Then you,groused the vendor, nearly breathing down my neck, are not permitted to touch my merchandise. How do I know you havent cast a dark spell upon my wares so that the person who eats them will come down with a racking cough? Or a hideous boil. Or mayhap a burning fever!
My senses stirred with alarm at his attack. The only consolation was that this man, whatever his clan, would not want to raise the hackles of the people in this Christian village. Sir, I do not cast harmful spells, I said softly.
Thats what all your kind say, the vendor growled again, suddenly aware that the villagers were taking notice.
All around us it seemed as though people had stopped their business and conversation to watch. I could feel the crowd closing in, watching, waiting. The witches among them were probably hoping the Wodebayne girl would get her comeuppance, as usual. I felt a tightness in my throat, not so much at the disapproval of the crowd as that my boy should be dragged through such turmoil. And surely the hatred of Wodebaynes would frighten him away.
Just a moment! the boy interrupted, holding the potatoes high in his hands. He lifted them, weighing and measuring with some degree of drama. They do not speak, and I see no cryptic message carved among their bruises. There is truly no charm here, he told the vendor. But the potatoes must certainly be far more delicious for having been touched by a lovely maidens hands.
A few people laughed, and he nodded at them, his cheek-bones high and taut above his broad grin. The crowd began to turn away. Somehow my boy had diffused the swell of hatred against me.
The vendor folded his arms across his chest, still not satisfied.
I must insist, sir, that you let me purchase these potatoesthese two, no others shall dofor I find that I cannot leave this market without them.
The vendor took a coin from the boy and crept back behind his cart.
Thank you, sir. A pleasure doing business with you, the boy called. He turned away and handed me the potatoes. My gift to you. Though it can hardly make up for the way that ogre tried to defame you.
His hatred does not surprise me, I said. Ive come to expect it, though I dont know that Ill ever become accustomed to it. I dropped the two potatoes into my skirt pockets, where they bounced against my hips.
He watched with awe and reverence. Would that I could venture where they go, he said huskily.
I laughed at the temerity of his words, here in the wide-open marketplace. Arent you the daring one? I said. When youre not swinging from trees in the forest, you rescue Wodebayne maidens from mad crowds, then dream of their skirts.
He shrugged and eyed me merrily. And you despise me for that?
I looked up at his handsome face and felt the rhythm of my life force increasing. No, no, on the contrary.
Rose! Kyra called, summoning me. We must go!
Rose? he repeated. Like the rose on the bush, gentle and sweet, yet ready to prick a finger when approached the wrong way?
Tis I.
He lowered his head, his hair falling over his eyes in a shroud of secrecy. We will talk later, Rose.
I nodded, trying to remember every detail of his sultry looks, his feathery light brown hair, his sky blue eyes, his broad shoulders and long legs, coltish yet strong.
With a deep breath I turned away and joined Kyra, who had apparently witnessed the scene with the irate vendor.
I was so frightened for you! she said. What do you think the man wanted? Would he have you locked in jail because you touched his wares? Everyone examines merchandise before trading.
I shook my head, feeling a sense of warm, tender love. It wrapped around me like a cloak of security, just knowing that my boy cared for me, was willing to fight for me. The man was full of Wodebayne hatred. I dont know what clan he was from, but did you see what happened? The way my boy rescued me? He is the boy Ive spoken of. He is a hero. My hero.
Im not sure of that, Kyra said regretfully. Falkner knows him, Rose. His name is Diarmuid, and hes a Leapvaughn. Not one of us.
Diarmuid, I said, treasuring the sound of his name. I repeated it over and over in my mind.
He cannot be your true love, Rose. Falkner and I both fear for your heart. Hell hate you as much as his clan hates Wodebaynes.
Aye, but he doesnt. Thats the blessing of the Goddess. It doesnt matter if hes Leapvaughn or Braytindale or Wyndonkylle. He has a good heart. Diarmuid doesnt hate without reason. Didnt you see? He defended me from that peddler. I ought to toss that old ogres potatoes into the brook!
He was a terrible man! Kyra pressed her hand to her throat, touching her charmed moonstone. Ill agree Diarmuid did save you. Ill grant you that, and he is a handsome lad. Falkner says hes not of Kirkloch. Where does he live, Rose?
That I dont know, but I shall find out. I must cherish this gift from the Goddess.
Kyra shook her head. But he cannot be a gift from the Goddess, Rose. Not a Leapvaughn boy.
Would you stop saying that? Ill not allow you to be so small-minded!
But to get involved with someone from another clan...
I know. The reality of it stabbed at me. Diarmuid and I would have to face more than our share of foes. But as I walked along, my mothers words came back to me. She always said that the other clans would one day see the good in the Wodebaynes.
Perhaps I had been chosen to help the world see our goodness.
It lifted my spirits to know that Diarmuid already saw the goodness within me. I couldnt wait to see him again.
Kyra walked alongside me, observing. You look more in love now than before you knew he was not one of us. But then, youve always been stubborn, Rose MacEwan.
Aye, I said, thinking of Diarmuids eyes, his suggestive words, his strong jaw. I think the Goddess has a plan, I told Kyra. And I wont let anyone meddle with Her gift to me. I will not be daunted.
4. Drawing Down the Moon
It worries me, Rose. I know you think you can fight your own battles, but sometimes I fear for you, my child. My mother scrubbed the potatoes furiously, upset by what had happened in the market at Kirkloch.
Of course, I hadnt given her all the details of the story. Id said that Diarmuid was a traveling peddler, probably a Wodebayne from the north. And although I hadnt mentioned that some in the crowd seemed eager to join in on the Wodebayne bashing, I think she got the complete picture. Whether through her inner sight or simply her experience, Ma had spent her lifetime enduring prejudice from others.
But its over, Ma, I reassured her. Twas over soon after it began, and we got two fine potatoes out of it.
She turned away, her face in shadow so that I could not see more than the hollows of her eyes. Ill thank the Goddess for my supper, not some brash vendor with hatred in his heart. Her voice was strained, and I thought I saw a spot on her cheeka dark tear. Was she crying?
What is it, Ma?
She shook her head. Her chopping was done. This hatred of the Wodebaynes has to end, Rose. I had hoped it would subside during your youth, but instead it seems to be rising like a river during the spring rains.
I wanted to tell her that the prejudice against us didnt bear down on me so heavily now, not since Id met Diarmuid. He was a window of light, my escape from the dark hatred that seemed to be closing in around the Wodebaynes. I wanted to go to her and touch her shoulder and ease her pain.
But I couldnt. I knew that talk of a boy, especially a boy from another clan, would rattle Ma all the more. And I feared that if I touched her, if I rested my head on her shoulder or squeezed her arm, she would know the truth.
That the Goddess had interceded, bringing her daughter true love.
I went to her and scooped the potatoes onto my apron, then dropped them into the cauldron over the fire. Already the savory smells of tomato and herbs and beans rose from the kettle.
The moon is full already, I said, eager to change the subject. You can see it in the day sky, hanging large as you please. I stirred the stew, talking over my shoulder. Id like to go off and draw it down, Ma. Again, a lie, but what could I do?
Tis the seed moon, she said. Well have a fine Esbat tonight.
I stepped away from the fire and took off my apron. Ive gathered what we need for tonights spell. John Radburn was helpful.
She nodded. You can go. But dont be long. Weve a few chores to do before the circle.
I moved slowly, trying to ignore the coursing sound in my ears that urged me to make haste and run off to meet Diarmuid. I hung my apron on the rail outside, measuring my steps while I was in view of our cottage.
One, two, three. four steps closer to him.
The waiting was excruciating.
At last I reached the brush at the end of the path. Without looking back, I scooped up my skirts and leaped ahead, startling a small rabbit from the heather at the side of the trail. It darted off into the brush, and I laughed. Ill not hurt you, little one, I called, racing ahead.
By the time I neared our meeting place, my neck and hands were damp with sweat. I slowed my pace to a brisk walk, mopping my neck with a rough cloth from my pocket. It reminded me that the rose stone was still there, and I paused to take it in my hand and hold it up to the glowing day moon.
I thank thee, Goddess, for the use of thy power.
When I lowered my hands, the stone winked at me, ever cheerful and appealing. I lifted the top of my dress and dropped the stone down into the hollow between my breasts. Its warm glow worked its magick there, emanating from the middle of my body like a ray of sunshine breaking through clouds.
Rose?
It was him. He appeared directly before me, slipping from the trees as though he had materialized out of thin air.
I laughed heartily. My love! How is it that you seem to appear out of nowhere?
My boy chuckled happily, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I did a see-me-not spell, Rose. You are familiar with these?
I nodded. It is a simple spell one does when wanting to mask oneself from anothers eyes. I had never seen it done quite so convincingly. Diarmuid, I said, loving the sound of his name.
So, youve discovered me. He moved closer, chuckling and reaching out to me. I gave him my hand and was startled by a beautiful spark of magick. He led me down the path, toward my special altar. I suppose youve also learned that Im a not-to-be-trusted Leapvaughn.
A Leapvaughn, aye, though I find you trustworthy. I lifted my chin to study his face. You may be full of tricks, swinging from trees and juggling vegetables in the marketplace. But I find you to be honest.
I believe you are wise beyond your years, Rose.
Under the cover of trees he pulled me into his arms, my body pressing against his. I had never known a man or boy in this way, feeling his legs and chest and hands upon me, enveloping me, inciting tiny wildfires beneath my skin.
Who could have imagined the power of love?
I had felt drawn to the Goddess on many occasions, but never had I felt this incredible desire to press into another person, to combine our two bodies in the simplest of unions.
He lowered his head, his soft lips meeting mine. I sucked in my breath and fell deep into his kiss, a sweet, languorous kiss. Then another, and another, and soon we were touching each other and performing a dance of kisses, soft, then severe, light, then dark and torturous. I wrapped my arms around his neck, gave myself over to him, and we tumbled onto a bed of moss, still kissing.
I dont know how long we danced that waya chorus of moans and breathless sighs. When we fell apart and lay side by side, staring up at the Goddesss sky, our words seemed to shimmer like leaves in the summer breeze. I learned that he lived in Lillipool, a Leapvaughn village several miles down the road. His father was a sheepherder, a job that Diarmuid hated. He preferred trade, which his father occasionally let him handle. He had been in Kirkloch trading sheep at auction the very day we met. He learned that my father had died when I was young, that I lived with my mother, who was the high priestess of our coven.
I dont care that youre a Wodebayne, he said. I wouldnt care if you were Ruanwande or Burnhyde or the daughter of a bestial dragon. I love you, Rose. As you are.
I dipped my hand into the opening of his shirt, pressing against his warm chest. My friends cannot believe I have fallen into the arms of a Leapvaughn. Yet here I am, body and soul.
We are mùirn beatha dàns, he whispered.
I nodded silently. Yes. my love knew it, too.
Two dayswed had barely time to know each other. Yet I was utterly certain that he spoke the truth. We were soul mates. So mote it be, I said.
Aye, the Goddess has certainly brought us together. His fingers stroked the hair at the tender nape of my neck. Who could imagine that She would bring me a tiny Wodebayne girl, with hair as black as a Samhain sky?
Tis an extraordinary match, to be sure. But the Goddess must have a purpose. I stared at the sky, watching as two fast-moving clouds raced into each others path, melding into one. Do you think we are to be the example to all clans? To prove that if the two of us, members of rival clans among many rivals, can come together in peace, so can all the clans?
Diarmuid sat up and pulled my shoulders from the ground. We are to be the champions of love. Our union will settle clan differences. End the age-old wars. He smiled proudly. Could it be that the Goddess has chosen us for this noble task?
We will be the example of harmony under the Goddesss great blue sky. I leaned forward, brushing my cheek against his. A noble task, yet hardly a task at all.
Mmm... His lips met mine for another deep kiss.
I melted against him, knowing it was true. We had been chosen. Ours would be an extraordinary love. The charm glowing at my breast was just the beginning of it all, thanks to the Goddess. I knew that we needed to pay homage to Her.
When the kiss ended, I arose and prepared a circle, sweeping it clean with my broom. Without wasting words, Diarmuid joined the cleansing ritual, working with me so naturally I felt as if wed been raised in the same coven. He picked up two handfuls of dirt and spread them around the circle, moving so beautifully I nearly lost my way in the cleansing ritual.