by Phil Stern
Once directly called out, most of their detractors fell into sulky silence. After a moment, however, Susan half-stood. “And we’re all to believe Tiffany somehow defeated the enemy leader after having her own stone taken away? Please.”
“You’re saying that didn’t happen?” Marissa shot back.
“Her whole story is absurd!”
“Susan, are you doubting my word?” Speaking softly, the younger sorceress glanced back at her former boss.
“I doubt everything about you!” Susan snapped back. “I always have!”
“Yes, it’s all quite ridiculous,” huffed another woman, pointedly turning about.
“No, it’s quite simple!” Rolling her eyes, Tiffany’s voice again pulsed out over the whole Coven. “The Zarth organization is too big to simply destroy! So unless everyone here wants to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder, waiting for the next ruby attack, I suggest we get our collective heads out of our asses, and find a way to hammer out some kind of lasting peace!”
On the verge of an angry reply, a half-dozen women instead thoughtfully sat back. Clearly, this last comment hit home.
“Tiffany is entirely correct.” Speaking in a normal tone, Eleanor’s voice still carried to the far reaches of the Hall. “Starting a war is easy, but ending one can be far more problematic.”
But Barbara was unwilling to accept total defeat. Letting out a bitter laugh, she now waved a dismissive hand in Tiffany’s direction. “Look who’s talking of peace? Tiffany Smith, the girl who’s own sister is an enemy witch!”
*****
Taking another sip of beer, Blake Stanton tiredly looked around the darkened bar. It was just after ten o’clock, when all the “social” drinkers had already gone home, leaving the semi-drunks and chronically lonely as the only patrons.
On television police detectives are always involved with intriguing dilemmas that end in dramatic arrests. Reality, however, was turning out to be quite different. Since his grand promotion, in fact, Blake had simply cleaned up one horrific mess after another, giving tragic notices to next-of-kin while making sure all the proper paperwork was filed. Frankly, it was all getting to be rather depressing.
However, work wasn’t even his biggest problem right now. For once again Tiffany Smith, his live-in girlfriend, was off on a “trip.” Up until two weeks before she regularly lied to him about these various excursions, claiming to be on reporting assignments around the country. But following a nasty, public brush up with a rival group of witches, she’d finally admitted her double-life as an inter-dimensional sorceress.
That, obviously, had knocked him for one hell of a loop! But the crazy thing was that Tiffany’s incredible revelation had also come as a tremendous relief. One always senses when things are hidden in a relationship, no matter how skilled the deception. When it finally comes out into the open everything makes sense again, the trust and comfort briefly reestablished.
Yet upon reflection, Blake felt more uncertain than ever. How could he possibly remain interesting to a woman who claimed the entire “universe” as her personal playground? Who had grown up in a world far more advanced than Earth itself, before then acquiring powers he could only dream of? In the long run, how could their life together be anything more than a temporary distraction?
By Tiffany’s own admission, Earth was merely an assignment for her. What would happen if this Coven simply sent her somewhere else? Or they just ceded Earth to these ruby witches to do with as they wished? In truth, everything was completely up in the air.
But forget all that for a moment. On a more basic level, what good was a relationship when one person was always gone? Blake wanted to accept Tiffany’s lifestyle, to somehow understand the chaotic, conflicting existence she’d chosen. Yet how can one blithely rationalize a trip to another “world” as if it was just an overnight to Atlanta or Houston? Such things were completely foreign to his frame of reference. At the end of the day, it just didn’t compute.
Perhaps most disturbing of all was his complete lack of control. For if Tiffany never returned from one of these trips, what would he do? Drop her an email? Maybe file a missing person’s report? In actuality, Tiffany was entirely out of reach. If she didn’t come back, she just didn’t come back. And in all likelihood he’d never even know why.
Glumly signaling for another beer, Blake irritably pushed his now-empty bottle aside. He loved Tiffany, and hated thinking along these lines. But still, in the long run...
“Hey stranger.” Sliding down on the stool beside him, the young blonde woman gave a warm smile. “What say I get the next round?”
Surprised, Blake leaned back. “That sounds like a pick-up line from some old movie.”
“Maybe that’s because I want to pick you up,” she eagerly replied, placing a trendy, sleek bag on the counter. “I’m Saffron.”
“Saffron?” Blake nearly laughed. “That’s quite the name.”
“Well, I’m quite the girl,” she purred, patting him on the knee.
Thoughtfully taking the first sip of his new bottle, Blake studied her more closely. She looked like a college student, maybe 20 or so, very pretty and ready for an adventure. It was a common type in downtown Philadelphia. Bored with her studies and immature classmates, she wanted to spend time with someone a bit more “worldly.” And whereas women even half-a-decade older would avoid a man drinking heavily at a bar like the plague, she thought it was really cool.
In truth, Blake wasn’t unaware of his somewhat rugged, yet approachable demeanor. Developed during his early years on the force, it seemed to set the right tone out on the street. It had also proved very intriguing to the ladies, the perfect combination of mystery and sensitivity.
Even Tiffany got annoyed on occasion, watching the girls trying to catch his attention at various social functions. It must be odd for her, Blake now thought, having something she couldn’t control absolutely. Actually, with her powers and freedom, it might be a completely new situation.
But as usual, Tiffany wasn’t here right now. And Saffron was.
“Are you married?” she asked with a naughty coed smile.
Blake shook his head. “My, aren’t you the forward one?”
“I’m just being honest.” She shrugged. “A girl needs to know these things.”
“Oh, of course,” he seriously replied. Taking another sip, he openly studied her. “No, I’m not married.”
“Hmmm.” Frowning, Saffron gave a knowing nod. “But you do have a girlfriend. I can tell.”
“Really? How’s that?”
“Because you’re really good looking and obviously successful.”
Which was entirely the opposite of how Blake was feeling right now. “You think so, huh?”
“Of course. You’re the kind of man someone would claim.” The girl idly smoothed her miniskirt. “But your girlfriend’s getting careless.”
“And why do you say that?”
“Because you’re here.” Saffron said it simply, as if an obvious point. “She doesn’t understand what she has, or what it takes to keep you. You like her, but you’re getting bored and a little frustrated.”
“Wow.” Despite himself, Blake was mildly impressed. “You’re quite the psychologist.”
“I understand people. I also understand what men need.” Now Saffron’s hand came to rest on his knee. “Especially when their insensitive, selfish girlfriends aren’t paying attention.”
Taking a deep breath, Blake slowly put the half-empty beer back on the bar. Hesitating a long moment, he then held up a finger. “Can I have the check please?”
Saffron giggled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
*****
Following Barbara’s jab about Valensa, the Gathering Hall was almost deathly quiet. Over two hundred witches were stunned into silence, watching this new drama unfold before them.
Still standing next to Marissa, Tiffany found herself seething. “Don’t you dare speak of my sister,” she evenly replied,
desperately fighting to maintain control. “Especially when you knew...”
“Enough of this bickering!” Eleanor bellowed, sweeping her arm through the air. A burst of green energy again rolled out over the audience. Gently knocked aside, Tiffany tumbled back into her seat, Marissa gracelessly flopping down beside her. “I will tolerate no more of it. From anyone! Particularly when we have grave matters to address. Is that understood?”
Irritably stretching her neck, Tiffany’s eyes never left the Deputy Coven Leader. For her part, Barbara coolly looked away. No one else in the large Hall made a sound.
“Very well.” Eleanor confidently stared out over the shocked yet attentive assembly. “Let me be entirely clear. Regarding the Zarth coven, our first preference is peaceful coexistence. War is the last thing we want! I dread such a conflict with all my being.” Now dropping her voice, the Coven Leader’s eyes briefly blazed a pure green. “But we may not have a choice. And if war comes, I intend to be fully prepared.”
Many of the witches leaned forward slightly, while others held themselves absolutely still. Without exception, everyone was focused completely on their Coven Leader.
“So here is what we will do.” Pausing, Eleanor contemplated her entire audience. “First, we make every effort to work out an understanding with the ruby coven. I will personally meet with Claire on Earth. If they agree to confine their aggression to Zarth alone, that may be something we can live with. Perhaps we can even make the ruby witches see the value in our own guiding principles, namely empowering downtrodden girls and women throughout the universe, while actively protecting human enclaves threatened by magic.”
“But what if they won’t listen?” someone called out. “What if they continue trying to dominate and alter other worlds?”
“Then we will oppose them.” Grimly, Eleanor nodded. “To that end, we will immediately form key alliances in as many worlds as possible. There are countless species that we’ve helped in the past, and with whom we maintain a good working relationship. In the event of open hostilities, I’m sure they can be persuaded to provide us with both intelligence and personnel.”
Stunned, Tiffany considered the ramifications of Eleanor’s plan. The unicorns and battle hawks had long been their friends and defenders, but they were rather simple creatures. The “alliances” the Coven Leader was now proposing would be something else entirely.
“The Coven Elders will serve as my ambassadors in this regard.” Still standing before the Council table, Eleanor didn’t even bother to look behind her. “I will be assigning strong teams to accompany each Elder in their travels. Obviously, the universe is now more dangerous than ever. It’s crucial that we project power and stability in the worlds we openly visit.”
Clearly taken off guard, one of the Elders who’d been standing with Eleanor by the door hesitantly leaned forward. “And when will we be leaving?”
“First thing in the morning,” was Eleanor’s crisp reply. “I meet with Claire in two days. I need to know where we stand with several key races by then.”
So Eleanor had already reached out to the ruby Coven Leader, even before knowing the outcome of today’s Conclave? Clearly irked, Barbara looked away.
“No one is to leave Haven without personally speaking to me first.” Fully in her element, Eleanor seemed to almost radiate power and assurance. “Some of you will have active assignments with the Elders, while others will be sent to maintain our presence in vulnerable worlds. Our high-tech fortress in Vail will continue to be fully garrisoned. I’m also doubling our guard in Rasten. Things there are now back under control, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
Completely under Eleanor’s sway once more, several women nodded as she spoke.
“I also intend to fully infiltrate Earth,” the Coven Leader continued. “Some of you have experience there already, but most do not. That needs to change. Therefore, I will designate thirty of you to begin immediate training with Susan and Norine, who have both spent a lot of time on Terra. The Haven Library also has a wealth of material. It’s a mid-tech world with almost no magical awareness, so fitting in shouldn’t be difficult.”
Many of the experienced operatives smiled. “Fitting in” to a new world always seemed easy in Haven. In practice, it was usually quite different.
“But clearly, controlling Earth will be the key to winning any sustained conflict.” Nodding slowly, Eleanor sighed. “Thus, we need to immediately identify and track every ruby witch now there.”
Thoughtfully, Tiffany sat back. Since she was already in residence on Earth, it wasn’t hard to imagine what role she would be assigned after the Conclave’s conclusion.
“We also have our routine duties to attend to,” Eleanor continued. “Candidate witches need training, while at least four girls that we know of need to be rescued from rough situations in backward dimensions. No doubt there are others.”
Now there was an awkward pause, several women uncertainly glancing about. A young witch off to one side now hesitantly raised a hand.
“Yes?” Smiling, Eleanor nodded in her direction.
“Will things ever return to normal?” she asked. “I mean, like before we met the Zarth girls?”
“Or Gensrow!” someone else called out. “It hasn’t been the same since then!” A murmur of assent greeted this remark.
“No. Unfortunately, it hasn’t.” Pausing, Eleanor gave an elegant shrug. “The mad wizard was a nasty shock. And to be honest, we weren’t as vigilant, or prepared, as we should have been. We’re lucky that Tiffany managed to stop Gensrow before he could hurt any more of our sisters.”
Her heart suddenly racing, Tiffany stoically stared forward. Never before had her defeat of Gensrow been acknowledged publically, in such a forum, before the entire Coven. Over two hundred pairs of eyes looked in her direction, a smattering of applause even breaking out in a few quarters. Following Barbara’s crack about her rogue sister Valensa, it was quite a moment. Emotion surging to the fore, she could only nod at the Coven Leader.
“Our involvement in so many worlds virtually ensures new challenges.” Sadly, Eleanor shook her head. “When we encounter new species or renegade magic that affects us directly, we simply have to deal with it as best we can. That’s what we’re doing now. That’s all we can do. For us, that is normal.”
At this, even the Elders sitting behind Eleanor began unconsciously nodding, their eyes on the Coven Leader’s back. On the surface at least, it appeared that Eleanor’s renewed mastery over the entire Coven was now complete.
“But remember. Whatever the future holds, we are all sisters.” For the first time that day, Eleanor actually smiled. “We can always rely on one another. When I see all of you here today, and think of our fifty other sisters on duty elsewhere, I know we cannot be defeated. Our Coven, and the spirit that pervades it, will live on forever. Of that I’m utterly certain, and I hope you all are as well.”
First one woman near the back began applauding, then another. In a moment the entire Coven was on their feet, clapping and cheering. Reverberating throughout the ancient Gathering Hall, the spontaneous outburst of unity and approval soon swelled to a roaring crescendo.
Unbidden, a cloud of green magic formed over their massed heads. Soon merry sparks of earth fire were shooting off in every direction, each far more powerful than any one girl could have produced on her own.
*****
Stepping out of the creaky elevator, the sorceress sauntered across the marble lobby, long skirt brushing against her legs. Though deep in enemy territory, the Haven witch was reassured by the pulsing earth stone carefully hidden underneath her blouse, its warm glow suffusing her entire body. Confidently pushing her way through the circular front door, the magician soon found herself on the crowded sidewalk.
Not for the first time that day, she wondered how the Conclave was going back home. Though disappointed to miss such a momentous occasion, the young operative knew her mission in Zarth was vitally important. Not to mention dangerous
. After all the mayhem Tiffany Smith had caused two weeks before, it was unlikely the ruby coven would treat any new prisoners with kid gloves.
Immediately taking a right upon exiting the office building, the enchantress walked purposefully down the street, smiling politely at a few passers by. Casually glancing up, she noted that the sun on Zarth was exactly the same size and intensity as that on Earth. As parallel worlds, some people even believed it was the exact same sun, projecting its energy over multiple dimensions.
This, in fact, was now a popular theory among people that studied such things. Identical blueprints for parallel worlds, so the experts said, might actually emanate outward from a single star, with light and energy then beamed into the replicated frameworks. That would explain how worlds like Zarth and Earth shared indistinguishable geographies and climates, as well as many other unifying characteristics.
However, it wouldn’t easily explain a key distinction between the two sister dimensions. Zarth didn’t transect the Boundary directly. Yet Earth, alone among Zarth’s few parallel worlds, had a vast array of Boundary portals. Oh, Zarth had a few other parallel dimensions possessing maybe a half-dozen portals total, but in an emergency they could be easily guarded.
Thus, controlling Earth was crucial for the ruby coven. For if someone chose to block their access to Tiffany’s adopted world, their ability to travel the universe in any meaningful fashion would be effectively curtailed.
Varley, the capital city of Vanington, was a close approximation of a North American Earth city circa 1950 or so. Approaching noon, the sidewalk was now crowded with business people out for a midday meal, or those just here to see the big city. Strolling about, the sorceress idly stopped to window shop, appreciatively eyeing some sleek dresses and colorful shoes.
Wait. A wisp of ruby power tingled against the very edge of her perception, across the street and down a block. Of course, Vanington was a ruby power center, the birthplace of Claire herself and home to her sophisticated home coven. So such encounters were to be expected. No doubt a ruby witch just out for a walk, or perhaps even accompanying her husband on a trip. Oddly enough, the ruby girls actually engaged in such permanent relationships.
