by Alys West
He’d told Cassie he’d got a rehearsal this evening. She’d taken it better than he’d anticipated and he’d left her curled up on the sofa watching some programme about witches and vampires. If only she knew. He guessed he should ask if vampires were real as well but he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.
Reaching the end of the parking area, he looked down. A fire was burning on the sand in the centre of a circle of lights with a handful of people gathered around it. As he descended the steps he saw that Jenna was talking to Rachel. He stepped over a ring of jam jars with nightlights in them. Winston nodded to him and then returned to talking to Grace and Finn. Both of the druids held heavy sticks like Gandalf’s. Winston was gesturing with his as he talked which made him look even more of an arse than usual.
Zoe darted about handing out enamel mugs and offering drinks from either a hefty flask or a bottle of single malt. Silently cursing the fact he was driving, Hal accepted tea from the flask. He exchanged a few words with Rachel, heard her excitement about going to Northumberland with Grace next week, and then turned to Jenna.
“How are you doing?”
“Better now the funeral’s over.” She’d lost the pallor and some of the lines of tension which had marked her face on Wednesday. “Not that I’m any less busy. Selling the tearooms is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought.”
“You’re selling? You’re sure?”
“Yes, it’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to run it. I only kept it going for Dad’s sake. Nicky’s interested but she’s got to figure out how to raise the finance.”
“What about the bungalow?”
“I might rent it or turn it into a holiday let. I don’t know yet. I can’t sell it. It wouldn’t be right.”
At least there would be one thing left which tied her to Orkney. He was about to ask what she planned to do next when she said, “Now you’re here we can get started.”
He leaned in and spoke in her ear. “Is there going to be magic tonight? Because I don’t know how I feel—”
Jenna took a step away from him and raised her eyebrows. “You scared?”
“No. It’s weird, that’s all.” He put his hands in his fleece pockets. “I can’t get my head round it.”
“Then stop trying and see how that works for you.”
He took a gulp of tea. He should have stayed home with Cassie.
***
Jenna stepped into the empty space in front of the fire. She nodded at Winston. He moved to the opposite side of the circle to Finn. They both plunged their staffs into the sand. What he did after that she didn’t understand. He’d tried to explain it to her but it hadn’t made any sense and she’d decided it was what Zoe called ‘a druid thing’. It wasn’t easy though. She could see the concentration on his face. Then, abruptly, the wind ceased to blow as if someone had shut off the world outside.
She looked up. The sky was the grey of a heron’s wing. The three-quarter moon a pale ghostly white. Across the bay, the last rays of sun were slipping from the sky. It was a perfect evening for what she’d planned.
“Thanks for coming.” Jenna raised her voice but then realised she didn’t need to. With the wind and the sound of the waves gone, the space the druids had created had perfect acoustics. “It’s three weeks this evening since Dad died. Since then, thanks to Rachel, I’ve found out who was responsible for Mum’s death. Ewan, one of the men who killed her, has been arrested for her murder. The police are still looking for the other man. Ewan’s also been charged with assaulting and kidnapping me. Felicity and Andrew are being investigated for conspiracy to murder. None of that would have happened if Rachel hadn’t told the police what she knew.” Jenna smiled at Rachel who stood next to Grace. “I know it was hard for her and I’m grateful.”
She was angry, frustrated and resentful too but she wasn’t going to say that. Tonight wasn’t about honesty. It was about marking an ending and moving on. She’d say whatever was needed to make that happen. She’d talked it through with Winston, written it out and practised it in front of the mirror because she wasn’t sure she’d get a second chance. A chill had returned to the evening air, autumn was round the corner and when it came she’d be leaving.
“Now I know who’s responsible for Mum’s death it seems the right time to celebrate her life and the remarkable person she was. Those of you who came to her funeral will remember we were all too stunned by what had happened to do that properly so tonight is about my mum, Nina Stewart and the remarkable person she was. It’s also about my dad, Graeme Henderson, who loved her so much he didn’t want to live without her. Most of you didn’t know him but he was a good man.” She stopped as tears made speech impossible.
“I remember the first time Nina introduced me to him,” Grace said. “They’d only been seeing each other a few months but I could already tell he adored her. We didn’t use the phrase ‘he’s a keeper’ back then but he was. They had ups and downs like all married couples but they always wanted the best for the other and that’s what made their relationship special. As Jenna said, he was a good man. He also made the best Victoria sponge I’ve ever tasted.”
In terms of an eulogy it was pretty much perfect. Jenna scrubbed tears away with her fingers. Winston walked around the fire and took her hand.
“There’s so many things I could say about Mum. All of you, except for Zoe, knew her so you know how amazing she was,” Jenna said. “I wish I’d told her before she died how much I loved her. I took her for granted and had no idea what a great mum she was until she wasn’t there anymore. I wish I could put that right. In the letter she left me she said “‘When you look out over the bay, I’ll be there in the wind and the waves’. I hope she was right about that and she can hear us tonight.” Again tears choked her throat. Winston’s hand tightened around hers.
Zoe picked the paper boats up and handed them round. They were each about six inches long, made from blue art paper with a paper sail stuck in place with a stick. Fore and aft they had space for a candle. She’d spent hours crafting them with Zoe; talking about relationships, families, jobs and what it was like to date a druid. Sharing the things which cemented a friendship.
“We’ve made the boats so they’d hold two candles, one for Mum and one for Dad and I want us to remember them as we light the candles and float the boats out on the tide. Finn sourced biodegradable candles as Mum would not be happy if we added to plastic pollution in the oceans. But before that there’s something else I want to talk to you about.
“You all know that Mum was one of The Order of Druids and Spellworkers. You also know that three of The Order died on the same day as Mum.” She’d explained this to Hal when he’d visited in the days immediately after Dad’s death but she didn’t know how much of it he’d taken in. Based on what he’d said earlier, not much. “In her letter Mum told me she believed there was a conspiracy against The Order. She thought I’d be able to tell the new Order about it but, as there isn’t one, I can’t.
“I want you to know this is not a decision I’ve taken lightly and serious efforts have been made to talk me out of it—” glancing at Winston, Jenna saw his eyebrows arc “—but I’ve decided I have to try to find out if Mum was right, if there was a conspiracy against The Order and who was involved. Winston, Finn and Zoe have all volunteered to help. I’m not asking anyone else to help. I know it’s potentially dangerous. These folk have killed once so they’re likely to be willing to—”
“Have you lost your mind?” Hal said. “You’ve barely recovered from the last time you got hurt and now you’re planning on doing this?”
“Because I need to.” Jenna dropped Winston’s hand and stepped towards him. “I have to find out who’s responsible for Mum’s death because if it was part of something larger then it’s still out there. These people are—”
“What? Doing magic? Hiding in plain sight like you all do?” His gesture took in the others. “Lying to your friends and—”
“I’m sorry about
that.” Winston was beside her now. His hand on her arm. “I thought I explained. I wasn’t allowed to tell you. There’s strict rules about that.”
“Even when your mum died?” The paper boat fell from Hal’s fingers and tumbled into the sand. “Even then you couldn’t tell me?”
“I wanted to. You’ve no idea how much I wanted to.”
“But Archaeology Boy knows all about it because he’s one of the gang.” Hal’s eyes darted between her and Winston. “He’s the one who wants you to do this. He got you to look into your mum’s death again and look how well that’s worked out. Your dad’s dead—”
“Hey!” Winston took a step towards Hal. “Back off!”
“What you going to do? Hit me with your big stick? Jenna would never have started this without you.”
Raising her hands, Jenna stepped between Hal and Winston as Finn put a restraining hand on his friend’s arm.
“Winston has not talked me into this.” Her hands landed on her hips as she looked between them. “In fact, Winston has done everything he can to try to talk me out of it. But he knows this is important to me and that’s why he’s helping me. I hoped you’d understand that too. You were there when Mum died, you know what it did to me—”
“I know what it did to us.” Hal’s eyebrows pulled together. “It broke us because you wouldn’t talk to me. You kept all of it inside and we fell apart. Well, I’m not going through that again.”
“I’m not asking—”
“I can’t take any more of this.” Hal spun away from her and crossed the circle to pick up his guitar case. “But when it goes wrong and Archaeology Boy breaks your heart and your crackpot little Scooby Gang falls apart, don’t think I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”
As Hal reached the ring of lights, he stopped abruptly as if he’d hit a brick wall. He didn’t look back, simply waited.
“Shall—?” Winston said.
“Yes, let him go.”
She tilted her head and looked up at the sky so she didn’t have to watch Hal walk away. She’d always feared she’d lose him if he knew the truth but she hadn’t thought it’d be like this. She’d never seen him this angry.
She tipped the cold tea out of her mug and walked over to where Zoe had put the bottles. She picked up the single malt and poured herself a generous measure.
Zoe came over and gave Jenna a hug. “Are you alright?”
“He didn’t have to be mean.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “Okay if he wants to leave, I get that. It’s a lot to deal with. But he didn’t have to be mean.”
“You mean the crackpot Scooby Gang line?” Zoe said. “That was low.”
“What’s a Scooby Gang?” Grace said.
“It’s from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” Rachel said. “It’s what they call Buffy and her friends when they’re battling evil.”
“Now can we get back to the main event?” Finn said. “Jenna was in the middle of something important.”
“I think the moment’s gone.” Jenna walked over to Grace and slipped her arm through hers. “All I was going to say was that I’m not asking either you or Rachel to help with this. We’ve got it covered. We’re already working through the list Mum left—”
“I don’t care whether you’re asking for help or not,” Grace said. “I’m in.”
Jenna exchanged a glance with Winston. They’d expected this and neither of them were sure it was a good idea. Grace might act like she was fine but the reality was a lot different.
“Are you sure? It’s going to be hard and we don’t—”
“I’m not an invalid. I can handle this. A few dodgy joints aren’t going to stop me.” There were tears in Grace’s eyes as she met Jenna’s gaze. “And anyway, Nina would never forgive me if I let you do this on your own.”
“I don’t know if I can do anything useful…” Rachel’s voice trailed off as she glanced between Grace and Jenna.
“Yet.” Grace turned to Rachel. “You will, pet. In time you’ll be very useful indeed.”
“But I want to help. When I can, when I’m good enough.”
“You’re good enough already,” Winston said. “Next time we need a barrier breaking I’m calling you.”
The smile Rachel turned on him was tentative but edged with hope. He was good with her, encouraging without being patronising. She guessed she should have expected it. Being a lecturer must have taught him a few things about dealing with the young and insecure. It was hard to believe that a couple of months ago she’d thought the only thing he was good at was encouraging the young and insecure into bed with him. Yet oddly enough, knowing he’d done that didn’t bother her. He was with her now. More so than she’d ever expected.
“When do we start?” Grace said interrupting her thoughts.
“Probably not until Mabon,” Jenna said. “I’ve got things to sort out here but we think we’ll be able to get away by then.”
“What about your work?” Grace turned to Winston. “Don’t you have to be back in October?”
“I’ve applied for a sabbatical. I’ve not heard officially yet but my head of department’s said it’ll go through.” Winston grinned. “I think he’s happy to get rid of me for a term.”
“Sounds about right,” Finn said. “We’ll all feel like that in a couple of weeks’ time!”
Jenna looked around her Scooby Gang. Two druids, one spellworker, one storm witch, a seer and her, a heritage professional who knew a bit about magic because of her mum. The Goddess only knew what they were getting themselves into or if they’d got any hope of getting through it. Hal might have meant the words as an insult but they weren’t. These were the bravest folk she knew, even Rachel, and for that she was damned proud of them already.
“Let’s leave the plans until tomorrow.” Jenna picked up the paper boat Hal had dropped. “This evening is about Mum and Dad.”
***
As the little boats floated away on the darkening sea, their lights glowing and bobbing, Winston put his arm around Jenna’s shoulders and pulled her to him. “How you holding up?”
“Okay.” She rested against him. “I’m going to need a good cry when I get home.”
“Whatever. I’m not going anywhere.”
The words were truer than he’d intended because he couldn’t imagine being where she wasn’t. Not for any length of time. A day or three he’d handle but the thought of not seeing her for weeks on end made him feel hollow inside.
As Jenna walked to the edge of the waves, the others turned to look at her. “I’m going to sing a song both my parents loved, it’s called She Moves Through the Fair.” She began softly, pulling her audience in as the lyrics worked their magic.
“As she stepped away from me and she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her move here and move there
And then she turned homeward with one star awake
Like the swan in the evening moves over the lake.”
There was a lump in his throat and a prickling behind his eyes as she reached the final verse. He turned to her, let her see the tears as they crept down his cheek. She reached for his hand as her voice rose high and pure on the evening air carrying the words away to the wind and the waves.
THE END
Author Note and Acknowledgements
It’s tricky writing a book set on islands which are 500 miles away from home and I’m sure I’ve made mistakes. I’m aware that the Maeshowe Visitors’ Centre has moved to Stenness but for the purposes of fiction I’ve left it at Tormiston Mill. All other mistakes about Orkney are my own. I love the islands and I just hope I’ve done them justice in this book.
There are so many people I need to thank that this is going to be an extensive list. You all know how amazing you’ve been and how you’ve supported me during the writing and publication of this book. Huge thanks to Jane Stockdale, Davina Beckitt, Jadzia Terlecka, Sharon Booth, Jo Barlett, Lorraine Chatwin, everyone on my MA course at York St John University especially William Davidson, Victori
a Thompson, Berni Stevens, the Write Romantics, my Mum and Dad, and Tim Pearson.
Finally I want to thank all of the readers who got in touch after reading Beltane to tell me they’ve enjoyed it and to ask what happens next. Thank you for your enthusiasm and belief in my stories, it means an awful lot. There will be another Spellworker Chronicles book after this but I write slowly so it’s going to take a while!
Keeping in touch
If you’d like to keep in touch and be the first to hear what I’m working on then you can sign up for my newsletter at www.alyswest.com. Alternatively drop me an email at [email protected] and I’ll add you to the list.
You’ll find me on Twitter at @alyswestyork, on Facebook at Alys West Writer and on Instagram at @alyswestwriter. I also have a Facebook readers’ group ‘Druids, Spellworkers and Dirigibles’ where you’ll hear all of my news first and be able to chat to other people who love Finn and Winston.
Also by Alys West
Beltane – Book One of the Spellworker Chronicles
Struggling artist, Zoe arrives in Glastonbury seeking inspiration. The small Somerset town is steeped in myth and legend and she thinks it’ll be the perfect place to work on a book about King Arthur. But behind the shops selling witchcraft supplies and crystals, real magic is being practised.
When Zoe meets Finn, her life changes forever. Not only is he a druid connected to the ancient energies of the earth but she dreamed about him long before they met. Finn’s life is in terrible danger and Zoe’s dreams start to reveal more of the plot against him.
After dreaming of a deadly battle at a stone circle on Dartmoor, Zoe starts to wonder if the dark magic around her is playing tricks of its own or if she really can see the future. Will she learn to trust Finn, and herself, in time to stand any hope of surviving the powerful magic that will be unleashed at Beltane? Or is it already too late?
