by Rebecca Brae
Maria put her sword fighting and knife throwing skills to the test against an undead dwarven warrior (Fiona), a stone golem (Gilroy), and a fearsome shape shifter (Julie, who I swear really can shape-shift). There were many gasps as Maria’s foes came at her from the stands.
Throughout the performances, Kamal wandered through the audience in his ghost costume, silently sitting next to people. They would look over and scream as they suddenly realized their neighbour was a grinning ghost (Kamal is perpetually happy).
After the show, a documentary crew who stayed with us about a month ago to do a feature on the carnival, premiered the fruits of their labour. It was fun watching giant versions of my co-workers and friends appear in the projected illusion, talking about who they were, their acts, and the work they were doing to re-brand the carnival. Even I was interviewed, though I had to sidestep many questions. Their wizard crystals must have messed up my voice. Surely I’m not that squeaky in person. Ugh.
The documentary crew also interviewed those crazy protestors from the town we had to quickly vacate. They were in hysterics about an evil witch who called down the wrath of Satan in the form of a blight of spiders and choking fog. The field we briefly set up camp in is considered cursed ground. Nobody from town can set foot there without being overrun by spiders. My sweets are still holding their ground! They truly are the most underappreciated creatures on the Outerplane. I bet the town has never been so mosquito free.
I’m proud of my handiwork there. To have made such a lasting impression is gratifying and confirms that I am finally on the right path, both professionally and personally. If a witch leaves their mark wherever they wander, on lives or lands, they can consider themselves successful.
NOTE: Check with Sam to see if we’ll pass near that town again anytime soon. If so, remember to undo the spider attraction spell. To be perfectly honest, I forgot about it in our haste to leave. Oh well. At least the protestors will think thrice before pestering witchy travellers in the future.
Sam is overjoyed at how everything has turned out. Karneval Života has locations booked for the rest of the season and into next, with several lucrative side contracts in between. A band of movie executives have engaged us to travel to Hollywood for a month around an Outerplane holiday called Halloween. We’ll be hosting parties and some kind of award event, as well as providing them with location sets and acting as extras. Sam said we’re going to make enough in that one month to pay everyone’s expenses and wages for a full year.
He sat me down this afternoon to discuss the loan again. He wanted to pay me back right away, but I said I’d rather see him invest any spare coin in the carnival for now. There are still upgrades to make and nice-to-haves that were put off.
Sam considered my suggestion and said he would only agree if I became a co-owner. It was an interesting proposition. We talked more and eventually decided that the offer should be extended to everyone. We called a meeting and there was great support. Now we all own an equal share of Karneval Života. We are partners in a most exciting venture. We’ll pay a fair salary to any new performers or venders who join, but our core group will comprise the voting council.
My parents stayed for the grand opening and, quite unexpectedly, said they were proud of what I’m doing. They like my co-workers and want to come back later in the year for another working vacation at The Witch’s Lair. I think Mom is worried that I’m working too hard. She’s not wrong. We’re all working too hard, but things should calm down in a while. I hope. She keeps pushing me to take a break.
Maria, Asena, and Magda jumped on that broom right away. They want Sam and I to go on a vacation together. The idea has merit. I’m not comfortable enough on the Outerplane for solo travel yet, but if I had a trusted guide like Sam, it’s feasible. Plus, I’m curious to know what he’s like when he’s not working. If we get along this well under extreme stress . . . let’s just say, I’m intrigued.
Asena loudly and pointedly declared in the middle of our meeting this afternoon that our decision to become partners meant that there was technically no boss. Sam’s eyes widened as he glanced over at me and then he looked away. If his skin wasn’t hidden beneath his glorious fur-hair, I imagine there would have been a rosy tint to his cheeks.
Herman is beyond happy with his oversized cockroach form. With Kamal’s help, he’s gained fame as an “online celebrity.” Kamal uses a wizard device (similar to what the documentary crew used) to record Herman doing what he does best . . . getting into trouble. He has his own “YouTube channel” and show called BOUS 4 Kids (BOUS apparently stands for Bug of Unusual Size). The phrase “What would Herman do?” has become something called an “internet meme.” It’s all very wizardy, and I don’t understand much of what Sam and Herman have tried to explain. I do understand that Herman is pleased, which is all that really matters.
Soon, Sam will have to take over Kamal’s responsibilities on Herman’s show. My parents are going to smuggle Kamal back to our plane so he can train as a druid. Kamal is excited about his upcoming trip and keeps hugging me whenever our paths cross.
As much as I’ll be sad to see him go, there’s something perfect about it. What that was didn’t strike me until tonight. His going to my plane nicely restores balance, as I intend to be in this one for some time. It’s an unexpected and satisfying outcome that warms me through to my witchy core. Hekate would approve.
Huh. When I wrote that, Jane Dandy, her pups, and some of their wild cousins set to howling. It’s a joyful sound, full of wildness and power. The Goddess of Magick is ever-present. Her attention used to make me nervous, but now I am grateful. Whatever path I walk, whatever challenges await, I will not be alone and I will persevere. I am a Daughter of the Moon.
And on that note, I shall call it a night. Rest well, my new plane. May the elements sustain and strengthen you, the night embrace you, and the Fates be kind.
Final Words
DEAR READER,
It is my sincere wish that each of you has a gentler introduction to our profession than mine. Should that not be the case, then I hope you find a best friend as wise and compassionate as Magda, a fleet of companions that complicate your life in a most hilarious way so you never forget to laugh, and a good diary to help you work through any obstacles unfortunate enough to fall in your path.
Even if you start out with none of these, know that you do not walk alone. You are a witch, magick personified. Feel Earth in your bones, breathe and be one with Air, hear the roar of blood in your veins as Water through a mountain channel, let Fire fuel your dreams, and Spirit guide you. You are life and death. Be unique. Be powerful. Be loving. Be dangerous. But most of all, be you.
There will never be another witch like you and that makes you precious. Nobody else has your combination of personality, talent, and experience. Don’t let someone else define you because they will impose limits based on who they are, not on what you can accomplish. No matter what anyone says, there is no right way to be a witch, there is only your way.
Be true to your dreams. Keep your broom close. Hone your skills. Acquire new ones. Learn everything you can. Take chances. Do the unexpected. Make mistakes. Fix them. Watch. Feel. Listen. Always listen! Many times have I learnt more in one moment of silence than in all my years of classes, as both student and teacher.
May you live fully all aspects of our Triple Goddess and her light always bless your path.
Sincerely,
Hester Digitalis Wishbone
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
Andreas – Boss at Moonbrews
Asena – Fortune teller and fire dancer at Karneval Života
Bob – Gargoyle building inspector
Bunny – Bob’s first friend
Crone – Wizard who lives on the moors
Danica and Nikolai – Acrobats and trick riders at Karneval Života (The Spider Siblings)
Fiona and Gilroy – Strong woman and strong man at Karneval Života
Hekate – Goddess of Magick
Herman – Hester’s familiar
Hester Digitalis Wishbone – Writer of this diary
Julie – Contortionist at Karneval Života (The Bender)
Justin – Hester’s jerky ex-boyfriend
Kamal – Magician at Karneval Života (The Ghost)
Magda – Hester’s best friend and fellow witch
Maria – Master of Ceremonies at Karneval Života (Black Tide the Pirate Queen)
Missera – Magda’s asp familiar
Mother – Druid who lives on the moors
Mothlady – Former Moonbrews customer
Ouleah – Employment Counsellor at the Witch’s Union
Peuturella Bloodroot – Elder hedge witch who teaches potion courses at Grimoire College
Sam – Boss at Karneval Života, Advance Man, Lot Manager, and Wizard (The Beast)
Sophie – Althea’s bat familiar at the Gingerbread Hut
Teagan – Apprentice witch at Moonbrews
Tim – Snake handler and performer at Karneval Života (The Snakeman)
GLOSSARY
Calendar Terms:
Sun – Day
Morn – Morning
Mid-sun – Mid-day / noon
Eventide – Evening
Moon – Month
Season Cycle – Year
Suns of the Week:
* Note on correspondences to Outerplane suns (days): Our home plane weeks consist of seven suns as do Outerplane weeks.
Moondias – Chaos reigns. Rest sun for witches.
Tydias – Celebration of Tyr. Set plans in motion. Sun of sacrifice and work.
Wendias – Celebration of Wenepthia, the much beloved seahorse of King Porticulus.
Cerridias – Celebration of Cerridwen. Perfect for creative endeavours, especially potion mixing.
Freydias – Celebration of Freya. Care for home, family, and friends.
Pandias – Celebration of Pan. Bond with nature.
Soldias – Sol is an archaic word for Sun, the bringer of life.
Moons in a Season Cycle:
* Note on correspondences to Outerplane moons (months): In our home plane there are thirteen moons which follow our Goddess’s lunar cycle, with twenty-eight suns (days) each, embraced within a solar season cycle. The Outerplane months appear to have been slapped down at whim, with varying numbers of days (Wizard’s work, I’m sure). For example, shown below is a list of start and end dates of the Outerplane months for each moon that I jotted down during my first year. Please also note the Dark Seed celebration in Spirit Moon will result in slightly different date translations depending on the year. For a more thorough explanation, and an excellent ephemeris, I recommend Ormuz’s Comparative Planar Calendars.
Wolf Moon – 9 January – 5 February
Storm Moon – 6 February – 4 March
Crow Moon – 5 March – 1 April
Seed Moon – 2 April – 29 April
Nettle Moon – 30 April – 27 May
Lotus Moon – 28 May – 24 June
Thunder Moon – 25 June – 22 July
Blood Moon – 23 July – 19 August
Heather Moon – 20 August – 16 September
Dragon Moon – 17 September – 14 October
Hearth Moon – 15 October – 11 November
Frost Moon – 12 November – 9 December
Spirit Moon – 10 December – 8 January
Professions:
Druid – Harnesses nature energies. Unpredictable. They believe all things have spirit / force, whether it’s a stone, a spear of lightening, or a deer. They are only interested in maintaining the natural order of the universe and cannot be hired (unless you are Hekate). Philosophy: There is no magick, there is only the energy of existence and extinction.
Magician – Outerplane entertainers. They do not use magick. You will piss everyone off who does if you suggest it is even peripherally involved in their showmanship.
Witch – Brews potions. Works with natural components. Seldom seen without the company of their familiar, broom, and cauldron. They cast spells by channelling the five elements (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Spirit). Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are channelled in the form of elemental sprites. Spirit, the fifth element, is a life-force channelled directly from the witch. Philosophy: We are magick.
Hedge Witch – Doctor / herbalist. Usually a hermit.
Illusionist – Deals primarily in illusions. Considered an art form.
Wizard – Creates effects and devices using the principals of theoretical physics / mathematics / engineering / chemistry. They divide the five witch elements into a never-ending Wizard Table of Elements. Their complicated written spells are cast by verbalizing long algorithms which are incomprehensible to anyone who isn’t a wizard (or gargoyle). They carry an array of tools—wands and staves are the most common—which are highly specialized and dedicated to particular spells. Showy. Reckless in their fanatical pursuit of knowledge. Wizards rarely venture into the countryside, preferring to stay in large metropolis centres. Philosophy: We seek to understand magick and look good doing it.
Acknowlegements
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I’m grateful for my best friend and partner in both life and writing, Adriaan Brae. I love how ideas bounce between us and grow into such creatively wonderful worlds, characters, and plots. You lend assistance when I feel stuck, do endless read-throughs, and challenge me to push further and go deeper. You are a beautiful light in the darkness.
My heartfelt thanks also goes out to my friends and fellow authors Rob and Ellen Easton, who spent a considerable amount of time and energy reading and improving this work. Their insight and suggestions were invaluable and so very appreciated.
I owe a great debt to my brilliant editor Margaret Curelas for, well, everything. She streamlined and enhanced the story and prose, as well as enduring about a billion anxious author changes along the way. You were an absolute joy to work with. Thank you for believing in me and Hester.
This book has been enriched by three exceptionally talented visual artists. Sonny Tamko created delightful artwork which brought the characters and setting to life. Skyla Dawn Cameron created a fantastically fun and witchy cover. Special thanks to photographer Stacy Kreger, for my author photograph. Your photos capture the subject’s spirit and that is an incredible skill.
I’ve heard it said that writing is a solitary endeavour, but I am fortunate that this has not been my experience. I came from a loving home where art was celebrated and imagination was encouraged. There was always food when I was hungry and a safe place to lay my head at night. Most of my teachers were positive influences. My friends were into creative activities like D&D, poetry, and painting. I had pens, paper, art supplies, and eventually computers to help develop my skills. I acknowledge how much of a blessing and privilege all of these were, and pledge to do my best to support and encourage the creative interests of those around me. I want to experience and learn from your art in all its amazing forms.
About the Author
Rebecca Brae lives in Alberta, Canada with her partner, daughter, and growing pack of animal companions. She is an artist, lover of diversity, fog enthusiast, and proud geek who aspires to one day live in a cave by the ocean (with wifi, of course). Her background in Criminology and Classical Studies informs her writing in unexpected and occasionally horrifying ways.
Rebecca has co-authored two urban fantasy novels, Chaos Bound and Curse Bound, has a short story in the furr-tastic anthology Swashbu
ckling Cats: Nine lives on the Seven Seas, and drabbles in 100 Word Horrors and 100 Word Horrors 2. Connect with her on Twitter @RebeccaBrae and at www.braevitae.com.
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The Witch’s Diary
by Rebecca Brae
Copyright © 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage & retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright holder, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this story are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.