Train Spirits

The rain killed the fire, and the water rose steadily. Her hands trembled as she tugged at the crooked wand tangled in her waistband. Maybe it still had some life left in it. Her mother could calm a storm, but she was no Myra. Too many hopeless days, and the race had made it bitter. But she needed the falling stars.

The horse was no use to her now. Even if the wand worked, they would still not make it on time. She thought about leaving it here, returning about two days later. Would she find it? Would the wolves let it live?

She mumbled the old spell to herself, pausing now and then to search her memory. The pain came again even as the waters rose to her ankles. The lean-to was holding up against the wind. It was all that mattered. The only good find in her quest.

Suddenly, the wand came free, and her fingers grasped it as if it were about to fall to the ground and drift away with the waters. Even the smooth, overused, old Cromy felt cold. It had served every one of her Elders until now. Forty years. Even for old Cromy was a very long time.

Starless Moons

Danile’s time came last Sabbath, more than twelve months ago. But there were no falling stars. The moon rose in its crimson hues on the Salinites, but nothing more. She swallowed hard and grabbed her stomach as the pains throbbed anew. This time it lasted longer. Lightning clapped in the distance, followed by rolling thunder. The sky lit up for a moment, and the rays seemed to smile at her. Just briefly. Then the renewed silence reclaimed the night except for the heavy rains threatening to take her with its growing stream.

She tried the spells again, waving old Cromy as she muttered along. Slowly, surely. Word for word. Those that she could remember and those that the pain allowed her to say.

She remembered Patricia, of all the women in her clan, she was the most unfortunate. Four moons, no falling star, and only boys. She was rich and mighty. Wielder of two wands, a flyer at heart, but somehow cursed beyond all other Salinites. She never pitied this one, not even when she broke her leg in the Faith Canyon.

Horse riding in the canyons was forbidden, but who would imagine a woman tackling the ravaging glades of Faith Canyon? Arrogance and stupidity. Not bravery. She broke her leg and killed the horse in the process. No pity.

A flicker came on, lingered a few seconds, and then went out. She cursed under her breath, flinching as the wand reacted to her outburst of anger. She felt like throwing it under the water and calling it a night. The cold was killing her despite the heavy fur coat and thick boots.

She stepped closer to the tree as the water rose higher and got even colder. She coughed, sneezed, and trembled like a leaf. She needed help soon. She shook her head as she rejected the thought that no one would come. Not tonight.

A Long, Lonely Night to Wish for Falling Stars

She started all over again. The spell flowed smoother now, maybe from repeating it too many times, or maybe it was the small jolt that Cromy gave her. She waved the wand in small circles, keeping it close to her body. The horse pulled against her, and she remembered that it had a wounded leg. Could it bear her weight on three legs?

The wand flickered and glowed now. She smiled to herself, old Cromy was still strong.

‘Are you in for some dancing, Theda?’ Cromy whispered in her head.

‘You are out of your mind, it’s raining too much anyway’

‘You are not upset about the little fire, are you?’

‘Last time you took me to Upper Par and we got lost. Imagine in the dark now?’

“I will be careful. I promise’

‘What about Benji? We can’t just leave him here. Plus, you have not done it for years now.’

Theda groaned and grabbed her stomach. She thought about her family and the Oracle. She cursed again, this time muttering louder as the pain flooded her abdomen. Whatever it was seemed to twist her intestines. She groaned and bit down hard on her lips.

‘Stupid traditions that send a woman through this rugged canyon.’

Deep inside, she knew better. The traditions were not always this way. at least not before the clan wars when the witch queen refused to pick sides and condemned every Elder to walk the Canyon of Strife. The war shattered everything that was – testaments, boundaries, festivals, and even the annual rain dance.

That night, Trinidad had called out to the storm, channeling it into the canyon on the night of each blood moon. The circumstances were turned into personified enemies, and few Elders came out well. Each clan placed its bodyguards at the end of the canyon where the surviving Elders must come.

‘Theda, you need to get to the end of the canyon before dawn. I promise not to get lost.’

‘The rain is easing, Cromy. The Elders won’t start the Calling without us. Plus, they may all be hiding from the floods.’

The rain calmed to drizzle, and she pulled the large brimmed hat over her head. The storm was receding, and the waters lowered fast enough. Maybe she could get going now. The wand would guide her and the horse to the end of the canyon.

Can Old Cromy Save the Falling Stars?

The horse struggled to its feet, still bruised from the attack. There was a small bruise on its left foreleg, and it might have been broken or sprained. It moved out beside Theda with a slow limp.

The boots burned into her soles and crunched hard on her toes. She had not cleaned her nails for months now, and they must have grown too long. Each step was an effort. Deep inside, she wanted to accept Cromy’s offer. Would they accuse her of cheating? Would the spell pit the canyon against her then?

Trinidad was dead now, but her powers reached from beyond the grave and haunted the clans. It kept a fragile peace, threatened with each blood moon. Someday, a queen would be born.

Suddenly, the drums ruptured the silence, and she sighed. They were nearing The Blunt. Flutes and shouting mingled with growls and howls as the celebrations roared to life. The Sunrise Elder had arrived. Somehow, she managed to get there first, and from the bustling, she made it out alive.

Theda stopped. She gazed at the sky as a yellow star centered over The Blunt. Its rays lowered like a stage light on its puppet. It was so beautiful. She wished it were her moment, her tears and joy. The star dimmed its light and fell to the Earth.

Suddenly, a second star appeared. It was blue and twice as bright as the one before. The drums stopped. The cheering waned into silence as its light shined into what seemed to be the city center. For a while, it danced to and fro, then like the big dipper, fell to the forest.

The tears rolled down her cheeks. She knew she would not make it on time. So, near and yet so far. The wand went dead, and she remained in complete darkness. Cromy had abandoned her, too. She whispered, asking it to stay with her. Even as she did, he knew where he was.

Would her clan abandon her now?

She leaned against Bengi as a sudden warm liquid flowed down her legs. This could not be happening and not here in the cursed canyon. Forced by the pain, she fell to the ground as unseen hands ripped her dress into two bits. She removed her panties and rested her back against the horse.

She tried to slow her breathing down, but the drizzle suffocated her efforts, and the increasing cramps forced her to moan and groan. The screams echoed into the night as she pushed with all that she had left. She could feel its head coming down, and she pushed again.

She closed her eyes, bit her lips, and clenched her fists as a new life stepped into the drizzling rain.

New Falling Stars

She opened her eyes to lift it to safety and was almost blinded by the floodlight of the star. It was perfectly green and blue at the same time. It sat over the canyon even as Cromy arrived with Philip and Margaret. Finally, it exploded and fell to the skies in a dazzling shower.

The drums rolled, the people shouted, and the rain stopped as the blood moon rose to its perch. There were three hallows around it – yellow, blue, and green. Theda fell asleep as Phillip carried his new princess and wife home. Tonight, a long-lasting curse was lifted from Salinite, two princesses were born, and soon there would be a new witch queen.

Stay tuned for chapter 2