The Lost Witch by David Tysdale Read Free Book Online Page B

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Wood to keep us safe. Better the evil that stays put than the one who's fleet of foot, eh?" she
cackled. "So where be that fraud Melodious now?"
    "I don't know. We were talking just before I fell off the planet."
    "He be along in proper time, then. Most like to seek us out to help with the search fer ye.
Little fer it but to wait. Ye be an honored guest, Sylphwood multitasker. Come join the
party."
    As if hearing an unspoken order, the coven broke into small groups and the hall quickly
filled with the noisy cackles and meows.
    "I be Herling," she added, smiling a toothy grin. "Head Witch of the Westhills." She
glanced around the room before calling out, "Mariat witchling, come hither, girl."
    From behind a group of youngish witches came a girl who looked to be about the same
age as Carole. She was wide-eyed, but was clearly trying to appear as knowing and wise as
Herling.
    "This be Mariat," Herling said. "She be apprenticed to the coven, to be schooled in the
way of Westhill Witches. Tis a great honor, fer we Westhillers accepts only the best."
    Mariat blushed as if embarrassed to be singled out with such a compliment.
    "Still be a lot of learning fer ya, girl, so don't be getting a swelled head just yet," Herling
added, with a wink to Carole. "Come show Sylphwood the way of we witches." And with a
rustle of her skirt, Head Witch Herling shambled off towards two of the more elderly looking
crones.
    "Be ye truly a multitasker?" Mariat said straight away.
    "That's what I've been told, but I really don't remember."
    "But ye escaped The Whistler and The Wood! I've never heard tell of any other able to
do such."
    "I'm not surprised," Carole shuddered. "But your cats don't seem to believe me."
    Mariat giggled. "Never ye mind Brutus. He be always boasting about something or
other. Do him good to get beat with his own game. Come, I show ye the makings of the new
brew, but it won't be ready fer three more nights now. Not since the other batch spoilt."
    Carole followed her to a corner hearth where a big black cauldron simmered away
overtop some low burning coals. She wrinkled her nose at the bitter smell wafting out of the pot.
"You actually drink this stuff?"
    "Drink it?" Mariat let loose a cackle. "Sylphwood, ye be funny."
    "What's so funny about that? And you can call me Carole."
    "We don't drink the brew, Carole. We see the future with it."
    "You do? How?"
    "By what we adds to it. If ye wish to know answers 'bout the summer, ye add the things
of summer: grass, flowers, thistles, bugs and the like. If ye wish to know 'bout autumn, ye adds
the things of autumn. If ye wish to know 'bout many years off, ye add that which lives a long
time: bark of the ancient forest trees, shell of a grandad tortoise, bones of an old one. Stuff and
such like that."
    "So if I wanted to know about my own future, would I add, say, some of my hair to the
brew?"
    "Tis so. Many things may be added, so many types of brews can be made. Tis witch lore
of the most complex sort and I not be so good at it yet. Head Witch Herling be the best of the
coven, but it takes three full days and three full nights to cook a brew, and this night's past upset
did spoilt her last batch. So Philamount will get no answer tonight, should he show."
    "Oh, so Professor Philamount was looking for answers, was he? What to?"
    "Not certain. I be only a witchling still, so many things kept secret from me yet."
    "Do you have a broom?"
    "Course. What witch doesn't?"
    "Have you ever fallen off?"
    "Pssshaw. Be I look like a crawling babe to ye? Course I never fall. Westhill Witches
never fall."
    "Thought so," Carole said. Just then her stomach let out a low grumble.
    "Be ye hungry, Carole Sylphwood?"
    "It has been a while since I've eaten."
    "Then ye come and sample witch fare like none other. 'Tis The Feast of the Planting
Moon we be celebrating. This be the best meal second only to the Harvesting Moon." Mariat led
Carole to the other side of the hall to where a large table was laid out