by TJ Green
The spell was short and succinct, and they all repeated it over and over again, as Alex wound the cord around Avery and Caspian's linked hands. Avery felt the power of the spell rise quickly, and a tingle ran up her arms and across her body as the binding took hold.
Her link to the standing stone and the crossroads reverberated through her, as if it recognised a second power enter her body. Avery watched Caspian carefully. He shuddered, and Avery guessed he could feel the crossroads magic now, too.
Caspian's magic felt cool in her veins, and she started to sense it beyond her arms, as it travelled across her body, along her trunk, and down her legs. His magic was strong. She'd always known that, but feeling it flow through her now, she realised how much she had underestimated him. He met her eyes as the binding took hold, and she thought she detected a hint of triumph in his face, which he quickly masked. She knew her magic was flowing around him too, as weak as it was right now.
The chanting continued, and with relief Avery felt her magic and energy lift, and her muddled thoughts became clearer. For the first time in hours, she began to feel they could defeat this woman, and that she would not become stone fodder in some time-frozen place.
Alex ended the spell, and the cord that bound her and Caspian's hands burned with a bright white light for a few seconds before extinguishing. She was now bound to Caspian until this thing was over, and he looked a damn sight happier about it than she was.
Alex gently untied the cord. "Feeling better, Avery?"
She smiled at him. "Much better. It happened quicker than I thought. It's very odd to feel someone else's magic in your body." She kept it light as she looked at Caspian. "Thank you. How are you?"
He rolled his shoulders. "Fine so far, but I can feel the pull of the crossroads. Blunted though, probably because I'm not directly linked. Unfortunately, I can't feel that woman. I'd like to pick up her power signature. It might help us work out who she is."
Briar wriggled closer to Avery and extended her hand again, her face impassive as she concentrated furiously for a moment. Then she relaxed and sighed with pleasure. "Excellent. I can feel your magic rising. Great job, everyone."
Reuben scooted around, looked at her, and then nodded wisely. "Yes, I agree, you do look less like shit than you did earlier."
"Thanks Reuben, you always say the nicest things," Avery replied.
"Always here to please, you know that, Ave. So, what now?"
"Now we find out who that woman is and what she wants."
"She must have some other role in the circus," Caspian suggested.
El shrugged. "Maybe her role is to give the circus magic? Odd though, that she should parade around the town with the other performers."
Avery eased away from Caspian and stretched out her cramped limbs, and the others started to move too, breaking up the circle. "The more I think about it, the more I think she has no circus role, not as a performer anyway. She has to be our number one priority. She's the key to everything."
Shadow warned, "That will be hard. She protects herself well, and can obviously defend herself against magic."
"So there are two things going on, really," El surmised. "The creature that is hunting people, and the woman who controls the crossroads---who could be Caitlin, if Newton can find out who she is. And yes, they have to be linked, but essentially there are two problems. We need to keep searching for that crossroads."
"Two teams," Shadow said. "We divide and conquer."
"But," Alex said, looking at Avery. "You can't come to the campgrounds."
"Why not?" she asked, annoyed.
"You know why not. She knows you. A trip to that site could trigger another trip to the stones. We can't risk that."
"No, you can't," Caspian said, unexpectedly agreeing with Alex. "You had just enough energy to fly out of there last time---which, by the way, suggests it's located here in this world somewhere, but is a long way from here. You might not be able to do that again. We need to know where it is and how that woman links to it. We should concentrate on that."
"As in, we," Avery said, gesturing between them.
"Yes. If we find the crossroads, we're halfway to breaking the link. She is anchored to something there."
Briar groaned. "So many questions. It hurts my head."
"That's tiredness," Reuben said, as he rose to his feet and extended his hand, pulling Briar to her feet, too. "We all need sleep. It's nearly three in the morning."
El grabbed her jacket and headed to the door with Reuben next to her. "And it's Monday. So no lie-in either. Do we meet tonight, then?"
Alex put his grimoire away in the large wooden chest he kept a lot of his magic paraphernalia in. "After the show. It has to be then. We want them in the campground, not in the tent, if we're to spy effectively."
"Midnight then," Reuben said. "I'll call you to confirm. You in, Shadow?"
"Of course."
Briar confirmed that she would be there too, and left with Shadow, Reuben, and El, leaving Caspian the only one remaining. He pulled on his coat as he spoke. "I'm going to chat to Estelle. She has a knack for 'finding' spells. There must be something we can adapt to help us find the crossroads. I'll call you later, Avery. Perhaps while the others are searching the campgrounds, we could try this. Midnight would be a good time for us, too. Liminal boundaries are stronger at those times. You should come to my place."
"Are you sure Estelle will want to help?" she asked. Estelle, Caspian's sister, had never liked them, and despite Caspian's acceptance of the White Haven witches, she had never softened her stance. And Avery didn't like Estelle, either. She was abrupt and rude, with a solid superiority complex.
"She has no choice. I'm the head of the family now, and the head of our coven."
Alex shook Caspian's hand. "Thanks, that sounds a good plan. And thanks for tonight."
"Anything to help Avery," Caspian murmured, and with a final glance at her, he left.
Alex shut the door and turned to look at her. "I hate that you're bound to him." His dark eyes burned with a fierce intensity she didn't often see. Behind it she could sense his worry, and maybe some fear.
"I hate it, too," she reassured him, "but I really do feel better. And I love you even more for doing this. You have nothing to fear, you know."
He reached forward and pulled her close, kissing her passionately. When he released her, she was breathless. "I don't want to lose you, to anything or anyone."
"You won't. Now come to bed." She grabbed his hand and pulled him after her.
13
Avery's eyes felt gritty the next morning, and she stumbled into her flat with a heavy head from too few hours of sleep. But at least she had slept, which must have been a result of extreme tiredness, Briar's potions, and Caspian's magic.
She felt horribly guilty. She'd hardly been home at all the previous day, and she gave Medea and Circe a big fuss when she arrived. They meowed loudly, and wound around her legs until she'd fed them, and then she headed down to the shop.
Sally and Dan were already in the kitchen, and the smell of coffee filled the space. Avery inhaled greedily. "One for me please," she said as she stepped through the door.
"No problem," Sally called, reaching for cups, and then she turned to look at Avery and frowned. "What have you been up to?"
Avery just groaned. "Too many things. Mainly getting myself into trouble with some crazy circus lady."
"Again?" Dan said, as Sally poured the coffee, sugared it, and then handed Avery her cup. "Tell us everything. No, wait. Let me guess. It must be the mysterious woman."
"Spot on, and our connection just got a lot weirder." She filled them in on everything that had happened over the weekend.
Sally gaped at her. "You're linked to Caspian now?"
"Temporarily! His magic is shoring up mine. It's weird. I didn't think such a thing was possible, not like this anyway. I mean, you connect to another witch's magic when you do spells together, but this is something else entirely."
/> "Does that mean he's in your head?"
"No! That would not be okay. This is a magical link, not psychic. But I'm really annoyed---they've banned me from going to the circus with them tonight."
"Sounds sensible," Dan said, leading the way into the shop, ready to open the doors for the day. "You're clearly very vulnerable right now. Do you want to do your thing?" He gestured around vaguely.
"Do you mean enhance my protection spells? Yes, that's probably a good idea."
Sally and Dan gave her space as she walked around, lighting incense and reinforcing her spells---one for protection, and one that helped her customers find that special something they didn't know they needed. Her rituals calmed her, so that by the time the doors opened, she almost felt her usual self.
Avery joined Sally and Dan at the counter, where they were finishing their coffee. Dan had found Robert Johnson's blues music, and its moody sounds already filled the shop. "Did you go to the circus in the end, Sally?" Avery asked.
She nodded. "I did. It was amazing. The kids loved it. But I did feel the slightest bit of magic, although I doubt anyone else could."
That made Avery pause. "You can sense magic?"
"Only slightly, and only because of you. I think I've been overexposed to it. Anyway, I felt it at the circus, but it didn't detract from the performers. They were still brilliant."
Avery shifted her weight as she leaned against the counter. "What do you think the magic did?"
Sally thought for a moment. "I think it gave the atmosphere a buzz, and the tent walls seemed to rustle as if something was alive in that fake greenery. But, the whole performance was magical, really."
"Interesting. Briar said the same thing."
"What will you do while the others are at the circus?" Dan asked.
"Try to find the crossroads with Caspian and his sister."
"That bitch, Estelle?" Sally looked appalled.
"I don't have much choice. We need to find the crossroads to break my link to it---and the mysterious woman's. Estelle is good at 'finding' spells, apparently."
"What happens if you can't break the link?"
"The standing stone will eventually sap all my power and I'll die."
Dan and Sally fell silent, looking at her wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Dan recovered first. "You'll solve it, Avery. You always do."
Avery's usual positivity was failing her, and she confessed, "Yes, but I'm not normally the one at risk. I'm already not functioning as well as usual. You should have seen me before Caspian helped."
"I did try and find out more about the Green Man and the Raven King," Dan said. "But, to be honest, I've found nothing ground-breaking."
"Tell me what you have found. I need something to cheer me up."
"Well, the Green Man is a nature spirit, and has been around for centuries. Images show him surrounded by green leaves and vines, and he's associated with death, rebirth, and fertility, and particularly with Beltane and May Day celebrations."
Avery nodded. "I remember. Isn't he the consort to the May Queen?"
"Usually. His title is quite recent. It's attributed to a woman called Lady Raglan, back in the 1930s, if I remember the date correctly. Before then he was called Jack in the Green. People mostly associate him with nature, forests, and woods. He's always been depicted in pagan beliefs, but his image is commonly found carved into stone and wood in churches. Depending on where you are in the country, he has been mixed up with Robin Hood, and even Herne the Hunter."
"Really?" Sally asked, surprised. "Why would churches have pagan images carved on them?"
"It's believed that many churches were built on pagan places of worship. And many people who were involved in building churches would have still clung to the old beliefs. He's likely carved into All Souls and Old Haven Church."
"I love how the old beliefs sneak into Christianity. I might have to go and have a look at All Souls," Avery said, thinking it would be good to speak to James anyway.
Dan continued, "He's also been associated with the Green Knight, you know, from the Arthurian Legend, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He was interesting! Gawain chopped his head off, and the knight picked it up and challenged him to the same thing the next year."
"You think he's here now because he's linked to the Otherworld, and has been summoned by crossroads magic?" Avery asked.
"I reckon," Dan said. "The circus is all about boundaries and English folklore, and how figures from our ancient past shape our present." He smiled. "I always like to think he's around when I'm walking across the fields and down country lanes, especially in the woods, and particularly at twilight, when the light is fading and the animals are busy. I can almost sense something else there, just beyond my vision."
"That's exactly what I think, too," Sally agreed. "I like to think the old ways lurk behind the everyday."
"You two never cease to surprise me," Avery said, laughing.
"And that's why we like working here," Sally said. "Go on, Dan. What about the Raven King?"
"He's based on Welsh mythology. Have you heard of Brân the Blessed, or Brân ap Llyr?"
Avery frowned, thinking that something about the name sounded familiar. "Vaguely."
"He's the legendary Welsh King of Britain. Brân is the God of music, poetry, and prophecy, and brân means 'raven' in Welsh. Ravens are associated with prophecy, too, and seen as messengers between the Otherworld and our world." He shrugged. "They have their place in lots of other cultures, and were associated with Apollo in Greek myths. Anyway, here in Britain, the raven is identified with Brân. He's the son of Llyr, which is why you might remember him, Avery."
"Llyr, as in the father of the crazy mermaids we fought in the summer last year?"
"The very same. The God who represents the powers of darkness. But Brân wasn't a dark figure---he was revered and honoured as being wise and brave. Ravens have always been associated with him."
"And hence he's a liminal figure, because ravens carry messages between our world and the Otherworld," Avery said, grasping the connections. "And he was a God of prophecy."
"And as a God, he stepped between worlds anyway," Dan agreed. "Did you know he's the source of the myths of the ravens and the Tower of London?"
Avery shook her head. "No."
"Brân was injured in a fight with the Irish, shot by a poisoned spear. He commanded that his head be chopped off and buried on the White Mount, in London, with him facing France. The White Mount is where the Tower of London now stands. It is believed his head is a talisman, protecting Britain from foreign invasion. And it was a talking head, too! He continued to advise and entertain on his journey to London."
Sally gasped. "That's so cool! I did not know that. And that's why ravens are associated with the Tower?"
He nodded. "Yes. The ravens gather to respect their fallen king, and it is rumoured that should ravens leave the Tower, Britain will fall. Therefore the Tower has a raven master to ensure that the Tower always has ravens."
"So the Raven King is another figure who crosses between worlds," Avery said thoughtfully. "The circus master's costume certainly did it justice the other night. I just wonder how much Corbin has to do with what's going on there. He certainly didn't sound very happy when we overheard him the other night."
Dan finished his coffee and thumped his cup on the counter. "Maybe he's the weak link---someone to work on to help you."
Avery looked at the shelves stacked with books, seeing nothing but the Raven King in her mind. "Maybe he is, Dan." Her hand itched, and she looked at her palm as the mark glowed again.
Sally had followed her gaze, and she frowned. "What's that on your hand?"
Avery looked guilty. "I neglected to mention that. The stone I mentioned marked me. It's fey script."
Sally edged around the counter, grabbed Avery's hand, and pulled her closer to the front window to examine it carefully. "Wow. That's scary."
Dan took her hand too. "That's some dream that can do this."
"I
know. The power of the crossroads is real. No wonder they used to bury their dead there. Maybe they thought it helped their souls cross to a better place."
Dan dropped her hand and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, you talk of the crossroads as an evil place, and Hecate can be a dark mistress, but she isn't always. She's a chthonic Goddess, a Goddess of the Underworld, but she's not inherently evil."
"I know. What are you suggesting?" Avery asked.
"Well, neither are the Raven King and the Green Man. They're liminal figures, after all. Their presence is not evil, even though it probably felt scary the other night when they were in the field with you. But surely the presence of a God and a nature spirit is bound to feel scary. You're in the presence of powerful beings. More importantly, Brân was a power for good. He protected the weak, and if you believe the myths, he protects England right now."
For a moment, Avery was speechless as she processed Dan's words, and a bright spark of hope started to fill her. "You're absolutely right! If anything, they should be on our side!" She started to pace the front of the shop as her head filled with possibilities. "We need to use them, or at least trust in them."
Sally sat on the sofa beneath the window of the shop, watching her pace. "I don't know. They haven't helped so far---those young men have still died. That doesn't sound positive to me."
"But it's like what Shadow says, and what you have said before too, Avery," Dan reminded them. "Gods don't interfere in the affairs of men, and neither do pagan spirits. They are separated from the affairs of mortals---in general---unless you appeal to them. Whoever this woman is, she appealed to Hecate for help, and there was clearly a price to pay. You could appeal for help too, and enlist the Raven King to Team Witch."
Avery stopped pacing and looked at them both. "But what if there is another price to pay?"
Dan folded his arms across his chest. "You're already paying the ultimate price. I don't think you've got much to lose."
***
Avery looked up at All Souls Church and squinted at the stone work. It was a gloomy day, and the sky was filled with heavy clouds. She felt it had been days since she'd seen the sun, but that wasn't unusual in February. What was unusual was the warmth to the air, and the ever increasing number of ravens in the town and up at the castle.
