Page 16 of First Ritual

A flower hovered high above, edged in moonlight. As the flower drifted down, I saw what it was—a daffodil.

“New beginnings,” I hushed, catching the flower in both hands. Water filled the tall daffodil corona as the rain continued, and operating on the instincts my mother had always said made me powerful beyond words, I set the petals to my lips and drank.

The rain stopped.

Drenched and never more joyful, I cradled the flower and gazed out across the coven, most of whom were beaming with me. They were totally dry. The rain hadn’t touched them. But a show from the mother was always something to cherish.

Opal stepped forward and lowered her white hood. “The coven approves. Our mother approves.”

She faced the rings of proven and novices, then looked back at me. “Tempest Bronte Corentine, welcome to our midst. Welcome to our caves.”

6

I stretched, a wide grin upon my face. I only slept this well the night after a healing. My body felt heavy after the depth of my slumber. And aside from the slight heaviness in my chest that remained from Wild’s juju, I felt so good.

Pushing off the weighted covers, I padded into the bathroom and retrieved my braided cotton cord. Grabbing thinner cord from my duffel, I returned to bed and closed my eyes.

My fingers worked, braiding and tying knots as I replayed last night from start to finish. The pedestal, then the eating and drinking and dancing. I’d spoken with so many and could only recall a handful of names. Memorizing people and smaller details would take time. But doing so was very, very important. This knotting and braiding system helped me to do just that. No wonder the backbone of the piece was nearly ten feet long. Once complete, the work would appear like hundreds of hanging tassels off a thick braid. The seemingly random assortment of knots would appear beautiful.

No one would see the information stored there but me, and then the magic really began.

Tying one last knot, I smiled at the ten tassels I’d added, scowling at the fact Wild had the longest one. Varden’s was there too. Opal had a tassel, and Winona and Barrow. My cousin, too, though I hadn’t seen her again last night. Investigating whether or not she had children was first on my list, even if it made no sense seeing as I didn’t have a tether with her.

The motherly council member, Sage, had a tassel. Plus Birch and Delta, two other council members I’d spoken with at greater length.

Laying the piece across a set of drawers so the ends didn’t tangle, I made quick work of washing and dressing, opting for a soft-blue and cap-sleeve dress that hugged my body. A drawstring connected the two sides of the scooped neckline, and the dress brushed my thighs. Summer was outside the cave, so it appeared summer would be inside the cave too. The stone was even warm underfoot. Bonus. I’d leave the stupid sandals behind.

Summoning my trusty scissors, I made quick work of the rust streak in my hair, then grabbed a shell clip to fasten my white strands back at the base of my skull. I batted my eyelashes at my reflection, then snorted and sealed my duffel bag.

This gal was hungry.

I glanced each way down the expansive tunnel. I’d turned right to exit the knoll last night.

Left it is.

The stone and quartz tunnel was interrupted by a few doorways as I walked, but the doorways became more frequent as I descended. I glimpsed a smaller version of my room through an open door. They were all bed chambers, then. A man exited an archway ahead, his hair wet and a towel wrapped around his hips. Crossing the tunnel, he entered another room and kicked the door shut. I passed by and spotted a row of showers and toilet stalls where he’d just left. Communal bathrooms.

I had an en suite. Must be getting the star treatment.

Reaching a fork in the tunnels, I listened intently down each path. The rumbling echo of many voices and the ring of cutlery and plates were easy to hear by now, but the echoing of the caves confused the direction. I sniffed.

Food.

Mmm.

Right fork.

I hadn’t walked far before an older woman in swirling purple robes appeared, striding toward me. I’d waited for twenty minutes or so for a tour guide prior to leaving my rooms. Maybe this was her.

“Tempest, right?” she asked.

“Bronte, please,” I said kindly.

She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Looking for food?”

“Yes. Thanks. Which way do I go? I have no idea how this place works.”

The magus cracked a grin. “There’s a method to our madness. Part of the fun is figuring it out.”

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