by Debora Geary
She stood up at the front of the room, and every head turned in her direction. “I wanted to thank all of you for coming. I know it was short notice and not much explanation.”
Sophie smiled. “You asked, we came.”
Jamie nodded, as did many others. It was the way of witches. Elorie had put out the call for spellcoders, and they had come. No questions asked.
“As many of you know, we’ve discovered a new kind of power source—and those of you who spellcode can all use it.”
“But we can’t do what you can with it,” said Govin, one of Realm’s best players.
“True. Some of us can use Net power differently, and we’ve spent the last week learning a lot about what’s possible. I think Jamie and Uncle Marcus have briefed you on what we’ve learned.”
Govin leaned forward. “You can push magic to any of us through the Internet, right?”
Elorie nodded, and murmurs started. She held up her hand. “We can also pull magic. It gives us a lot of freedom to put the right magic in the hands of any available witch. I asked you to meet here today to talk about how we can best use that in service of those around us.”
Govin considered for a moment. “It would really help with witchling training. We often have a mismatch with available trainers, especially when new talents emerge quickly.”
Moira beamed. “Just so, Govin. And you can definitely use it in your weather work.” Govin and his partner spent countless hours working to minimize the devastation of some of the planet’s harsher weather patterns.
Sophie spoke next. “There are things I can’t do in Colorado because I’m a solitary witch.” She touched Mike’s shoulder. “Or I was. Last month, one of the little ones on my street got lost. It would have been a true blessing to call on Jamie or Aervyn for a seeking spell. It’s not a talent I have.”
Nell nodded. “We lack healers in California. There are times it would be very handy to have one available.” She frowned. “This sounds like a pretty big organizational challenge, though. Hard to have the right people on call all the time to make the spells that are needed.”
Elorie’s eyes gleamed. “That’s just it. For a lot of the things you’ve mentioned, we don’t actually need to have the right people available at the exact right time. We just need their spells.”
Ah. Jamie connected the last of the dots. Now he knew why she’d asked for spellcoders. She was freaking brilliant.
Her energy danced through the room. “Witches like Aervyn and Ginia and me can push magic to witches who need it, but we don’t need a live witch making the spell. We can use one that’s already spellcoded. That’s what I’m hoping all of you can help with.”
Jamie nodded, already making plans in his head. “You need us to code a library of spells.” He could see the eagerness in the faces around him. Finding volunteers was not going to be a problem. He sensed a witch code-a-thon in the making.
Govin grinned. “We already have a pretty good library, but I’m guessing turning moat waters into fiery flames isn’t what you had in mind.”
Elorie laughed. “If any of you have moats in real life, we can give it a try, but no. Mostly I’m thinking about the everyday kinds of spells—simple healing, bringing rain, seeking—the ways most of us help our friends and neighbors now, but it will give us all a wider range of options.”
Mike looked serious. “This could be used for more than just the everyday. We could save lives with this.”
Elorie slowly swept the room. “Yes, we can, and we will. I’m hoping to start with the everyday aid. It will help us work out the kinks and the logistics, to figure out how to be a community in a different way than most of us are used to.”
She took a deep breath. “But where we can bring small magics, we can also bring much larger magic.” She looked straight at Marcus. “I dream of a world where far fewer are lost or hurt because we couldn’t get the magic there in time.”
She stretched her hands out to the group. “We are witches, and service is our highest calling. I’m asking each of you, as you wish and as you are able, to help.”
Marcus was the first witch on his feet.
Chapter 21
Moira walked out into the early morning mists of her garden. Sleep had done a wondrous job of reviving her old bones. She was more than a little surprised to find her nephew taking a soak, and downright astonished when he smiled and stood to help her in.
“You seem rather cheerful this morning, my dear.”
Marcus shrugged. “I woke up early. No idea why. I was up half the night working with Jamie to organize the new spellcoding library. We’re already being pelted with spells. Witches can be a rather disorganized lot.”
Moira hid a smile. “They’re just eager to help.”
“They could help by sorting.” Marcus snorted. “And by using their heads. Young Sean’s already uploaded a pirate illusion spell and an eavesdropping spell.”
“How delightful.” Moira laughed at her nephew’s scowl. There was the Marcus she knew and loved. “You never know when a pirate spell might come in handy.”
His eyebrows nearly crossed. “You can’t possibly be serious.”
“It’s getting the witchlings involved in helping others, and that’s a beautiful thing. An eavesdropping spell just needs a little reshaping to become a seeking spell that could find a lost child. Why don’t you ask our Sean to work on that for you?”
He grunted.
She took that as a hopeful sign and pushed a little harder. “He’s a strong and very imaginative spellcaster. It will take a creative trainer to get the best out of him.”
“Hmm. Perhaps partnering him with Kevin will help. His twin shows a little more sense.”
Moira had to turn away and gaze on her flowers to hide her smile this time. Elorie wasn’t the only witch coming out of her shell lately. Marcus training witchlings, and with only token protests—who could have imagined?
“It’s a very important responsibility Elorie has now,” Marcus said. “You’ve prepared her well.”
“I’ve helped her become the woman she was meant to be.” And so very proud she was of who her granddaughter had become. The witching community had gained a new leader yesterday, one who would use her new magic to strengthen the old ways.
“She’s got a firm grounding in tradition, and a strong sense of obligation to those around her.”
Moira’s heart twisted a little. “You speak of obligation and responsibility, but Elorie does this out of love. She has a truly magnificent heart.” And perhaps a tiny ray or two of that love would seep into the fortress her nephew had built around his own heart.
He’d been such a sensitive boy. The day Evan had died, something in Marcus had broken. The healer in her had ached for that small boy for almost half a century now. Even for a witch steeped in tradition, that was a very long time to hold onto hope.
He’d smiled at her this morning. At the start of a glorious summer day, she was going to hold tight to that.
And she wasn’t above meddling. “I hear that Jamie and young Aervyn are meeting in that lovely online living room later today to work on an alert system. I’m sure another mind witch would be a welcome addition.”
Even Marcus couldn’t resist Aervyn. That wee boy’s most powerful magic was his contagious love of life.
~ ~ ~
Nell: This feels really old-fashioned after our new Realm meeting space.
Moira: Aye, but we can’t be wasting transport spells to do that too often just yet. Maybe after we have more of them ready.
Nell: My triplets are working Aervyn and Jamie hard. Ginia says they’re figuring out how to do more of it with coding and less with teleportation magic, so hopefully the Realm taxi service will be up and running soon.
Moira: I look forward to it. It was so delightful to cuddle your sweet boy in my lap. He won’t be little enough to do that much longer.
Nell: Pretty soon you’ll have far littler ones to hold.
Sophie: Yes. We need to g
et a rocking chair installed in that room. Aunt Moira’s skills with fussy babies are legendary, and I, for one, would like to be able to call on them.
Nell: God, what I would have given for an instantly available virtual babysitter when the triplets were little.
Moira: And what I’d have given to be there.
Sophie: Well, Elorie and I will be happy to benefit from the wonders of modern technology.
Elorie: Indeed. Sorry to be late. Aaron’s meeting with a friend of his to make some plans for our new house. I can’t stay long, or they’ll have added several thousand square feet for each child. Why do men always think bigger is better?
Nell: That, girl, is a question for the ages.
Sophie: Where are you building?
Elorie: Right between the inn and Gran’s cottage. We want our own separate space with little ones on the way. I don’t figure people on vacation want to hear babies crying, or stampeding little feet.
Moira: You might be surprised, my dear. However, I think it’s lovely you and Aaron will be just a wee bit closer. I won’t be minding the sounds of little ones at all.
Sophie: Can Aaron cope with two pregnant women in a month or so?
Elorie: Only if I get fed first :-). Just kidding—mostly. I’m suddenly starving all the time. Is that normal?
Nell: Oh, yeah. Enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully you’ll skip the nausea part, but eventually babies take up enough room that there’s not much space left for food.
Moira: I used to swear my babies stole my food and fed it to the faeries. I ate like a farmer in those first months of pregnancy. So are you coming to visit us in the fall then, Sophie?
Sophie: Sort of. Mike and I were trying to figure out the wedding thing.
Elorie: Oooh, are you getting married here?
Sophie: Not exactly. Hang on…
Nell: Type faster, girl, and don’t be so cryptic!
Sophie: Sorry. The thing is, we have family all over the place, and lots of places that are special to them and to us. Mike’s parents have a beautiful sanctuary down in Mexico, Ocean’s Reach where we did our first full circle together, and of course your garden, Aunt Moira. We tried to pick one, and we just couldn’t. So we eloped.
Nell: What???
Elorie: You’re married?
Moira: Ah, my sweet girl. Blessed be.
Sophie: We had a ceremony right here in my garden. It was very small, and so sweet. And now we’d like to come share our joy with all of you. We’re going on a marriage celebration journey. We’ll start in Mexico with Mike’s parents, and then head up to Berkeley, if that works for you, Nell.
Nell: We never, ever say no to a party. Congratulations, Sophie. He’s a wonderful man.
Sophie: Don’t I know it. And then we’ll work our way over to Nova Scotia for the finish, Aunt Moira.
Moira: We’ll have ourselves a proper gathering and celebrate your joining, child. It’s the way of the Irish—it’s the party that truly matters.
Sophie: Nobody’s mad?
Moira: You’ve always been a solitary witch, darling girl. You’ve had your private joy, and now you’ll come celebrate with us. There’s nothing but happiness here.
Elorie: I’m so thrilled for you, Sophie. Truly.
Sophie: I love you all, so very much.
Nell: The triplets might be mad that they didn’t get to wear frilly dresses.
Sophie: Party dresses can be as frilly as necessary, by bridal decree.
Nell: That’ll work. Aervyn would appreciate less frills on the small-boy front.
Sophie: Done. This bridal decree stuff is easy. How are the girls, anyhow? I know Ginia was missing her sisters by the end of witch school.
Nell: Yeah. They’d never been separated like that before, so they’re awfully happy in each other’s company right now. Jamie has them all hard at work coding for the new spell library.
Sophie: How’s that coming? I got my latest assignment—it seems amazingly organized.
Elorie: You can thank Marcus for that.
Sophie: Seriously? Jamie said he was pretty involved.
Elorie: He’s figured out this amazing tagging system that will search and match the closest spell to your needs. Even Jamie was impressed.
Nell: My girls think he’s a genius.
Moira: He’s kept that talent well hidden. Maybe I’ll have to put him to work sorting my books.
Elorie: Kevin would be delighted to do that, Gran. He might never come out, though—you’d have to check on him every so often and make sure he doesn’t starve to death.
Moira: I might just do that, but I’ll wait a bit. He and Sean are preparing some interesting spells for your little project.
Elorie: Uh, oh. The last one I saw involved a cleaning spell that sings Bob Marley while it works.
Nell: Awesome. I’ll take that one in triplicate!
Sophie: Me, too.
Elorie: You might want to wait until it does a decent job of cleaning. The singing part is pretty good, though.
Sophie: Have the cleaning spells been recategorized yet?
Nell: Yes. I think Warrior Girl gave Marcus a serious piece of her mind over that.
Moira: Whatever happened?
Sophie: Marcus put cleaning spells into a library category called “women’s spells.” I found them when I went to file a spell to ease menstrual cramps.
Moira: Oh, did he now.
Elorie: Don’t worry, Gran—he got a piece of all our minds. I don’t think it will happen again. Ginia’s threatening to create a “grumpy old men” category if it does.
Moira: Well, I might just be adding a small reminder of my own. My cauldron’s due for polishing.
Sophie: Sweet! I can tarnish it a little more, if you want.
Nell: Aervyn’s added a rain spell that could take care of that. Marcus has a pretty thick head.
Moira: Do you all really think I don’t have a good tarnishing spell handy? How do you think I’ve kept troublemakers busy over the years? It’s wonderful that the witchlings are all getting so involved, though—a rain spell sounds like a lovely contribution.
Nell: It will be, if you’re sitting outside when you access it. Some of the Realm players are having trouble getting used to real-life spells. I think Govin’s living room is still soaked.
Sophie: Oops :-).
Moira: I have a request, if I may. Sophie dear, could you cast me a gentle sleep spell? It’s getting harder to do for myself, and I do so appreciate a good night’s sleep.
Sophie: That’s a wonderful idea. I’ve also uploaded a couple of spells for joint pain—try those for your hands. I’d love to know how they work.
Elorie: Oh, I’ll try one next time I’ve been working in my studio all day. My hands ache after that.
Moira stepped away from her computer for a moment to go fetch some tea. Witches helping each other wasn’t a new thing—it was one of the oldest of things. But now they could get the right help to the right witch so much more easily, and oh, the generosity she was seeing.
Small gifts, freely given. It was the heart and soul of magic—and now it had new life. With her granddaughter at the helm.
Sometimes the rewards for a long life were rich indeed.
~ ~ ~
“Ouch!” Jamie said. “Wow, that’s still way too loud. Aervyn, dude, we need to ratchet back the volume on that a whole bunch.”
Elorie giggled at the antics on her computer screen, glad she hadn’t been the guinea pig for this last test. They were trying to work out an alert system to page Net witches in an emergency. The spell library could meet an increasing array of needs, but there would always be situations where a real, live Net witch was required.
Coming up with the alert spell hadn’t been a problem. Convincing Aervyn it didn’t need to be as loud as a fire alarm was proving more difficult.
Ginia shook her head. “I think I can control volume in the code, Uncle Jamie. We might want it loud to get some people’s attention.”
Jamie consi
dered for a moment. “So customize the volume depending on who we’re trying to page?”
“That makes sense.” Elorie fingered her heart pendant. “We might need to change the volume once everyone has pendants instead of phones, too.”
She’d sent a batch of her biggest pieces of sea glass off to Jamie only that morning. He and Aervyn were going to work on shrinking iPhones into the glass. It was a more reliable method of portable Net power, particularly for the witchlings—sea glass was well used to getting banged up and wet. iPhones weren’t proving quite as durable.
Ginia looked up. “Okay, I’m going to ping you. Lemme know if it’s too loud.”
Elorie squeezed her eyes shut. The last time had sounded like a monster gong inside her head. Fortunately, Ginia’s idea of volume control was more precise than her little brother’s. “Much better. A little quieter yet would be fine for me, but that’s tolerable.”
Jamie grinned. “Looks like we’re ready to go, then. Do your troops have their emergency ready for us?”
Elorie rolled her eyes. “They’ve been ready since dawn.” Nothing could have pleased Lizzie and the twins more than being asked to cause trouble on purpose.
She leaned out the window to activate their pre-arranged “go” signal. Uncle Marcus, lying in the hammock, raised his hand to the sky, and an ear-piercing whistle blasted through the air. Good grief. Aervyn wasn’t the only witch who needed a lesson in volume control.
Moments later, Lizzie screamed, right on cue. Elorie looked over at her computer. “Emergency in progress.”
Ginia grinned. “Excellent. I’m ready to rock.”
Elorie walked outside to monitor in person. Uncle Marcus was still lying in the hammock. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on them, so Sean doesn’t actually float out to sea?”
He tapped his head. “I’m mindlinked with Kevin. Not a problem. Lizzie’s father has his boat out. Sean’s not going anywhere.”
Elorie shook her head. She knew all too well how much trouble Sean could get into even when you were watching him.
Halfway down to the beach, she spotted Sean in his inner tube, floating happily out in the waves. When he spied her, he screamed and yelled “Shark! Help!” She had to laugh. The last shark attack in Nova Scotia had been exactly never.