by Rue
“That absurd wheel of Fire spell she pulled at the Winter Solstice ritual isn’t fooling anyone. People are scared, Aubrielle. I told Kahu about the trouble in Hokitika Haven and she dismissed me like a Level One initiate,” Thelema made every attempt to whisper, but her booming voice easily carried to the loft.
Flynn strained to hear the second woman’s hissed reply.
“You would think that having a Watcher for a daughter would give Kahu pause, but I tell you she wields the wand of the High Priestess like she’s invincible. Something must…”
The rest of the sentence faded out before it reached Flynn’s ears.
Thelema made several affirmative grunts and added. “I’ll speak to Tamsin after the initiation tests. She’s no fan of the Hawthorn heir.”
The tests! Flynn crept back to peer out of the loft window and saw the visitors and all of the 13-year-old candidates assembling in front of the High Priestess.
Hazel sat up and yawned loudly.
Flynn motioned for silence and hoped that Mistress Thelema and the woman named Aubrielle had already exited. She couldn’t tell Hazel about what she overheard, because while Hazel would do anything for Flynn, she had a terrible habit of blurting out secrets at the most inopportune moments. “I thought I heard someone on the ladder, never mind. It was nothing. But the crowds are gathering by the Meeting House, so we better hurry.”
Flynn and Hazel scurried down and slipped into the back of the group, hoping to go unnoticed.
“Young women and men of Aotearoa, today is the day of the Initiation Tests. Each of you will pass before the Grand Coven and the five elemental tables. At each table you will be required to perform a basic spell to manipulate that element. Each member of the Grand Coven will note your degree of success. When you complete all five,” a murmur buzzed through the crowd, “yes, five. We have not had a successful candidate in the manipulation of Spirit for over fifty years, but we do not forsake the ways of the Goddess on a whim.” Kahu drew herself up, displayed the moko tattoo on her chin, and cast a simple resonance spell to amplify and echo her voice. “The Shadow Coven of Southeil grows strong,” her voice thundered through the crowd, “and we cannot afford to doubt the path of balance given to us by the Book of Shadow and Light.”
The crowd cheered and men thumped their chests in respect at her brave mention of the damaged tome.
“I have given you the child of prophecy and this age will see the Book reunited. Your children will no longer fear the night and we will once more live in harmony with this earth!”
“The Book returns!”
“The prophecy!”
“Balance restored!”
Raucous applause and cheers of ‘All is one’ roared. Several of the Vignan falcons screeched. Flynn pulled the hood of her cloak down tightly and tucked her head against Hazel. “No pressure,” she whispered.
Fortunately, the shouts and cheers drowned out Hazel’s snorting chortle. “I’m laughing with you, not at you, Flynn. I promise.”
A short period of chaos followed the ending of the High Priestess’ speech, as the crowd dispersed and the initiates formed lines, by village, outside the Meeting House.
“There’s got to be over two hundred kids,” Hazel said.
A rude jostle by one of the beautiful daughters from Aura Falls interrupted Flynn’s response.
“Move, peasant. I should be at the front of my line and you are blocking my egress.”
Flynn’s mouth hung open. Something about that voice…
Hazel stepped in for her dumbfounded friend. “Hey, you’re from Aura Falls, right?”
Inexplicably tall for thirteen, the girl had flawless honey-brown skin and her waist-length black hair cascaded from a pair of amethyst clips that matched her eyes. She looked down at Hazel and replied, “I’m not from Aura Falls, fool. I am Aura Falls. Anise Aura, first daughter of Aubrielle, Priestess of the falls.” She shoved past Hazel and proceeded to the front of her village’s line.
The girl’s voice had the same haughty tone as the “Aubrielle” that Flynn had overheard earlier that morning.
“Well, my friend is the child of prophecy,” Hazel shouted at Anise’s back.
A hush fell over the crowd of younglings; a great deal of whispering and pointing ensued.
Dread flooded Flynn’s heart. She hoped to fail the tests in anonymity, but now, the whole island would know her mother’s shame.
The murmuring throng opened around her and the sea of initiates urged Flynn to the head of the line. Hazel clutched her friend’s cloak and let herself be pulled along behind Flynn, until they reached the front, near the gate to the Meeting House.
“I’ve heard about you, Watcher,” Anise Aura whispered to Flynn. “There’s no point in wasting the Grand Coven’s time.” Anise locked arms with Ino, a tall, slender boy dominated by his menacing black eyes, and Eva, a short blonde girl with a crooked, bulbous nose. “Ino, Eva, and I will go first, and you can watch. I would imagine that is what you do best.”
Ino snickered. Eva snarled.
Hazel opened her mouth to retort, but Flynn clamped her hand firmly over her defender’s lips.
“After you, fire lizard.” Flynn winked smugly at Anise.
Anise’s lavender eyes widened in surprise, but she did not have time to respond.
A tall, dark-skinned man with gentle eyes and a stern mouth appeared at the doorway and cleared his throat. Master of Initiates, Berea, stood on the porch beneath the tekoteko, a carved figure of Tane Mahuta on the rooftop of the Meeting House. He chanted the welcome powhiri to the hopefuls.
“Who has the courage to lead today?”
“Anise Aura, first daughter of the Priestess of the falls, sir.” Anise made a flicking gesture toward Flynn, as though shooing a fly from her sleeve, and walked toward Berea. She presented a gift from her village—a fire opal the size of her fist.
He acknowledged her with a traditional hongi, a pressing of the noses together. The hongi is the exchange of the breath of life and the acceptance of that gift. Master Berea used this formal greeting to honor the sacred history of the gift of life and set the initiations off with the respect demanded, before he led her inside the Meeting House.
Kahu barely glanced at the initiate and commanded, “Proceed.”
Berea pointed to the first pillar holding a large stone. “We begin with Earth.”
Anise walked to the pillar, extended her hand over the stone and confidently said, “Pehu.”
Cracks formed over the surface of the stone and a small chunk fell to the floorboards.
“Next we have Air.” Berea motioned to the pillar holding a clay bowl filled with moa feathers.
The initiate held her hand above the bowl and said, “Angi.” The feathers stirred, and four or five of them floated up and out of the bowl for a second before falling back down.
Kahu made a note, the sharp point of her harrier hawk quill scraping judgment across the page.
“Please move to the next pillar and demonstrate your Fire spell,” Berea said.
Anise clapped her hands together above the unlit candle and nearly shouted, “Rewa.” The entire candle turned to liquid and oozed down the sides of the pillar. Anise smiled proudly.
Kahu’s face held an unreadable expression. She had heard rumors that the witch of the falls dabbled too deeply in shadow magick. The secrets of the powers of Earth and Fire had been stolen away to Southeil when the Book of Shadow and Light had been rent in two. Any initiate, or witch, showing strong control with the element of Fire required further scrutiny.
Berea glanced at Kahu before he motioned for Anise to continue. “Please proceed to the pillar with the bowl for Water.”
Her hand moved over the bowl of still water and she spoke the word, “Pupuha.” The Masters and Mistresses of the coven could hear a gurgling and a bit of water briefly bubbled up in the center of the bowl.
Berea stood to get a better look at the paltry effort before he gave further instructions to the initia
te. “Approach the final pillar.”
Anise glanced at the final pillar, which stood starkly empty—waiting for her demonstration of adeptness with the element of Spirit. Her proud shoulders slumped, and for the first time since she entered the room her voice sank to barely a whisper, “I have no ability with the element of Spirit.”
“That will be all, initiate. Please exit and wait in the courtyard for our decision.” Kahu kept her voice free of emotion, but she made another note in the record book.
Anise walked to the doorway, slipped into her fleece-lined boots as she composed herself, and strode into the courtyard.
Kahu followed almost immediately. “Anise Aura, stand and receive your Hapu.”
There were five Hapus: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. The initiates were placed into the Hapu where they showed the most skill. Over the nine levels of training they would work together and against each other to strengthen their skills. In the end, only the star initiates from each Hapu were chosen to apprentice with the High Priestess for the chance to become a member of the Grand Coven or to hold the title of Priestess or Priest for their village.
Anise rose, bared her golden-brown right arm, and faced the High Priestess.
Kahu lifted her willow wand and spoke the ancient words for the Fire Hapu. A sharp yellow flash burst from the red agate tip of her wand and the gathered initiates saw the symbol for Fire, a point-up-triangle, tattooed on Anise’s arm.
Kahu turned to re-enter the meeting hall and called, “Next,” without looking back.
The Master of Initiates rose and confronted the boy who had entered. “Go and remove your boots at once. How can you show such disrespect to bring the filth on your soles into the Ancestors.”
The boy hurried back outside the door and removed his moa skin boots. He came back in, paused to touch one of the carvings respectfully and nodded in admiration of the woven works of art between the wooden ancestral engravings.
Berea nodded and his warm copper eyes blazed through the boy; nothing could be hidden from that gaze. “Tell us your name and your village.”
“I’m Ino Atarangi of Aura Falls.”
A lengthy sigh escaped from the thin lips of Tamsin, Mistress of Herbs. The older witches, like her, all remembered that the majority of the Atarangi bloodline had fled south after Makutu’s failed attempt to destroy the Book of Light. Those who had remained were viewed with suspicion, rather than appreciation for their loyalty. Many witches in Aotearoa were not in favor of allowing Atarangis to receive magickal training. Tamsin cleared her throat in preparation for a speech of disapproval.
Kahu silenced Tamsin with a look and commanded the testing to, “Proceed.”
Berea rose to his feet and pointed to the first pillar holding a large stone. “Begin with Earth.”
Ino stepped to the pillar and hesitantly spoke the word, “Pehu.”
The stone barely rocked back and forth, and no cracks formed.
“Next show us Air.” Berea waved him to the moa feathers.
He held his quivering hand out and said, “Angi.” The feathers stirred, and were still.
Tamsin made a hasty note.
“Your Fire spell,” Berea said, gesturing to the next pillar.
Ino held his hand above the unlit candle and rubbed his thumb and forefinger, “Mura ahi,” he said. The candle instantly burst into flame.
Kahu exchanged a glance with Tamsin and they both made notes.
“Proceed to the next pillar,” Berea said.
Ino’s hand hovered over the bowl for Water and he whispered, “Pupuha.” Nothing.
Tamsin stood and her protruding bug-eyes took special note of the failure.
Berea urged the initiate on, “Approach the final pillar.”
Ino looked down at the floorboards and kicked at an invisible rock with the toe of his finely woven wool stockings. “I cannot,” he mumbled.
“That will be all, initiate. Please exit and wait in the courtyard for our decision.” Kahu did not look up, she simply jotted down one more note.
Ino shuffled back out to the courtyard.
Kahu walked out directly behind him. “Ino Atarangi, turn and receive your Hapu.”
Ino turned to face the High Priestess and pushed up his right sleeve.
Kahu lifted her wand and spoke the ancient words for the Fire Hapu. In a flash, Ino bore the same mark as Anise.
Kahu turned and called, “Next.”
Eva came next and her testing proved magickally uneventful. She did manage to trip and tip over the pillar holding the bowl of feathers, though. Shards of clay skittered across the floor.
Kahu chose to put her in the Fire Hapu to make sure Anise had at least one distraction.
Eva slunk out of the courtyard holding her magickally-tattooed arm and blinking back tears.
“Next,” Kahu said as she disappeared into the Meeting House.
“I thought I would be closer.” Hazel tapped her fingertips together.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your turn, and by the time I’m finished with them you won’t have to do much to impress.” Flynn pushed her hood back and stared at the rows of initiates. Word had traveled fast and all eyes were fixed on her.
“No, it’s—if I could get closer, I could hear the tests and maybe I could help you.”
Flynn turned to her friend and smiled. “See you on the other side, my darling.”
Hazel noticed an unnatural, yet oddly familiar, flicker of emerald green in Flynn’s eyes. “Pounamu?” she hissed.
The Flynn-shaped Pounamu winked, turned, and walked to the Meeting House. At the threshold, she slipped off her simple leather boots, walked to the left, and stood facing the coven.
Master of Initiates, Berea, spoke first, “Please tell us your name and your village.”
“I’m Flynn Kapowai Hawthorn of Moa Bend.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
A stout older woman with an ample sagging bosom and wild red hair caught in mid-escape, stood and introduced herself. “Flynn, I am Adriana the Mistress of Births, and I have known you since the very second you entered this realm. Welcome, child.”
“Blessings, Adriana.”
Each member of the coven respectfully showed their support for the daughter of the High Priestess, despite their knowledge regarding her lack of magickal skill—everyone except the Mistress of Herbs, Tamsin, who exchanged a surreptitious glance with Thelema.
“We have hundreds of initiates to see today. I must insist that we get on with this exercise in futility.” Tamsin’s bony hand flew to cover her mouth a second too late.
Flynn could see the blood pulsing through the veins underneath the woman’s translucent skin.
Kahu barely glanced at Flynn when she commanded, “Proceed.”
Berea rose to his feet again and motioned Flynn toward the pillar holding a large stone. “We begin with Earth.”
Flynn approached the rock and stared.
Kahu shifted in her padded chair.
Without warning Flynn’s hand shot forward over the stone and she loudly spoke, “Pehu.”
Cracks formed over the surface of the stone and within seconds it crumbled to dust.
Adriana clapped twice before she found the awareness to sit on her plump hands and a strange sound sputtered out of Thelema’s corpulent form.
Kahu’s head snapped up and she scrutinized her daughter.
“Next we have Air.” Berea gestured to the next pillar holding a new clay bowl filled with moa feathers.
Flynn blinked in confusion. She had no idea why the stone crumbled and she couldn’t actually remember speaking the word. She looked from the feathers to the coven and back to the bowl.
This time her hand swirled above the feathers and she purred the spell, “Ahumairangi.” The feathers stirred, swirled and rose out of the bowl to form a perfect whirlwind before sinking to the floor.
Tamsin stiffened in her chair and tucked a strand of thin grey hair behind her large flap of an ear.
“Please move to the next pillar and show us your control of Fire,” Berea suppressed a grin and the gentle flicker had returned to his eyes.
Flynn walked over to the pillar, which held a short squat beeswax candle, and took a deep breath. She could see the feathers on the ground around the last pillar, but she could remember nothing of the spell that put them there. She wondered if Hazel had actually found a way to help her…
Her hand rose above the candle; she snapped her fingers and spoke, “Mura ahi.” The wick twitched and sizzled, and slowly a steady flame glowed from the candle.
Kahu kept her countenance blank. She sensed a powerful magick in the room and it certainly did not belong to her daughter.
“Please proceed to the next pillar with the bowl for Water.” Berea motioned for Flynn to move on.
She looked down at the candle and blinked. This could not be happening. Flynn walked hesitantly toward the bowl and forced thoughts of failure from her mind. She thought she heard a chuckle coming from somewhere, but the faces of the coven members remained somber.
Her hand moved out over the bare floorboards, away from the testing bowl on the pillar, and the word, “Waipuna,” sang from her lips.
Kahu stood and watched fresh water spouting up from the dry floor. “Tauraki,” she uttered and the spring ceased. “Approach the final pillar.”
Flynn looked up to see her mother standing and swallowed audibly. She stepped to the final pillar, which held nothing. She stared unblinking at the emptiness.
Instantly she rubbed her hands together over the pillar, murmuring the words, “Wairua atua, wairua atua.” A mist swirled over the pillar; it collided and separated, and there in the space between, a vaporous image of a solitary kauri tree solidified and vanished.
“Tane Mahuta,” whispered Tamsin, in awe. Her already bulgy eyes looked as though they might pop from her head.
“That will be all, initiate. Please exit and wait in the courtyard for our decision. Speak to no one.” Kahu emphasized the last few words, knowing full well that Hazel never strayed too far from Flynn.
Once outside the Meeting House she sat down on the bench and flashes of the test came flooding back. It frightened Flynn to think that such powerful magick lived inside her—without her knowledge. She felt a tickle on her neck and turned to see a dragonfly creeping out from under her cloak.