Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) (25 page)

“Caleigh?”

“Fret not, Rhiannon.” Caleigh said putting a hand to her cheek reassuringly. Rhiannon smiled and continued to stroke her hair. “The potion appears to work.” They both laughed Caleigh looked over at the other girl. She was very pretty and seemed even more so than usual tonight. There was something in the smile that followed the laugh, her lips seemed to part slightly and loom closer. Before she knew what she was doing Caleigh moved her hand behind Rhiannon’s head and pulled her into a deep and tender kiss tasting her with her lips, mouth and tongue. This was no friendly peck; it was a kiss as she would kiss a man, no, it was different to that. There was an incomparable softness that was deeply erotic.

They parted with a nervous laugh. “Forgive me, you looked so beautiful and I...” Rhiannon blurted.

“Hey, be calm.” Caleigh soothed. “There is nothing to forgive.” Rhiannon smiled unsurely so Caleigh kissed her again no less passionately, albeit for a briefer time. “You see?” Rhiannon nodded.

“Caleigh...”

“Yes?”

“You are a wonderful kisser. Nobody has ever kissed me so well.” Caleigh smiled warmly and sat up straight by the headboard next to Rhiannon and drew her into an affectionate cuddle.

“Have you kissed many?”

“There were a couple of boys before I went to the temple and then once a bather cornered me and forced a kiss on me before Rolf pulled him away.”

“Was that unpleasant?”

“Yes, I did not like to be forced but...”

“Go on.”

“In a way, it was pleasant to be noticed as a woman.”

“There are better ways, trust me.”

“Of course, I merely meant...everyone there treated me as a slave, like an animal.”

“That is over now.”

“Yes, I’m so glad of that.” Rhiannon cast her eyes downward. “Was it wrong for us to kiss, I...I enjoyed it but...”

“I enjoyed it too. You are a very good kisser yourself; far too good for young boys and molesters.” They both laughed at this.

“But was it wrong?”

“It did not feel wrong. Yes, I am sure it was not wrong.” Caleigh’s eyes suddenly went wide with delight and she took Rhiannon’s face between her hands and kissed her excitedly once more. “Thank you Rhiannon!”

“What for?”

“I think you may have taught me how to do a spell I very much need to learn.”

“Show me.” Gideon bid, gesturing to the burning brazier brimming with red-orange flame.

“
Temperate
”. Caleigh said pointing her wand left-handed at the palm of her right hand before plunging it into the midst of the whipping fire. She held it there calmly turning this way and that to prove that the charm held.

“Very good, take your hand out now.” Caleigh did so.

“The charm was working.”

“Oh yes, but that charm only protects you from heat it does not stop you burning altogether.”

“Will it save me if I accidently cast the phoenix charm?”

“It will help, no doubt and may well keep you alive long enough to do something else but, ultimately, you must learn to extinguish the flame at your command. It will not help you much if by the time you have control you are trapped in a blaze. Nonetheless, very good work, how did you find the way to make this work?”

“It came to me. In my art fire is desire so learning not to be afraid of the flame meant I had to accept the desires that afflict me without feeling shame for them.”

“How very interesting and, of course, sensible when you think about it. When I learnt this spell I already felt I had control so for me the task was to embrace the element of chaos.” Gideon chuckled to himself. “This should help us considerably from here.”

Caleigh thought back with great satisfaction on her successes of the day when she retired to her room that night. “Thank you Rhiannon and thank you, Sir Potion” She said picking up the vial and uncorking it. “I wonder if you can tell me what I could not discern from Ellie.” This time she drew the phial back twice and planted herself on her bed waiting for the effect.
Saving that mayhap I’ll get to watch something exciting, who would I like to see...?

A large room revealed itself, every surface made from yellow-orange stone or so it seemed in the torchlight. Other ways led off from this room and she realised she was in a wide corridor. Ahead a man in a loin skirt was talking to a taller woman with her back to her. The woman had light-brown to dark-blonde hair coiled around her head with gold wire then falling back in a single thick braid over her uncovered shoulder blades. Her slender back too was uncovered all the way to the top of her firm rump where a slender golden chain worked round her hips. Everything below was covered by fine white cloth that hung between the woman’s drooping arms clipped into place by a series of bracelets. On her feet she wore thronged sandals, also, gold that wrapped up around the backs of her long calves. Two conclusions reached Caleigh, the first came rapidly and that was that this woman had an incredible body, the second followed not soon and was the more startling. “Yes, I will be thither forthwith.” The woman said to the messenger who then scampered off.
That is Loreliath!
Caleigh moved closer so that she behind her swaying hips as she climbed the set of stairs in front of her. Quickly a third conclusion became clear, this was not a vision where she could make her presence felt. A further gold chain was around the back of Loreliath’s neck and she wondered how much was covered to the front. If the rear view was anything to go by Loreliath had to be near naked. Caleigh hoped wherever she ended up there would be room enough for her to see.

The chamber they reached was indeed spacious. A handful of attendants made way for Loreliath and Caleigh quickened her pace to keep up with the long-legged stride of the Summoner. In the centre of the room, there was a large bed surrounded by pillars and drapes shielding those inside from general view except from the side. There were definitely people inside as she could hear two voices apparently in the throes of passion.

Loreliath moved to the opening and Caleigh was able to get the view for which she had longed. The chain that went round her hips linked to a triangle of gold baubles that hung down over her crotch and covered naught else. Her torso was completely uncovered save for the gold chain that draped over her chest. From the chain a curtain of gold droplet shaped links drooped down designed to cover the breasts of the wearer. This designed failed on Loreliath for her breasts were too full and firm to be covered by this veil, instead parting the droplets so that they pooled into her cleavage. Caleigh stood stunned seeing Loreliath like this, seeing her perfect, large breasts and flawless body complimenting her astoundingly beautiful face. There was no doubt that this was the most beautiful person she had ever or would ever see.

The cries of the couple partially broke Caleigh’s reverie and she moved round closer to Loreliath so that she could see her and what she was looking at. The couple were a bald man and dark haired woman with deeply tanned skin. She looked back at Loreliath and though she seemed darker than she did normally she was still paler than these two. The man was leaning back on his knees with the woman, who was both younger and more attractive than him, straddling him and supporting her weight with her arm on the mattress as he pushed into her with furious speed. She screamed with pleasure and he let out one long moan releasing into her then collapsing on top.

With surprising energy after her exertions the woman slid out from under him and crawled over to Loreliath at the side of the bed. Lorelaith placed her hand on her stomach and after a long pause nodded her head to the great joy of both the woman and the man. It was no surprise to Caleigh when she woke the next day that she found her nightgown thoroughly soaked through.

25. All Hallow’s Eve

It started off as a typical day breakfast then to the library to study protective barriers. “A shield is a start, what you need now is to form a barrier that you can wrap around yourself like armour.” Mabon had said and, this being Mabon, that meant more study. Not that Caleigh resented him for that. She was learning and was improving and to that end she was grateful for the extra tuition. Aethelbald was also in the Enchantment wing, albeit less buried in scrolls than his contemporary. When reading more felt it would make her eyes bleed Caleigh turned to him with newfound curiosity.

“Aethelbald.”

“Yes, Caleigh?”

“Can you form a protective barrier?”

“Not as such.”

“Then what do you do when someone casts a spell at you? I’m sure there must have been times when Rosamund tried to hex you.”

“And Vaughn, and Mabon, and Diarmund.”

“Not Gideon?”

“He either ignores me or uses seer spells that cannot be stopped.”

“All these people cast spells at you? That is all the wizards here save Tovrik and myself. How is it you are so harried?”

“Well, they have their reasons, in fairness, and it doesn’t happen every day. Diarmund only hexes me when I take something from the garden without asking. Mabon only does it when I borrow coin or something without asking. Vaughn does it when I’ve missed a lesson with him. I’m not sure why Gideon does it but he does it least of all.” 

“Well, they should not, any of them.” Aethelbald shrugged indifferently. “In any case, you should be used to people casting spells at you. So what do you do?”

“I usually run or hide behind something. My luck charm helps greatly and now, I have a lucky charm too so that should help even more” He said brandishing a gold chain with a horseshoe emblem. “I got Bryn to make it for me. I thought we could make coin from them selling them at markets and such but Master Tovrik said no.”

“For what reason?”

“Well, it turns out that charms and amulets and rings and everything else that contains a spell, save wands and staffs and the like, loses the spell once it has been used and unless the person knows how to cast the spell again it becomes useless. So my lucky charms would only be good for people once. I still think that should be worth a fair lot of coin but...”

“Tovrik said it would reveal to everyone what we do at Elevered?”

“Yes. Anyway, I still have one and if I use my luck spell as well most of those hexes will probably miss.”

“Do not rely on that Aethelbald.” Caleigh warned. “You should attend your lessons with Vaughn as well.”

“I do, well, I have been doing so much more than before. Now we have a proper Enchanter to learn from.” Aethelbald grinned in Caleigh’s direction. “But you might want to consider getting some kind of charm or ring or something. Put a protective spell in that and you will be much safer.” Caleigh looked at the boy thoughtfully, for all his laziness he did make a good case. Seemingly Caleigh was not the only one who’d had the idea to double dose.

“Yes, it could be done.” Bryn assessed having heard Caleigh’s proposition. “For an item that holds a spell a precious stone or metal is best, mind.”

“I have a stone of amber.”

“That’d work no problem. How big is it?” Caleigh made a plum sized oval shape with her hands.

“Thus.”

“That could hold more than one spell, I’d say. Only one problem.”

“Which is?”

“I don’t have the materials to make it into an amulet. We could go visit Master Aldred when you have time though.”

“I’d love to. I’ll let you know when we can go.”

To her surprise Gideon told her at lunch that he had decided to postpone their practice until later at night. “How much later?” She asked.

“After Tovrik has finished with you, at some juncture after midnight I should expect.” Several questions occurred at this point. However, Caleigh knew that she’d be directing them at the wrong person. Unfortunately, the right person wasn’t currently present. With no practise session in the afternoon she decided to spend the time with Dana rather than holed up in the library again. Dana was to be found in the garden selecting choice lilies and roses for a wreath arrangement a task in which Caleigh was happy to assist.

“You are wondering why we are picking funeral flowers, no doubt.”

“Yes, I’m concerned that someone has passed without my knowing. We can get quite removed from real life up in the towers.”

“You needn’t worry on any account. Your concern is sweet but misplaced. You could be everyone’s sympathetic ear in Connlad but now you have far more important tasks. I shall be very disappointed if the horned one is walking amongst us because you spent too much time listening to everyone’s little stories. You are part of a bigger story now. That said, tonight can be an exception to that and that’s the other reason why your concern is misplaced.”

“What is tonight?”

“Tonight is all hallow’s eve. It used to be a gathering for all gifted folk but since the fall it has been a fearful night as it was on this night that those witches murdered Albion’s son, his wife and child. Ever since that day things have been worse for the gifted. That is why we have the wreath.” Hearing this Caleigh suspected there was some personal significance also for Caerddyn but she did not share her thoughts. “Still, for all of it being a fearful day Tovrik has turned it into something quite noble.”

“How so?”

“Well, the worst of that murder in the past was that they killed the child as well. So on this day anyone who lives in the village, inside or outside of the grounds can bring their children inside the castle walls where they will be protected until the morn. There will be quite a feast, I think.”

“It sounds wonderful.” Caleigh pondered momentarily. “Perhaps this is why Tovrik wants to see me at midnight.”

“I should think so. There’s likely something special about the witching hour on the witches day.”

“Maybe.”

“How are things going up in the towers, as you call it?”

“It is hard work. Learning control seems to be particularly difficult for me.”

“Did you find out what is happening between Ellie and Penric?”

“Oh yes, nothing is ill. They like each other but they do not seek to wed so do not bind to each other.”

“Lucky for my remedy that there are no children then.”

“Yes, I know not how they can do it. Ellie I can understand but it does not seem like Penric.”

“Heartbreak can change a man. An easy partnership was probably the best thing for him.”

“I am thankful he has had that. I envy it in a way for I do not feel that free. This is something I do not understand, Dana. I am so oft told I need to learn control yet also that I should give my affections freely and without concern. I know my power grows when I let my inhibitions go but my lack of control may harm me in the end.”

“I am not sure you do lack control.”

“It is true. Even when I learn to control spells it doesn’t stop the cravings overtaking me.”

“Be fair on yourself Caleigh that is far from true. If that were so you’d be lying with every man in this place.”

“Well...I have not been so restrained. Vaughn and Gideon...” Caleigh screwed up her face. “They are friends and I’ve lain with both of them.”

“Did either of them begrudge you for that? Be grateful that neither of them is the kind of man to scratch at your door every night after you’ve lain with them one time. That is rarer than you might think.” Caleigh laughed.

“Dana, never let me go long without talking to you.”

Everything was opened up that evening. Around the main hall tables were set up in the corridors and concourses lit with lines of burning lamps hanging from the walls and decorating the archways and pillars. All the wizards were on duty, which meant displaying their cloaks and dressing in long robes with their staffs and wands in plain view. Vaughn sat on the edge of a table peopled by the older children and teens telling a bawdy story as once was his trade. Mabon and Rosamund put on a light show of competing illusions. Diarmund and Rhiannon stood at a stall making cider and mead that frothed different colours and caused the drinkers to belch like frogs or bulls for the amusement of their fellows. Gideon stood in front of the doors with Sir Edgar and Tamric while Penric and the other knights conspicuously moved back and forth showing that there was an armed presence ready to leap to the defence of those inside. Tovrik oversaw all as the most reassuring presence in the whole castle. Even the gold plated eagle that normally adorned Tovrik’s outer door had moved to the bottom of the banister turning its shiny beak this way and that in vigilance.

Caleigh positioned herself amongst a group of younger children in one of the outermost tables facing the main doors. “Are you a wizard?” The boy sitting to her left asked.

“Yes I am.”

“She’s a pretty wizard.” A dark haired girl across from her remarked.

“Thank you, that’s very kind.” 

“Are you the best wizard?” The boy asked.

“No, you see the old man over there.”

“Yeah.” Agreed several children.

“He’s the best wizard.”

“Could he kill a troll?”

“With the click of his fingers.”

“Could he kill a giant?”

“Oh yes, with the clap of his hands.”

“Could he kill a...a..a dragon!?”

“No, he could not.” Caleigh conceded.  The children moaned with disappointment.

“But dragons are too big nobody could kill a dragon.” Ventured one child.

“Yes they could, a great knight could kill a dragon!”

“But do you know why Tovrik couldn’t kill a dragon?” Caleigh asked them. The children shook their heads. “Because if a dragon came in here I would walk up to it and say ‘hello dragon, you can see we are good people here’.”

“Would you be scared?”

“No, do you know why?” Again the children shook their heads. “Because the dragon would say ‘yes, I can see you are good people here and I am a noble dragon. Dear lady, can I be your friend?’ What should I say to this noble dragon?”

“Yeah, be friends!”

“Then I would say ‘yes, dragon we can be friends’ and the dragon would then live on top of the castle and protect it from all the nasty trolls and giants who want to get inside.”

“Yeah!”

As the evening wore on thick strips of soft fluffy carpet were rolled out and the children were given blankets to huddle together under. Those who wished to carry on drinking were directed out into the soldiers’ quarters and when all was quiet Tovrik nodded to Gideon who smiled wearily in response. There was a thunderous boom against the castle doors. All the children sat up with a start. Another boom rocked the woodwork and shook the hinges displacing trails of dust onto the floor. The knights stood back and formed defensive poses around the children while every wizard readies their wand. Caleigh followed suit not sensing any trepidation from them despite the furious attack. A third boom crashed against the doors splitting them apart in a great hole and from the wreckage emerged a huge green skinned monster holding an enormous club. “It’s a troll!” Screamed one of the children.

“Everyone stay still!” Tovrik commanded to dramatic effect. The troll lumbered forward and was hit by a hail of crackling white sparks that made it twitch terribly and rock back. Caleigh saw the surprise on the faces of the crowd and realised they hadn’t seen the sparks but only the effect. At a nod from Mabon, Rosamund pointed her wand and a flash of lightning exploded in front of the troll. The troll staggered seeming blinded by the attack. This time everybody saw and seemed cheered. Vaughn went next picking up an apple from the table then sending it as a burning ball of fire into the troll’s chest. It moaned with pain and fell against the unbroken part of the doors shaking them loudly. Mabon then stood forth and shot a streaming trail of stardust that exploded multiple times in flashes of yellow and blue on the hide of the troll. Caleigh looked round to see who would go next and noticed Gideon looking at her with his eyebrows raised.

In her rush to act she didn’t think to make the spell visible and simply shouted “bedazzle” as she shot forth her charm. Fortunately for the audience the troll went very obviously vacant and its tongue drooped out of its mouth as it swayed on the spot. Some of the children began to laugh. The troll suddenly flipped upside down and began to rise up high. Now the children were cheering ‘drop him’. Gideon obliged sending the troll downward on its head with a stone shattering thud. Caleigh watched the next part with as much intrigue as the children knowing it was the turn of Caerddyn, no longer limited by Tovrik the jester. A pit opened below the troll and huge tongues of fire emerged from it charring the beast as it slipped below into the crack that sealed behind it. With a clap it was gone and the broken door was repaired. Everyone was well aware now that they had witnessed an illusion, nonetheless the message still worked. They had nothing to fear with all these great wizards to protect them.

“Did you enjoy our performance?” Tovrik asked when they were alone next to the god’s eye.