Book 3: Chapter 36
Tiffany
It was midnight at our new home, so now was the perfect time for his meeting, and my errand.
We shared one last kiss before we had to part. “Be safe.” Said Zayde. His clawed finger trailed down my chin to my collarbone.
“I will. It’s only for a little bit.” I blushed…
He kissed my forehead. “A shame I have to deal with grandfather and the council.” He grumbled. “When you return, hopefully I’ll be done as well and I can take you out again.”
“Go my lovely.” I said cupping his cheeks with my hands.
Zayde had on a suit, while I would leave him to it. I wanted nothing to do with their witch meeting, as that wasn’t my place. With Dark Witches, the sex of the Coven Leader wasn’t as important as who was the Yoltier. Those where the few who spoke with the Witch King, while the non-Yolteir did rituals or maintenance, possibly meeting with the others who didn’t share Gulteer’s blood.
In this case, it was the men who ruled the coven’s business, and women ran the rituals. Zayde was the Yoltier, thus, he was to meet with Gulteer and his uncles. I was needed in Yellow Diamond, as there were affairs I needed to attend there.
[Mistress, the portal stone is ready.] Said Aptherraam. Zayde and Alteer made it for us in our office. Now I could leave whenever I wanted. Once Yellow was established, we’d take this stone with us and recalibrate it as an escape route.
[May I come along as well?] Asked Tinzaa.
“Come on.” I held out my arm, and she sat on my shoulder, while he fit in my oversized pocket.
I could see the seventh floor of the castle was completely done, though the windows and such couldn’t be installed until the rest of the castle was made. I hated that I had to wait; but they were going as fast as they could with all the constant rain. They were working on one tower at a time, though they did the first and second floor of all of them. They managed to figure out that they could get 7 towers here, more than enough for the coven.
“Ah, Tiffany.” Waved Velimier. “The basement is ready for enchantment.” He smiled. He was sitting on his broom barking orders to his crew, while the birds helped. They carried tools and flew messages around the worksite. They were really finding their place.
“Thank you!” I said passing some, who bowed or waved. Their spirits were high now that they had regular food, and a safe place to sleep.
Below, the ritual room was …. Cool, almost cold. It made me shiver, as I could feel the magic of this place… Elkteer at some point Must have made a rudimentary precursor to central air for the castle… Central heat wasn’t needed.
“Bring me a medium to large animal.” I commanded, and they shifted to their demonic forms. Needless to say, they got a lot of attention charging out and back in so fast. They brought me a forest deer. “Kill it.” I commanded, and they did as they were told.
Its blood made the floor light up, and the torches lit on their own…
Why did I hesitate?
I blinked and I was no longer in the ritual room… but I couldn’t look away.
The Horned One… Why now was I nervous? I bowed as soon as the initial shock was over, and I could hear him chuckle.
“Well?” He asked with a smile, a mischievous one as if he were amused.
He rested his knuckles on his cheek, sitting on a black and red throne. It sat high from the large 4 steps that elevated him, as if he weren’t big enough already.
I bowed, but I drew a blank… I didn’t remember the words… I knew this incantation. It was my bedtime story… my lullaby…
“Rise daughter and recite to me your pledge.” He said impatiently. When I looked back up his smile was gone, replaced with a slight disgruntled curl of his lips. “Where is your passion? Is it missing?”
“It’s in my heart.” I said quietly.
“Then let me hear it.” He demanded. Usually, he whispers… yet for me he did not hold back his voice. I could feel it in my chest. Each word was its own command; it made it hard to concentrate, but I stood tall.
“I Tiffany Yolteir, daughter of Heidi and John Stone, I declare my land sacred, and I declare my people true. We lurk in the dark places to do dark things for our master. May no stone give refuge, may no mortal prosper.” I said seeing him nod.
“Where is your *fire* little Tiffany?” He asked. “Has your fear of me doused it?”
“My fire isn’t gone… just in hiding master.” I said hearing him hum. “I know what and how I must do your work…. But after my punishment, even though I don’t remember it, I fear I will fail.”
“You only fail if you give up.” He said like dad would… He got off his throne to kneel down and pet my head. Such a simple gesture made me really feel how utterly insignificant I was compared to him. He sighed.
“I won’t give up master.” I said firmly. How I mustered my inner fire… I don’t know… but I could feel my magic pulse through me. He didn’t do anything to aid me, other than give encouragement.
“…That’s it.” He smiled. “I remember your mother begged for *one* daughter.” He said as I sat cross-legged on the floor. He lit a pipe, and I knew he was about to tell a story. He was the Night Father… He always enjoyed that kind of thing. He sat back down, and I meditated.
He broke the silence, as none would dare speak in his court right now.
“She asked me for 6 new moons, and I blessed her with you. She was so happy…I watched her raise you to be the leader of Purple Diamond, the only female led coven of mine…. Your only mistake has already been forgiven. She cried and grieved your death, and even now she worries for you.” He took a puff of his tobacco. “She worries even now that you will be too timid to do your job.”
“She shouldn’t.” I looked at the black stone floor. It was polished to a mirror finish. “I worry I shame you master… that I disappoint because of my childishness.”
“You *are* a child. Childishness is expected.” He scoffed firmly. “You do not disappoint me; you frustrate me. I have given you an additional life, a coven to lead… and even a mate. What more can your father do little one?”
“Nothing.” I said firmly. “My fear… I hesitate because I don’t want to repeat my mistakes, but in being so trepid, I make trouble still.” I said summoning the deer. As I sat cross legged, he watched me summon a knife to cut it into pieces. Seasonings were placed at my left and right, and I went spicy to cut the gamey flavor from being so fresh. I made a fire, and when I blinked, I was back in the ritual room.
The fire was still blazing in front of me, and I put the deer on the flame. The fire engulfed it, and turned green, meaning that he’d at least seen the offering, and wanted the oath.
“I Tiffany Yoltier, Wife of Zayde Yolteir, daughter of Heidi and John Stone, cast this land as Yellow Diamond. In the darkness, we twinkle. In the sky we fly, and on the ground, we kneel.” I kneeled. The ground glowed and pulsed red. I attracted attention to myself, and I liked it.
Good.
Let them see.
“I summon the depths of this land, from the darkest parts of this world. This land is reclaimed.” I said as the Yellow Diamond staff appeared in my hands, and there was a bit of an explosion around me. The room glowed red in every carved recess. Even the ceiling had old carvings… making a perfect cube.
The dark stones became almost black, reenergized from the Horned One’s acceptance.
“Fear me less.” I heard behind me… It was a whisper on the wind…
---Zayde----
I sat in my spot; as leader of Yellow Diamond, I would sit between Orange and Green Diamond. Father sat further up, and Velimier was with my wife, so that was fine.
“Lets get to it.” Said grandfather. He looked a little annoyed. “They make their first move.” He said cryptically.
“My coven will supply.” Said Father, and several of my uncles.
“Good.” Said grandfather
“I propose something a little unconventional.” I blurted, raising my hand. Many of them were curious.
“Speak Lord Yellow.” Said grandfather.
“Well as you all know, the young master’s return has made a bit of peace… The Church only punishes those who break the treaty. Setting up a coven breaks no laws. The worship of the master is not illegal anymore… Maybe… Just maybe.” I was cut off by grandfather.
“I never thought of this that way.” He said scratching his chin. “The local leader’s name is Father Parez…. I do not know of him personally, but that does not mean that he’s weak.”
“I wonder if perhaps he will listen to me.” I said as there were murmurs at the table. “They don’t have the exact location, but if I can stall until a good, *stable* barrier is up, we should be fine.” I said thinking out loud.
“That won’t be until Tiffany gets your lands blessed.” Said father.
“I have full confidence that she’s already done that.” I said with a nod. Many of my uncles agreed. She may be a different person, but she has the same skill. I have no doubt that even if she couldn’t do it, she’d figure it out.
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