Emerald Isle (31 page)

Thor wouldn’t stop howling at the loss of his witch. The entire room felt his agony.

Birdie and her sisters joined hands around the cauldron where Anastasia’s body lay. Not quite ready for a release spell, they simply stood there, eyes closed, tears streaming down their cheeks, quietly.

Ivy broke into the circle. John followed, then Ethan, Tallulah, and finally Tallulah’s mother.

“She was a good Seeker,” the old woman said. “I don’t know that there will ever be another like her.”

The woman who was to pass the torch to Anastasia led them all in a prayer.

They held hands, chanting for several moments.

The water seemed to flow in tandem with their voices as Birdie heard a gentle lapping.

After several more minutes, Ivy whispered, “Something’s happening.”

Birdie looked into the cauldron to see the water ebb and flow around her granddaughter, as if stirred by an invisible hand.

The blood washed away from the girl’s face. Anastasia’s nose straightened. Color began to flood her cheeks. Her ankle untwisted itself, the swelling in her knee subsided, and her shoulder found its way back into its socket.

No one spoke.

They all stood there, listening to the gush of the water and the beat of their own hearts.

Or was that Anastasia’s heartbeat?

Birdie flicked her eyes to the portrait of Danu, but the goddess was missing.

She flitted her gaze back down, and the girl’s eyes popped open.

Anastasia looked up at all of them, her face a mixture of fear and confusion.

Fiona was the first to speak. “How are you feeling, dear?”

Anastasia darted her eyes around the circle, looked down at the cauldron, the water. “That depends. Are you planning to cook me?”

They told me I died.

That seems highly unlikely, since I was, the next morning, having breakfast with my mother. Birdie had this crazy theory that since I was killed by a ghost, it was easier to resurrect me.

I thought she was nuts. The dead can’t hurt you.

Right?

She also said that Danu had a hand in my rebirth, which, after all I went through to get her precious cauldron back, seemed only fair.

“Stacy, dear, you look perplexed,” Birdie said.

Stacy? That was weird.

“Well, first, I’m perplexed that you just called me by my given name.” I slipped Thor some bacon under the table.

Birdie smiled. “Anastasia means ‘resurrection.’ Since you’ve already been through that, I think it best not to tempt fate, don’t you?” Birdie sipped her coffee.

“Agreed. But actually, I was thinking about the spirit who kept coming at me with those riddles. They were like warnings, but I haven’t seen her in a while.” I drank some water. “Why do you suppose she didn’t warn me about Aedon at the mound?”

“Because Aedon locked her up,” said my mother.

I stared at her, awestruck. Pearce had found my mother in a remote wing of the castle under a binding spell in a locked room.

“You’re the riddler?”

She frowned. “I wish you’d stop calling me that.” She looked at Birdie. “No matter how many clues I sent, she didn’t heed them well.”

Birdie said, “Tell me about it.”

“Hey! Getting sucked into the Web of Wyrd is the reason I’m alive, so you were wrong about that one.”

My mother shrugged. “True. I left you clues that it was me, you know. The book on astral projection, Pearce telling you I was still able to perform magic.”

“Oh yeah,” I said slowly. “But why the disguise, why the riddles?”

She stabbed a forkful of eggs and said, “Liam was watching me closely. I didn’t want him to know it was me. It had to look as if an ancestor, or a spirit guide, was coaching you.”

Right. I glanced over at Tallulah, who was canoodling with Gramps. She had promised to break the love spell gently, but it didn’t seem to be working. Pearce and Ethan were having breakfast at the table next to them. When I glanced their way, I couldn’t help but notice the loving manner in which Pearce gazed at my mother.

I flicked my eyes to her and caught her staring back at him, smiling.

I put my fork down. “You’re not coming home, are you?”

She sighed, gave me a coaxing look with those impossibly emerald eyes of hers. “I thought perhaps you could stay here for a while. We could catch up, spend some time together.”

I wanted to, I really did, but I was needed back home. I couldn’t leave Derek in the lurch that long. Goddess only knew how Monique’s column was working out. Plus, with Cin pregnant, she needed help at the bar. Not to mention I missed Chance.

“I have a business, a relationship. Responsibilities,” I said.

My mother said, “Tell you what. You can fly your boyfriend out here. At least stay through Samhain.”

That was six weeks away, and this was the busy season for Birdie. I couldn’t do that to her. Not after all she had done for me. Not after we had grown so much closer.

“I can’t, Mom. I’m sorry.”

She nodded. “I understand.” She set her napkin down, folded her hands. “How about we come for Christmas?” She looked at Birdie, then at me.

Birdie beamed. “I would love that.”

My grandmother excused herself, and my mother and I sat there for hours, talking. I told her about my father, about how his death wasn’t an accident. She cursed his killer, said she had wondered about that. Said that “accident” never felt right to her. She told me about her life here, how Pearce had made the imprisonment bearable.

Suddenly she teared up, dabbed her eyes, and said, “I missed so much.”

I put my hand over hers. “You gave me so much, Mom. You sacrificed your life, your freedom, for me. I know that, and I’m grateful.”

She choked back a sob. “Promise me you’ll visit often. And bring that man in your life. Birdie tells me he’s wonderful.”

“He is. You do the same.”

“And promise that you’ll be careful always. I don’t care if you are the Seeker of Justice—you’re still my baby girl.”

Before breakfast, we had all attended a council meeting. Tallulah had been appointed head of the council, slipping into Aedon’s place. She, in turn, had nominated Birdie to take her seat. The first order of business was granting Ivy two more nomination points. The second was freeing my mother. Last on the agenda was my coronation as the Seeker of Justice.

“I will. Just keep sending me riddles.”

She laughed at that.

I hugged my mother close, wanting never to let go, the locket pressed between us like a conduit linking the past to the future. When I had asked Tallulah’s mother about its power, she had pulled me aside and said only one thing.

“It does whatever you need it to do. It’s only a tool. The power is within you.”

I could get used to that.

THE END

This book is about the journey. It’s about roots and wings and finding a stable balance between them. The journey I took in researching this story led to some magical real-life places that you can visit should you find yourself on the Emerald Isle. Or, if you prefer, explore the sites below for an armchair vacation.

Hill of Tara, Meath:
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Hill%20of%20Tara.htm

Heritage Ireland: Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre Newgrange and Knowth:
http:/www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/

County Kildare, Ireland:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildare

Ashford Castle:
http://www.ashford.ie/

Howth Castle:
http://www.howthcastle.ie/

Mythical Ireland Fourknocks:
http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/fourknocks/

Tuatha Dé Danann:
http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/danann.html

Grace O’Malley:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O%27Malley

MABON

The story you just read takes place on the fall equinox, called Mabon. Light and darkness are equal on this sabbat. It’s a time when crops are harvested, daylight will soon wane, and people are preparing for wintering. Rededication ceremonies are common, as are feasts of thanks for the bounty of the fields and the orchards. It’s a good time to smudge the home, invoke a protective spirit by ringing a bell, and sweep out the negative energy with a broom. To ensure a healthy winter, pluck a fresh apple (a symbol of immortality) and cut it in half. Share one half with the members of your household and freeze the other until spring. Then bury it in your yard as a gift to the Goddess.

Irish Stew

When you visit Ireland, you are required to drink Guinness. I’m pretty sure it’s a law. Luckily, they export it to other countries as well.

2 pounds stewing beef

2 pounds boneless lamb, cut into chunks

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 large garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 bottles Guinness stout beer

4 cups beef broth

2 large onions, peeled and chopped

3 large carrots, peeled and chopped

4 stalks celery, cleaned and chopped

8 red potatoes, quartered

2–3 sprigs thyme

2 bay leaves

Season meat with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a large stockpot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic. Cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add butter, and brown beef and lamb. Sprinkle with flour and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pop open one bottle of Guinness and share with a friend. Add the other bottle to the pot, along with beef broth. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Add thyme and bay leaves. Remove from stove, cover, and bake in a 300-degree oven for 3 hours. Before serving, remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs.

Yield: 12–16 servings

Cheddar-Chive Biscuits

Irish cheddar is sharp, tangy, and nutty. A lot like the three Geraghty Girls!

2 cups buttermilk baking mix

⅔ cup milk

½ cup shredded Dubliner cheese

⅓ cup fresh-snipped chives

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine baking mix, milk, and cheddar cheese in mixing bowl. Carefully blend in chives. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8–10 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 10 servings

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Plant rosemary in remembrance of a loved one.

2 pounds red potatoes, quartered

1 teaspoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

Pepper

Salt

¼ cup olive oil

4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place potatoes in a large roasting pan. Sprinkle next six ingredients over potatoes and toss to coat. Dot with butter. Roast 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Yield: 4–6 servings

Green Isle Sauce

Fresh mint placed on an altar will call on the spirit guides to aid you in magic.

4 cups spearmint leaves, loosely packed

Water (just enough to cover leaves)

Sugar

Green food coloring (optional)

Place leaves in a saucepan and cover with water. Simmer 30 minutes. Strain mixture through coffee filter or jelly bag. Discard leaves and rinse pan. Return strained liquid to saucepan and add 1 cup sugar per 1 cup liquid. (So if you have 4 cups minted water, add 4 cups sugar.) Simmer 15 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. If desired, add a couple drops of food coloring. Chill 2 hours. Pour on ice cream or chocolate cake, or use to sweeten tea or coffee.

Yield: 6 servings

Hot Buttered Cider

In pagan cultures, the apple was a symbol of immortality and used in many love spells. For a simple love charm, cut an apple in half, remove the seeds, and share it with the one you adore. Then bury the seeds beneath a full moon for a long and prosperous relationship.

1 gallon real apple cider

6 whole allspice berries

½ nutmeg seed

3 cinnamon sticks

8 cloves

4 pats butter

Chamomile flowers

Suggested liquor: spiced rum

To a large pot, add cider and spices. Simmer 20 minutes. Strain, add rum if desired, then pour into a pretty punch bowl and dot with butter. Garnish with chamomile flowers and serve warm.

Yield: 12 servings

No-Sew Sweet Dreams Sachet

Valerian has long been used in sleep potions. Nestled alongside relaxing lavender and calming chamomile, you cannot help but drift into dreamland. The moonstone is there to stabilize emotions and promote lucid dreamscapes.
You can stitch this up, if you prefer, but this is the quick and easy method.

You’ll Need:

2 3-inch fabric swatches

1 teaspoon each dried bee balm, valerian, chamomile, and lavender

1 moonstone

Hot glue gun

Instructions:

Put dried herbs in the center of one piece of fabric. Top with moonstone. Trace hot glue gun along all four edges. Top with the second piece of fabric and press ends together. Place at the head of your bed or beneath your pillow for pleasant dreams.