by Tish Thawer
Clearly dejected, Phaedra lowered her head. “You are probably right. Besides, I never fly low enough for people to see me, so looking for him visually would be a waste of time.”
Jeremiah shifted next to me, and knowing him as I did, I could tell from the look on his face he would not want the angel to feel unneeded in the situation, so it was no surprise when he piped up again. “No, but you could take to the sky and see if you sense any further use of his tainted magic.”
This earned him a quick nod and a small smile from the petite beauty.
“Of course. I could do that,” Phaedra replied.
Jeremiah smiled and returned his attention to the Kasuns. “If you have been here that long, have you ever had dealings with this tribe before?”
“No.” Gaby reached for her mate’s hand. “Ric’s mother and our last alpha, Adele, sacrificed her life to get the pack out of Croatia and the blood feud that threatened our family there. She sent us here, to this specific territory in the New World, where we’ve remained disguised as a roving native tribe. We’ve spent our time fostering peace with everyone we have encountered in the surrounding areas.”
“While that sounds fantastic, and I am so grateful we have met, can we get down to business?” Kenna interrupted. “We need to locate the shaman as quickly as possible and strip him of his power, so let’s have Phaedra take to the skies, and you and Ric track him through the forest. Whoever finds him first, simply crush this in your hand, and we will be brought straight to you.” She held out what appeared to be two small pieces of fruit.
“What?” I asked.
“Yes. I have charged them with a locator spell. Once they are crushed, I will draw upon the magic of this land to transport us there.”
“No. That is not what I mean. What I mean is, what are you saying—that you want to strip him of his power? How can we do that to someone whose magical traditions run so deep?”
“Kara. We need to make sure he does not inflict this time loop on us or anyone else ever again,” Kenna replied matter-of-factly, extending me her hand.
I shook my head and pushed to stand. “I know we are only visitors here, pulled out of our lives and time, but after all we have learned about the natives in the nine months we have lived among them, you are okay with stripping them of their ancestral magic?” I pushed her hand away. “Because now that I can remember our time here, I’m not sure I am comfortable with that plan.”
Kenna stood still, shocked and staring at me as I turned and stomped outside.
“I will go talk to her,” I heard Jeremiah offer.
“Let me.” Gaby’s voice drifted from behind me, then called out, “Kara, wait . . . please?”
I stopped a few feet away but did not turn around. Staring out at the surrounding forest, I remained quiet, knowing I would be forced to listen to whatever the alpha wolf had to say.
“I understand your concern. I, too, would normally fight against your sister’s plan. Unfortunately, there is a greater good at play here. Once a shaman’s magic becomes tainted such as this, things will only worsen. I have seen it before. His spells will cause the tribe to suffer, and any and all prosperity bestowed upon them will start to fade away as a punishment for his actions.” She laid a hand gently on my shoulder. “If you want to truly save these people, you will need to do this.”
“I know. The threefold law.” I wiped a tear from my cheek and followed Gaby back inside, but continued to contemplate an alternative as I struggled to look my baby sister in the eye.
Shaman
“No one understands,” I mumbled, cutting a trail through the forest and slipping on the remaining ice and snow still gathered in the shadows of the massive evergreens. I trudged over rocks and stumps, fleeing the village, and listened for the rumble that would announce the Great Falls up ahead.
Dropping almost three hundred feet from a dip in the cliff above, the falls poured into a large pond, surrounded by boulders where the canyon met the base of the mountain. Its power and beauty left all who ventured here with an overwhelming sense of magic and peace.
Rounding one final corner of the trail, the pond came into view, its churning water easing my despair. Kneeling, I gave thanks to Great Spirit––the creator of things including the mountains, rivers, people, and animals––and poured out my soul. “Great Spirit, I call to thee. Allow my magic to take root again to protect our tribe from the outside world. Keep us safe within our haven and help maintain the spell I placed upon the witches. My intent was not to harm, only to protect. I did this for my chief and our people, and no one was hurt by my actions. They are out of their time; nothing will be affected by their absence. The witches lived happy lives here until their memories resurfaced. I do not know what went wrong. I reset the time loop, and everything had fallen back into place . . . until now. How did they break through my spell? I need your help, Great Spirit. It is said you created all things when you grew bored with life in the sky and drilled a hole through which to see the world below. I ask that you see me now and hear my plea.”
Blood spilled as I pulled my knife across the neck of the rabbit I had brought along as my sacrifice. Its thick life force dripped onto the ground, cutting a trail through the rotted leaves and creeping its way toward the water’s edge.
I sucked in a breath, shocked when the water in the pool recoiled from its banks. The blood turned to inky wisps and evaporated into thin air as a great sigh resonated from the sky. I closed my eyes as a powerful wind blew into my face––no doubt a message that my request had been heard. With my hope restored, I opened my arms wide and waited to be blessed by the Great Spirit.
Chapter 10
Phaedra
I took to the sky and flew in circles above the clouds as I focused on the energy radiating from the forest below. Every living thing cast a unique signature, so it did not take long for me to sense where something was wrong. Soaring to the highest point in the area, I pinpointed the shaman and flew down in a great gust with a pull of my wings. Landing on a large boulder next to the base of the Great Falls, I called out, “Shaman! You have tainted the magic of your people, and for that you will now be punished.”
Just as the red piece of fruit materialized in my hand, the shaman disappeared.
Shaman
Surrounded by clouds, I smiled widely as a heavenly scene formed before me. Stark white teepees as far as the eye could see lined a beautiful valley––lush with green hills, flowering trees, and bubbling waterfalls and rivers. Smoke rose from a large sweat lodge at the center of the scene, piercing my senses with the smell of sage, cedar, and sweet grass. It was then I realized that I was in the Sky World, the realm of the Great Spirit.
Shuffling forward as quickly as my old legs would allow, I walked to the dwelling and entered with my head bowed in reverence. “Great Senawahv, thank you for hearing and listening to my plea, and for allowing me to visit your heavenly realm. I am greatly honored.”
Another heavy sigh drifted to my ears, this one of sorrow and disappointment. I moved to lift my head but found myself held in place, unable to gaze upon the Great Creator. Suddenly, I was forced to my knees, and the Great Spirit’s voice boomed, filling the space.
“Tainted magic, devious plots, and the spilling of innocent life will never be rewarded by me. Only your good intentions are saving you this day. However, you will face punishment, albeit not by my hand. Return now and plead your case, for your future rests with those from the past.”
The surrounding vision faded into the clouds, and I found myself back in the main teepee of our village, standing directly in front of my chief.
Phaedra
I spun around, looking for where the shaman had gone, then took to the sky and continued to glide over the Great Falls. I spotted the Kasuns stalking toward the water from the forest and quickly returned to the ground, landing again on the large boulder.
“I had him. He was there,” I pointed, “but then he just . . . disappeared.”
With teeth ba
red, the Kasuns combed the area, sniffing and rifling through underbrush near the river’s edge. Shifting into her human form, Gaby quickly announced, “He killed something right here.”
“If he has resorted to killing, then stripping him of his magic may not be enough of a punishment,” Ric added, after shifting to join her.
I snapped my wings closed and stalked toward the wolves. “I do not like the idea of killing.”
“Nor do we, but you saw it with your own eyes––you said he disappeared, which means his powers are growing. He has to be stopped,” Ric replied.
“I am not sure that is a decision any of us should make. The decision should remain with the witches he has cursed.” I pushed into the sky, hovering over the wolves. “Let’s return to the village and let them know he has escaped.”
Chapter 11
Chief Aquakawwa
“Chief. I . . . I have been returned to explain . . .” Shock muddled my shaman’s words.
I spun to face him––the man I’d trusted with the welfare of my people since the formation of our tribe. “How dare you return to this sacred place! You have put all our people in danger with your selfish works, and now you are being hunted.”
“Hunted? By whom?” he asked, clearly unaware of what had transpired here.
“Who do you think?” I snapped. “The witches you have cursed will find you soon enough, and there is nothing I can do to stop them.” I walked forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You have brought this on yourself, old friend, and unfortunately, we are now all in line to pay for your mistakes.”
“No!” he shouted, shrugging off my hand and stomping to the raised platform where he traditionally worked his magic spells. “The Great Spirit told me I could return and plead my case––to explain that my intentions were pure.” He pulled his medicine bowl into his lap and dumped in a handful of herbs, his brow wrinkled in concentration.
“Perhaps that would have made a difference before you killed an innocent living thing,” a voice sounded from the opening. I turned to see a woman and man stalking forward. Without another word, their bodies shook, and suddenly a pair of wolves replaced their human forms.
“Great Spirit!” I stumbled backward, turning toward my shaman. “He has sent his hounds to collect your soul.”
“Stop!” another voice echoed from the doorway.
I sank to my knees and whispered, “The White Woman . . .”
“Yes, you see, a gift! The Great Spirit sends me an angel from above,” my shaman called out, still clinging to the hope of redemption.
The White Woman stepped forward. “No. I am not from your Great Spirit, nor do I come bearing a gift––only a message, and a sentiment I am sure your Great Spirit shares. Your magic was the gift, given to you by Mother Earth, and you have ruined it, placing your tribe at risk through your selfish deeds. You know as well as I that when power is used to harm in any way, there is always a price to be paid.”
My shaman shook his head, fighting back his fear and desperation as he struggled to complete his spell.
The White Woman lifted her hand, producing a piece of fruit, then crushed it between her fingers. “It is time for you to face those you have cursed.”
I crouched low, remaining still, as the wolves crept closer to my shaman. Suddenly, a bright light appeared in the center of the teepee, and all three witches stepped out of what seemed to be a tear in the air.
With a flick of her wrist, Catalina turned my shaman’s entire bowl to dust. “You have ripped us from our time, cursing us as you siphoned our magic, and doomed your people in the process. For this, you will pay.”
Clara stepped in front of her sister. “Are we really doing this? Are you sure there is no other way?”
“He killed a rabbit in the forest,” the White Woman interjected.
Lorenzo’s gaze snapped to me. “I thought all living things were cherished by your people.”
“They are.” I lowered my head, silently giving them permission to proceed.
“The Kasuns believe he should suffer the same fate.” The White Woman lifted her chin at the wolves as a tear shimmered down her cheek.
Shifting back to their human forms, the wolves remained stoic and unapologetic. “As I told Kara,” the female wolf lifted her chin, “I have witnessed this before. Once a shaman’s magic becomes tainted, things will only grow worse. Livestock will start to die, crops will no longer produce, even illness may threaten the tribe. It is in everyone’s best interest to end the . . . threat.”
Silence filled the teepee as the inevitable sank in.
Slowly, Lorenzo and the male wolf moved toward my shaman, and there was nothing I could do to stop them.
“Wait. There has to be another way. Can you do a spell to cure him?” the White Woman pleaded. “Use your magic to heal his?”
Lorenzo reached out to the male wolf, grabbing him by the arm. “Hold on. That just might work.”
Catalina released a tendril of her dark hair and turned to her sister, taking her hands in her own. “I’m willing to try, but if it doesn’t work, we put an end to this. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Clara replied, a small smile lighting her eyes. “This will take some time, though, so I suggest we all prepare for a long night.” She turned to me, those same piercing eyes that first caught my attention softening as she bowed her head. “Chief Aquakawwa, I hate to ask, but may we have that meal now?”
I looked at my shaman being held in place on his knees. Although facing punishment, he was still safe and sound. So, with a sharp nod, I exited the teepee, happy to provide sustenance to those willing to save his life.
Kara
With everyone fully clothed again––thanks to Kenna—and all with full stomachs––thanks to the chief—Jeremiah and Ric cleared the plates of dried meat and fresh vegetables off to the side, as Phaedra and Gaby positioned the shaman’s body on the ground near the fire. I had cast a sleeping spell upon him in order to make his aura more pliable to the work we would be doing here tonight. However, we were now on our third attempt, and my hands were beginning to shake.
I spread them over the shaman’s body again and tried my next spell.
“Heal the heart, heal the mind. Combine our magics over time. Reverse the darkness rooted in he, as I will it, so mote it be.”
Damn it! Nothing. I threw the small charm bag clenched in my fist to the ground, spilling the herbs from within.
“Let’s try the stones,” Kenna suggested, retrieving the amethyst from her pocket.
Holding out her hand, she waited for Jeremiah’s ruby, then bent down to add both to the rose quartz already resting in my palm.
I stared at the stones, suddenly entranced. “No. I do not think that is a good idea.”
A vision filled my mind, pulling me out of time again. People, dressed in what looked to be costumes of some sort, milled around a quaint little town filled with colorful tents in brilliant shades of red and green, while a kaleidoscope of brightly colored signs advertised Tarot readings, palm readings, and psychic interventions.
“Why? What do you see?” Kenna asked.
I closed my eyes and focused on the three women filling my mind’s eye, the most prominent a redhead who looked strikingly like our mother. She held a stone within her hand, and her heart ached to help lovers who had also been ripped out of their time. “My family . . . in need. Here . . . in this canyon . . . but different. In a different time.” I shook my head, freeing myself from the vision, and stared intently into my sister’s eyes. “We cannot use the stones for this.”
“Okay. We will think of something else.” Kenna spoke softly, knowing not to question my visions.
“Why do you think your magic’s not working?” Gaby asked.
“I am not sure.” I stood and shook out my tired arms.
“Perhaps he needs to be awake after all,” Jeremiah suggested.
“Perhaps, but honestly, I fear it is just too late. I think his magic is leaving him, and there is nothing
left for us to heal.” I brushed off the front and back of my dingy skirt and began to pace.
“Or maybe it’s his spirit that is fighting you,” the chief interrupted from the corner. “As an elder and a shaman, he possesses powerful protection magic. His inner bear may be fighting to survive.”
“That is a really good point,” I conceded. “All right, let’s wake him up.”
Chapter 12
Kara
War cries tore through the village, piercing the air as pounding hooves and battle drums sounded outside.
“What is happening?” Kenna shouted.
“The Comanche! We are under attack!” Chief Aquakawwa pulled a hatchet from his belt and ran out of the teepee and straight into the fray.
Ric Kasun poked his head out the opening, but quickly pulled the heavy flap closed, securing the entrance with the cross beams that lay on the ground next to the door. “Looks like the outside world has finally come crashing back in.”
“What do you mean?” Phaedra asked, wrapping her snow-white wings around herself and sliding as far away as possible from the chaos outside.
“While the tribe and witches have been stuck in their time loop, the outside world continued to turn. The Comanche have no doubt been searching the area for this village, only to find it once the spell was broken,” Ric quickly explained his theory to the entire crowd.
“This cannot be happening right now!” Kenna threw her arms in the air.
“Well, it is. Which means we have an immediate problem to deal with if we all want to survive the night.” Gaby nodded to her husband as smoke began to seep across the ground. “They are going to burn this village down. We need to split up.”