Sadie and Gimli were fine after the warlock left, as dogs live in the moment. I didn’t have that luxury. If the miners were desperate enough to send a warlock then I’d have to get ready to fight.
The squirrels on the roof of my cabin chittered at the catapult move. Squirrels have funny senses of humor. My closest squirrel friend, Chuck, jumped on my shoulder, came into the house with me, and perched on the back of a wooden chair. He chittered again.
“I’m glad you approve, Chuck, but I might have gotten myself into trouble.” The squirrel flung himself from the chair to the table in an elegant backwards arc and landed with a splat, imitating what he hoped happened to the warlock. I couldn’t help but smile. “I doubt he fell like that, but that would have been fun to watch.”
A chuff from the floor made me look down. Gimli sat next to his food bowl, forlorn.
“It’s not yet time for dinner,” I said to him. He sighed and lay down next to the food bowl, waiting.
I needed to talk to my other witch friends, so I did what any self-respecting witch would do. I picked up my cell phone.
“Why is a warlock working for the miners?” asked my best friend, Flo, a water witch.
“He needs the money, Flo. You know how warlocks are. They go to the highest bidder. They’re guns for hire.”
“Still,” said Flo, clucking her tongue, “disgraced wizards they may be, but being so careless with magic that he pushed the fire as far as it went? That seems more than careless. I’m calling the Council. Maybe I can learn why this particular wizard went warlock and if the Council is looking for him.”
“Thanks, Flo. I appreciate it.”
“Holly?”
“Yes?”
“How close was the fire to your cabin?”
“Less than three miles.”
“Get some protection spells up.”
“Flo—”
“What if he’s a patsy meant to take the fall when they mean to harm you? Not the land, but you.”
I hung up, mad at myself for not thinking of that. I should have flung him harder.
I hiked down to the nearest town, a middle-sized place called Mathersville. Mather was the last name of the founding family. Miners, all of them.
Gimli and Sadie accompanied me to the diner. It was an old place with worn red stools, wooden booths, and a perpetual air of grease. The food was delicious.
I slipped into a booth, and Sadie and Gimli snuggled under the table at my feet. Most people wouldn’t let two dogs into the restaurant, but Minnie didn’t mind.
“Hey, Holly! Good to see you.” Minnie rested a pad of paper on her swollen stomach. “After you eat, would you be willing to check the baby?”
“Of course, but you know everything is fine. I checked him out last week.”
“I know, but it would make me feel better,” she said with a shrug. “The usual?”
“Perfect,” I said. “But hold the ketchup for Gimli. It gives him gas.”
In record time, Minnie was sliding a plate on my table holding a grilled portobello mushroom with onions on a homemade roll. She slid another plate with two beef hamburgers under the table for the dogs. Sadie took a single, delicate bite but Gimli snarfed his down. Then the poor guy was stuck watching Sadie eat the rest of hers.
“He never learns,” remarked Minnie.
“Nope. Bulldog through and through.”
“I’ll be back for that baby check when you’re done eating.”
The scent of the mushroom and onions was heavenly. I took a bite, eyes closed to savor that first wonderful taste. I opened my eyes when the dogs growled, and was met with a most unpleasant sight—Gareth Walker.
“What the hell?”
“Holly. Ms. Springfield. I need to talk to you.”
“No mining.”
“Humans are scared. The Fae are powerful and the only thing that hurts them is silver. There is a huge demand for it now and we owe it to the general public…”
“I don’t owe them anything. What they fail to realize is that that humans have always existed side by side with the Fae. The only thing that’s changed is they now know about it.”
“Ms. Springfield, I have great respect for witches, but I am here to warn you. At the risk of sounding cliché, D.B. isn’t going to take no for an answer. Your land is full of silver. He wants it, and will do anything to get it.”
“Including burning down my woods and cabin?”
“That was an accident. OUCH!”
I craned my neck to look under the table. I eyeballed Gimli but he gave me an innocent stare. Sadie hid her eyes behind her paw, laughing.
“Just so you know, he bites liars.”
“That’s it. I’ve tried to play nice, but you refuse to see reason. They’re going to get you, and your little dogs too!”
“Seriously? That is really a cliché.”
He stormed out, leg bleeding from Gimli’s bite. I worried he’d get an infection. Gimli, not Gareth. A little bit of blood had dropped on the floor. I swiped at it with a napkin and put it in my pocket. Not sure what I’d do with it, but blood was always handy.
“Come over here, Minnie. Let me see how that beautiful baby is doing.”
I placed my hands on Minnie’s stomach and closed my eyes, linking to the fetus. He was strong and peaceful. All the parts were in the right place. Midwifery was one of my favorite things about being an earth witch.
“He’s great, Minnie. Strong and healthy. Two more months.”
“Thanks, Holly. Pack something to take with you? On the house.”
“Thanks, Minnie. That’d be real nice.”
I exited with two dogs and two doggie bags. I hadn’t walked but four paces when a new set of feet stepped in time beside me on the right, Gimli between us.
“Ms. Springfield?” said the man, doffing his cowboy hat.
I turned to gaze at him. Levis, a black T-shirt, and a blazer. Big belt buckle to match the hat. Mousey brown hair with sideburns. Texas corporate chic. But it all looked a little forced, like he was trying to be something he wasn’t.
“Yes,” I said finally.
Sadie slipped around and got on the right side of the man. Now he was surrounded by dogs. He noticed for sure, because he cleared his throat with a little warble.
“Douglas Brant, ma’am. I’ve wanted to meet you.”
“Douglas Brant, as in DB Miners Douglas Brant?”
He gave a small bow and a tight laugh. “The very one.”
“I’ve wanted to meet you too.”
“Really? Well, that’s great. I’m here to make you a serious financial offer for your land.”
“Forget it. Stay away from me. You’re getting me angry.”
“Well, I’m getting mighty upset too, ma’am. You haven’t heard my offer yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. The answer is no.”
I reached out to the Earth and asked for a little help as I stalked away. D.B. tried to follow, but was shocked to find his feet were glued to the ground.
As I hiked back up the mountain, I noticed someone in the shadows. An extremely tall man with a long leather duster and a staff. I sensed him looking at me. I wanted nothing to do with him, because if he was who I thought he was, he was Council, and those conceited, arrogant morons could bite me. I did like his gigantic dog, though, and Sadie gave the dog a sidelong glance of interest.
“No, Sadie. We’d best let those two pass on through,” I said.
I hiked up the mountain, which was easier for me than for others because the Earth guided my steps and gave me strength. As I got closer to my cabin, there was a sense of urgency. I stopped for a moment and listened. The forest was quiet. Truly quiet. No insects. No owls. No bats. Even the pink petunias in the window box were still, as if the Earth had stopped breathing. Maybe She had.
Gimli and Sadie sensed it too, and stayed silent, with only a baritone rumble in Gimli’s chest so deep it was almost out of hearing range. I dropped my bags and felt out with my magic to find out w
ho was there. The Earth showed me four men, all carrying rifles, hidden at various spots around my home.
A raccoon scurried up to me, eyes frantic. I knelt down and petted him. “Yes, I know, little one. I see them. Don’t worry.” The raccoon gave me a little nudge with his nose and scampered off to hide. I felt my anger rise. Now they were scaring my animals and bringing guns to kill me. I was done.
Mother Earth helped to muffle my steps as I crept forward. I didn’t want to kill these guys, but they had guns. There might not be a choice. I noticed one man hiding under the limbs of my friend Grand Daddy Oak. I chuckled. This will be fun.
The old oak slithered a thin branch down and touched the man on the shoulder. He jumped and looked around, eyes wild and white with fear. Another branch tapped him on his other shoulder, and the man shouted, “Who’s there?”
“Howard!” hissed one of his comrades. “Shut the hell up!”
“There’s something hunting us, Jim. I told you this place was creepy. This woman is a witch, remember? We shouldn’t be waiting for her here.”
“Howard, stop being such a pansy.”
At that moment the oak leaned down, wrapped a branch around the terrified man, and flung him over the trees and out of sight. He howled as he catapulted through the air, and I hoped the man didn’t get seriously hurt, but seeing as he was there to kill me, I didn’t waste time thinking about it. I didn’t feel any sympathetic pain, so he was most likely fine.
His cry spooked the others. They ran from their hiding spaces, and as soon as they were in the clearing, the ground shifted. Rocks rose from the Earth and gathered into a landslide. All three men lost their footing, dropped their guns, and tumbled ass over teakettle down the mountain. I could tell from my body’s reaction that they had some bumps, bruises, and a few scratches, but no one died.
The forest erupted with happy twitters, amused growls, and scurrying sounds as the woodland creatures collectively exhaled. The raccoon emerged and offered me his paw in formal handshake, bowing from the waist as he did so. Chuck dropped onto my shoulder and groomed my hair, chittering the whole time. Birds swooped in circles, crickets chirped, owls hooted, and the forest came alive. The dogs ran, not sure where they were going but back and forth, back and forth. Gimli, not a natural sprinter, tried to keep up with Sadie, and the sight was simply too funny.
And then it suddenly stopped again.
Gareth Walker emerged from the shadows.
“I advised them not to send men with guns to your sanctuary,” he said. “But they wouldn’t listen.”
“They were idiots. Why are you here?”
“Because now it’s my job to kill you.”
“That’s not going to work out for me. I have a dentist appointment next week.”
The warlock drew back his hand and, with a word of power, threw a ball of fire at my head. The fireball missed but blasted the trees behind me. As they started to burn, I could feel their pain.
Scuttling to my right in a crouch, I aimed a round rock, the size of my palm, straight for Gareth’s head.
“Let my aim fly true, Mother,” I whispered. The rock struck him hard and he fell to his knees, bleeding from a large gash on his temple. But he didn’t stop. Fire was his game and he was going to use it. He struggled back to his feet, and another ball of flame flew from his hands and exploded onto my house. My heart sank. All I owned was being consumed by the fire. The forest was screaming.
My dogs circled around Gareth, and the warlock grinned as he pointed a long crooked finger at Gimli. A needle of flame flew straight at my dog’s face. Gimli turned to escape but the fire lanced his side and he fell to the ground, yelping in pain. I shrieked.
In a rage, Sadie dove for Gareth’s legs and bowled him over. She leaped on top of him and held him down, baring her teeth, staring straight into his eyes. I ran to them, but before I got there, he’d grabbed Sadie by the collar and shoved her off. Gareth staggered to his feet and he glared at me, eyes black, mouth set tight.
Sadie recovered in a flash and dashed to Gimli’s side, but he was standing on all fours by the time she got there. He didn’t appear badly wounded, just mad as hell. Sadie gave him a reassuring bump and licked his nose.
A surge of water bubbled up from the ground and rose at least fifteen feet in the air, dousing the burning trees and building. Thank you, Mother. The cavalry, finally.
I turned and focused on heaving the ground beneath Gareth to the side, creating a pit. He fell straight down into the hole until he stopped at his neck. He was trapped and he knew it. I pulled the Earth close against him and he gasped for air. I struggled to breathe just as Gareth did. Earth witches couldn’t escape physical law. An action always has an equal and opposite reaction.
Flo hurried up. “I’m glad I got here in time,” she said, watching me fighting for a breath. “I checked with the Council.”
“And?” I wheezed.
“He was labeled a warlock because he started a fire that killed several humans, an air witch, and a couple of lesser Fae.”
“Don’t certain members of the Council regularly start fires?”
“Yes, but this was malicious. Intent to murder.”
The warlock in front of me was turning blue and I felt his panic. I studied him for a moment and made a decision, knowing the cost.
I pulled the bloody napkin out of my pocket and whispered a single word, maak, Hebrew for to squeeze or to press. I opened the pit wider and deeper and, with the push of blood magic, he fell in all the way. I closed the pit and compressed the Earth.
My arms pressed into my sides, my legs pressed together.
My feet—my feet. The Earth pressed me from my feet up. Searing pain roiled inside my body as my toes, then ankles, were crushed.
No more . . . no more . . . let this end. Let this end!
Unspeakable pain shook me as first my legs broke, and then my pelvis. I screamed as my blood watered the Earth.
My manhood, ripped from my groin.
My stomach. My innards.
Finally, my heart, pressed flat, weighed down by the weight of the world. Then a millimeter-by-millimeter compression, until, finally, my heart burst.
Relief. No pain. Floating. Wait.
Something was ahead. Fire? What was this . . . ? Oh my God . . .
Flo held my head in her lap as I came too.
My price was to feel it as he did, to experience the death I caused. I dragged myself to my knees, crawled away, and vomited into the dirt.
I managed to whisper, “That’s for my dog. And my trees. And my house. And for the people you murdered.”
That’s right. Don’t fool with an earth witch when death was on the line.
Spent and bruised from the inside out, I fretted about would happen next. I knew it wouldn’t be good. If their gunmen failed, and their warlock failed, DB Miners was going to send something worse.
Flo sat cross-legged next to me and poured healing magic into my body like mountain water streaming into a cool lake. Most of my physical injuries mended quickly, but my spirit still suffered a wound that might never heal.
I gave thanks to the Earth and to the animals and trees surrounding me, and apologized for the fire and noxious smoke. Grand Daddy Oak got a special pat. I double-checked that Gimli was okay and then we all piled into Flo’s truck, dogs in the open back, tongues out, and drove to her home, which was, naturally, by a lake.
We entered the house and immediately the phone rang. Then my cell phone rang. Then Flo’s cell phone rang. Then mine again. We rushed to pick up anything that was ringing. I answered my cell.
“Holly, it’s Marc, Minnie’s husband,” said a breathless voice.
“Marc, I know who you are, silly. What’s going on?”
“He’s got Minnie!”
“Who has Minnie?”
“Douglas Brant. He is holding her at gunpoint in the diner. He wants you. You have to come!”
Flo’s cell phone was up to one ear and her landline to the other, obviou
sly getting the same news from both. She gave me a grave nod.
“Marc, I am fifteen minutes away. I’m coming. Tell him not to touch a hair on her head or so help me, I won’t just kill him, I’ll kill him painfully. Make sure he knows that.”
We piled into the truck and drove into town at top speed. The dogs flattened themselves against the floor and hung on. They knew something was very wrong. We were all exhausted but the new kick of adrenaline was doing its job. So far, we’d fought four bad guys with guns, and a crazed warlock. Now we had to go face a different danger. A thug with a gun held my friend hostage. This was a long day.
I let my anger grow. It fueled me. Beneath us, the road trembled.
Flo said, “Holly, calm down. You can’t go in there this hot. And I can’t drive if the road keeps shifting, so lock it down. Now.”
I did. Barely.
We pulled up to a cross street and parked. Flo said, “You should be calm when talking to this guy—restrained. Remember your top priority is Minnie and her baby. Anything else can be fixed later.”
I had no interest in experiencing another death, but the lives of my friend and her unborn child were on the line. “Am I an earth witch or not?” I muttered.
I stalked to the very center of the abandoned street. I could practically hear the spaghetti western theme song. Flo stood behind me. The dogs stood on my sides, Sadie on my left, Gimli on my right, heads down, ears back. You would have thought they were pointers with the way they were focused on the diner’s front door.
“Let my friend go and I might, just might, let you live,” I bellowed. The road trembled and the trees along the side streets swayed. An entire flock of birds took flight.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw residents coming out onto the street to stand behind me. Marc’s neck muscles bulged with his fury, and two large men had to hold him back. I was afraid he’d do something stupid, so I gestured to Gimli to go calm him down. Gimli trotted off, stood in front of Marc and looked up at him. Marc bent down and the two stared into each other’s eyes. Marc gave a curt nod and Gimli came back to me.
I called again.
“My name is Holly Springfield, earth witch of the seventh order! By my name and my power I call you to come forward and explain yourself!” I put a little more mojo in those words and the storefront shuddered with the movement of the earth.
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