Emerald Isle by Barbra Annino Read Free Book Online

white tissue paper to reveal a purple brocade bodice, adorned with triquetras and crisscrossed with thin gold rope. I lifted up the garment, and out spilled a green and amethyst floor-length gown with billowing bell sleeves. “Oh, Lolly, it’s gorgeous!”
    “I thought you could wear it tonight. I stitched it from remnants of some of the finest ritual wear.” She pointed out that the gold rope tied through the bodice was worn by Birdie one Samhain many years ago, the silk sleeves had attended Fiona’s first hand fasting, and the emerald velvet patches were recycled from Lolly’s own dedication gown.
    “I will.” I reached over to hug her. “Thank you.”
    Fiona stepped up and handed me her gift. “It belonged to your great-grandmother, but I had it freshly blackened and newly framed.”
    Fiona’s gift was an hourglass-shaped scrying mirror, framed with three inches of etched silver.
    “It’s perfect. You’ll have to help me hang it in the cottage,” I said.
    She smiled, and I thought I saw a tear in her eye.
    Birdie was next. She stepped over to me and hugged me tight. Then she held me at arm’s length and said, “Iwant you to know I’m very proud of you.” Her eyes were shimmering as she held my gaze, but there was a cloud of concern in them.
    “I know that, Birdie.”
    When she let go, a shiver danced down my spine, and another crow—or was it the same one?—swooshed over the table, squawked, and flew to the eave beneath Birdie’s bedroom window. I watched it land and saw a bright light flash from the pane.
    “What was that?” I asked.
    “It’s an old house. Old lighting,” Birdie said, flicking her eyes nervously upward as thunder slapped the sky. “Open your gift.”
    Birdie’s present was a broom.
    “It took her ages to fashion,” Lolly said.
    Fiona nodded and said, “We all three charged it.”
    Birdie said, “It has the same branches from my mother’s broom and her mother’s and two generations before them.”
    It sizzled in my hand like kindling.
    I hugged my grandmother and said, “I’ll use it wisely.”
    She whispered in my ear, “Just remember, between destiny and duty lies faith. Keep your faith, and you won’t go wrong.”
    I didn’t have time to decipher that cryptic message, because a car door slammed, and another after that. The dinner guests had arrived.

Chapter 7

    Fiona said, “Stacy, why don’t you go change into your new dress and stash your gifts while we greet the guests?”
    I wasn’t planning to put the dress on until after dinner, but Lolly looked hopeful, so I agreed.
    I slipped in through the back door and made my way up the far stairs to Birdie’s bedroom. Someone was in the kitchen below, gathering dishes, as I shut the door behind me. I laid the gifts on top of my grandmother’s bed, set the sword next to them, and disrobed.
    The gown was stunning, like something you might see in a Shakespearean play. Even though I wouldn’t get much use out of the gown unless I auditioned for one, I figured if someone offered you the opportunity to dress like a princess for a night, you might as well give it a whirl.
    I climbed into the dress, tied the bodice, and fluffed out the skirt, wishing I had some glass slippers to go with it, but the boots would have to do. There was a full-length mirror across the hall, so I went to check out the whole effect. The dress made a whooshing sound as I walked, and it gave off the tiniest vibration, fortified, I suspected,with Lolly’s energy. As I adjusted the waistline, I noticed there was a sturdy leather loop that hung on each hip and there was even a slot for my cell phone. Curious, I shuffled back into Birdie’s room, grabbed the sword, and slipped it through one of the loops.
    It weighed me down a bit, but the strap held. I waved my cape over my shoulders, tucked the phone in the pocket, shut the light off, and went to take one last look before dinner.
    All I needed was an eye patch and a parrot and I would have made