challenge the Swordmaster,” Meaghan said.

“I thought that was a name we only used in the circle,” Wayne said.

“My nickname is Swordmaster and that’s how we refer to each other so we don’t call each other by name. But it’s not limited to the circle. Not like our magic names,” Judith said.

“And they pay you to fight?”

“Mmm. It keeps me out of trouble. I won’t accept a challenge unless there is a bet to make it worthwhile. As soon as I walk into a fencing club, or a knife club here in England, there is someone who wants to place a wager against the Swordmaster.”

“Criminy!” Wayne swore. “Uh… Elizabeth?”

“My children have all left the nest but the youngest, and he will be gone next year. I have a small stipend from my husband’s estate and will join you in America in the spring. We aren’t going to instantly forge that young girl into a cauldron for Cobhan Carles this year. She’s too young and untrained. That’s what we’ll be doing for the foreseeable future.” Wayne nodded, recognizing that their foremost purpose was the protection and guidance of Rebecca’s daughter.

“What about you, Meaghan?”

“I do whatever is necessary,” said the youngest of the quintet. “I’ve started selling my jewelry at craft fairs. I hear there are festivals emerging in the U.S. where anachronists do role-playing and renaissance games. I figure I will spend the winters making crafts and the summers traveling around selling them.” Meaghan was four years younger than Wayne and seemed not to have a care in the world. Judith and Lissa were both three years older than him and Elizabeth was… older. She had a son as old as Judith. “I’m hoping I’ll learn something about making things from working with you, Unbound,” Meaghan concluded.

They turned from the road onto a straight path that ran through the planted fields to a cluster of standing stones at the top of a small rise. It was much smaller than the circle at Castlerigg.

When they reached the circle, Wayne found it was more a crescent, not quite closing the circle on the west. A firepit was already prepared in the center and they took a few minutes to walk around and examine the five stones. While neither as large as Carles Castlerigg, nor quite as ancient, there was a sense of power rooted deep in the earth. Far to the east and slightly north, there was still a slight sparkle of sunlight off the waves of the North Sea.

“The circle is on private property, owned by the farmer who tills the fields surrounding us,” Elizabeth began, calling them together around the cold firepit. “We’ve his permission to encamp for the night and ‘work our little magicks,’ as he put it. He even brought this little bundle of firewood for us when he cut the grass earlier in the day.”

“Is he a member of the circle?” Wayne asked, trying to figure out why a person would consent to witches camping for the night on his property.

“An indulgent uncle,” Elizabeth asked. “Bea at the inn is his daughter, my cousin. There’s a bit of a wink and a nod that goes on when they deal with their fey relatives. It’s part of why we chose this as our meeting ground tonight.”

“Another reason is because of the five stones,” Meaghan said. “Though Serepte will be the core of our circle, we are the stones that stand around her.”

“That’s beautiful, Meaghan,” Wayne responded. “I hope you all know what we are doing tonight. I’m not quite as clueless as when I charged into the great circle two weeks ago, but I am still a novice in many ways.”

“You’ll do the things you know now, babycakes. Um… I mean Unbound. You’ll cast the circle and protect us with your wards. We…” Judith circled her finger to include the four priestesses, “…are your tools, each of us representing an element. We’ll each have a representation of our tool. You know I don’t go far without a sword or knife and it is belted around my waist beneath my robe. I am the East, air, the athame. Chameleon is the West, water, the cup. Dear sweet innocent Pallas, who hopes to learn soooo much from you conceals an ember beneath her robe and is the South, fire, wand,” Judith giggled. The youngest priestess blushed crimson. “And finally, as if you hadn’t guessed long ago, Mamm is the North, earth, pentacles. She’s like our house mom.”

Wayne relaxed as his girlfriend conducted him around the points of the compass and stopped at her own spot in the East. She quickly whispered encouragement to Wayne and then told him to improvise. He blushed at her implications and then began his own first circle around the unlit firepit.

“I am the Unbound,” he said as he circled the priestesses. “A vagabond priest without a home and without a heritage, now committed to the Circle of Castlerigg. By all that I am, I swear to protect and help each of you and all of us in our coming endeavor. In our committed circle, you will know me by my true name. I am Promethean, the Unbound.” As he spoke his name, he felt the wards of the circle begin to enfold him. He swayed back and forth letting the power grow. Judith unconsciously mimicked his dancelike movements as he stood before her.

Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East
Welcome to our circle.
Behold this vessel of beauty
Prepared to receive your blessing.

Wayne untied the belt of Judith’s robe and let it open. He pulled it from her shoulders and it fell to the ground. “How shall we know you in this circle?”

Judith stood proudly, seeming much taller than her five feet and an inch. Her slim stomach, compact muscles, and resolute gaze shouted her readiness to do battle.

“I am Badh,” she said firmly. “I am the warrior. The battle cry. The Swordmaster.” Wayne knelt before her and kissed her feet as he began the blessing of the fivefold kiss.

Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee to the goddess
Blessed be thy hands, that shall do her work
Blessed be thy sex, the entrance to her temple
Blessed be thy breasts, her gift of nurture and beauty
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter her praises.

When Wayne kissed Judith’s left breast, she held his face to her bosom for a moment, sighing as he suckled. When he kissed her lips, they lingered. All too soon for his tastes, Judith gently pushed Wayne clockwise around their circle.

Meaghan trembled like a leaf in the wind. He smiled at her and she pressed her face into his hand when he stroked her cheek.

Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South
Welcome to our circle.
Behold this vessel of beauty
Prepared to receive your blessing.

Wayne untied the belt of Meaghan’s robe and she shrugged it from her shoulders. Her thin frame boasted small round breasts and a gentle swelling at her hips. Her red hair flamed with the last touch of the sun as it sank below the horizon. “How shall we know you in this circle?” he asked softly.

“I am Pallas,” she said. “I am Truth. Wisdom. The Pearl.” Wayne knelt in front of her for the fivefold kiss.

Meaghan squeaked involuntarily when Wayne kissed her mound of red hair and stroked his cheek when he kissed her left nipple. She sighed into the kiss on her lips and let him go reluctantly.

Wayne moved on to his mentor, Lissa, in the West and repeated the invocation, loosening the tie of her robe and stepping back to appreciate the body that reminded him so much of his visions of the priestess Mari. She grinned mischievously.

“How shall we know you in this circle,” he asked, wondering what kind of identity she would adopt this time.

“I am Eris,” Lissa breathed. “I am chaos. Deceit to confuse our enemies. The Chameleon.” Wayne knelt for the fivefold kiss and playfully opened her sex with his tongue. “Oh, yeah,” she murmured as she welcomed his passionate kiss.

Moving to his right, Wayne faced Elizabeth. She was still smirking at the antics of the younger priestesses but focused entirely on Wayne as he repeated the invocation of the guardians of the North. Wayne loosened the ties on Elizabeth’s robe, but Elizabeth stood still as a stone. Wayne stared at her for a moment and then circled her to remove the robe from her shoulders. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“How shall we know you in this circle?”

She leaned back against him and welcomed his kiss on her neck. “I am Rhea.” Her voice pulled him toward her and he slid his body against her until their eyes were just inches apart. “I am comfort and nurture. Earth mother. I am known as Mamm.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Wayne responded automatically. Wayne knelt for the fivefold kiss. Her black pubic hair was sprinkled with gray. She cradled him like an infant against her breast. She kissed him thoroughly, pressing against his protruding erection.

“I’ve borne five children, Promethean. Are you thinking I should have six?” she teased. He started to pull away, but she held him close. The other three priestesses gathered, loosening the ties on Wayne’s robe and pulling at it until he, too, was naked. They knelt before him for the fivefold kiss.

Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee to the goddess
Blessed be thy hands, that support her priestesses
Blessed be thy sex, that sows her seeds
Blessed be thy breasts, her gift of strength and compassion
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter her praises.

As they finished the blessing, Wayne’s hands rose until he held them wide. Gathering together their combined power, he clapped his hands above his head. There was a moment of silence as rays of light arced from each stone and met in a shimmering dome above them.

“I think we can safely light our fire now,” Meaghan said as she stared at the wards that protected their circle.

“Girl, he already lit my fire,” Lissa sighed. Judith laughed, but punched her friend solidly in the arm.

“You two have already consummated your bond. The Pearl and I would like to get to know him… better,” Elizabeth said.

“I’m still new at this,” Wayne sighed. “Two weeks ago was the first time I participated in a circle with more than one other person. You are all priestesses with more experience than me.”

“Most gatherings begin with raising a cone of power,” Lissa said. “We’ve already begun that with the naming ritual and your wards. We all have our own little verses and chants that we can share while we dance. Bringing our bodies together heightens the energy. You’ve experienced that with the Swordmaster and with me. And with the Hart.”

“You’ve named all the lovers I’ve had in my life. I can’t simply have sex with all of you.”

“Not simply,” Meaghan sighed. “Elaborately and passionately.”

“I believe sex will be important to the way we work together,” Elizabeth said as her hand stroked Wayne’s back. They had all gathered close together and sat on their robes with legs tangled, seeking both the warmth and comfort of each other’s touch. “Not the focus of it,” she continued, “but important. We’re in the awkward situation of being thrown together with a task that allows or requires us to be intimate. And we still don’t know each other. Nor do we really know how to forge a young woman into a cauldron.”

“I think that is what we should focus on,” Judith said as she took his hand. “Not having sex, though if we get that far, that’s great. We need to get to know each other—spiritually as well as physically and emotionally. Meditating, dancing, talking, eating, kissing. There is so much we need to share in order to work together in preparing our charge to come into her power.”

“We volunteered for this responsibility because we believe in the power of the circle,” Lissa said.

“And because watching you come tearing into our circle like Hyperion in flames to slay a demon turned us on,” Meaghan confessed. “But yeah. It doesn’t have to be tonight, but I’m looking forward to getting to that point.”

“Here I thought you all knew specific rituals that we would perform and spells we would cast that would result in Serepte suddenly becoming the powerful witch that we all imagine,” Wayne said, a little bewildered.

“We’re making it all up as we go,” Lissa said. “Live, improvisational theatre.”

“Serepte is a beautiful name,” Elizabeth mused. “I wonder where it comes from.”

“Rebecca said it was the name of a goddess or demi-goddess revered by some Greek cult,” Wayne said. “It’s tied up with the story of how her husband was lost.”

“Serepte,” Meaghan breathed. “Surreptitious, as in kept secret.”

“Serepte,” Judith joined. “Serendipitous, as in a happy chance.”

“Serepte,” Elizabeth added. “Serape, as a blanket for warmth.”

“Serepte,” Lissa whispered. “Serum, as a blood transfusion.”

“Serepte,” Wayne finally picked up the play on words. “Seraph, as an angel of God.”

“Serenade.”

“Serenity.”

“Serrated.”

The words were progressively less and less a play on her name and more about characteristics, influences, and hopes as the five witches held each other in a tight circle, swaying to the random musings of their voices and building in this spontaneous sharing the very cone of power Lissa had originally suggested.

The focus of their meditation solidified in their minds. Wayne had met Serepte on only a couple of occasions before she’d been sent to her godparents’ home for the summer. He wondered what she was up to. She had so much desire to become a part of the coven and was frustrated that Rebecca held her back, not wanting to lose her little girl.

Touches, kisses, whispers, and sighs gave a tangible presence to the power raised by the group. Wayne could see the girl looking down on them from far away.

“Come, Serepte. Step through the gate from your childhood to womanhood,” he breathed. “Know that we will be there to help and comfort in the days to come. Step forward into your future and be welcome in our circle.”

He reached out a hand, raised toward the image of the young woman and felt the hands of his companions join his. And Serepte’s image reached to them as she stepped forward. Her voice sang in the emptiness and pain, fear, and sorrow fled before it. She stepped forward with a cry.

“Mommy!”

Sweat trickled down Wayne’s armpit at he came slowly awake the next morning. Really romantic way to wake up with a new lover. Meaghan was held snugly under the offending arm, her soft breath tickling at Wayne’s neck. Of course, they weren’t really lovers. Not really. Yes, they were cuddled naked in bed but Judith was snuggled equally bare beneath his other arm and behind her Lissa held his hand to her breast. Elizabeth? Ah. It was Elizabeth’s hand that held Meaghan’s on his chest, and her breast that sandwiched Wayne’s hand against Meaghan’s back. Waking up under a pile of lovely naked women is a nice fantasy but it’s a hot and sweaty reality.

Still, as uncomfortable as the sweat and slippery skin against his body was, he was reluctant to move just yet. It was not only the attraction of so much sensual contact, but the thoughts that had plagued his dreams after they returned from the stone circle and snuggled into bed. In the dreams, he saw tools that Serepte would need as she progressed through her instruction—tools he would make for her. But those tools were not why he was called by Cobhan Carles to be here. He was to forge a new cauldron.

Their assumption, even as they danced and meditated, and raised their cone of power last night, had been that Serepte was to be the new tool. Their guidance and support would enable her to rise to her full power in the circle. It was a concept that made Wayne vaguely squeamish. No one asked Serepte if she wanted to be the tool of the coven. Had it not been for what he had seen in the scrying with Rebecca, he would not have considered taking on the task. Serepte had an important role to play, not just for the coven, but for humanity.

His dreams, however, made real the fact that she would be no tool. She was far beyond that.

He wondered how his four companions, lovers, witches, priestesses would react when they discovered it was not Serepte who was being forged into a new tool, but them.

The five of us are to become the cauldron of rebirth.

❮ 1 Beyond the Veil 3 The Cauldron Forged ❯

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