Free A Witch in Time by Nora Lee Page A

soon.”
    “Thank you.” She once again stared into his eyes and felt as though she were falling into the depths of his soul. “You’ve been here a very long time. You must miss these things much more than I do.”
    He shrugged. “The passing of time dulls the senses. I no longer remember taste and texture.”
    “How sad.”
    The sound of raised voices caught her attention.
    “You don’t even want to be here, Rowan. Don’t tell me I shouldn’t be High Priest!” Caedmon motioned at Orianna. “We both have power, unlike you and your husband. You can’t lead the coven alone. Every High Priestess needs a Priest, and Garrett can never do that.”
    “Caedmon. That’s enough,” Orianna hissed a quiet warning that Enid felt sure no one at the big tables could hear.
    They couldn’t miss the sound of Caedmon’s rant, though.
    “Don’t shush me, Ori! You said yourself that you’re afraid we’ll have problems.”
    Rowan gave her friend a sad look. “Is that true, Ori? You don’t trust our leadership?”
    Orianna flushed scarlet and ducked her head. She seemed to have no answer for Rowan.
    “I guess you lied about being glad that I’m back then,” Rowan said.
    The other bride looked up at her with wide eyes. “No, I didn’t. I’m glad you’re here.” She twisted her sparkling new diamond engagement ring around her finger. “But I admit that I am worried. Not that I have anything against you, Garrett. You just don’t understand what’s involved in leading the coven.”
    “I’m not offended. Just don’t underestimate me,” Garrett said serenely, undisturbed by the argument.
    Caedmon stared Garrett down. “What do you have to offer? You’re mundane.”
    “May I remind you that the Elder Tree responds only to me?” said Rowan.
    “When you voluntarily hand over your leadership the Elder Tree will recognize us.”
    Rowan shook her head. “You can’t tell me you believe that, Ori. You saw what happened.”
    “She’s right.” Orianna laid a trembling hand over Caedmon’s. “The Tree won’t recognize us.”
    “Well then we can be leaders in name while you handle the Tree. Everyone will be happy.”
    Enid couldn’t let that go. They deserved a strong leadership and splitting the power served no good purpose. While Garrett might be mundane, Rowan remained part of the true line, a powerful force for the coven. And no matter what Rowan might think, Enid felt sure Siobhan would exhibit powers inherited from either her mother or another ancestor. The true blood line needed to remain connected with the Elder Tree in order to keep the coven healthy and whole.
    Before she could move, Hephaestus squeezed her hand.
    She looked up at him with a question in her eyes.
    The shake of his head sent her a clear message to stay out of the disagreement. Enid felt she could do nothing but agree and looked around the room to find everyone else’s attention on the head table where Caedmon continued to rant. He remained a new enough member of their society that he couldn’t realize the impression he projected.
    “Give in to the logic, Rowan. We should lead the coven.”
    Rowan sat back in her chair and heaved a tired sigh. “Whatever you want. I don’t care.”
    Hephaestus stormed over to the head table. “You will not give up your lineage, young woman. I refuse to join any of you in matrimony if this is how you choose to treat your coven, Caedmon McFarland!”
    Startled gasps filled the room as Hephaestus vanished from sight.
    A roar of sound built up as the coven members argued among themselves. Enid looked around at her relatives, friends, and neighbors, and knew she couldn’t let the disagreement stand without endangering the entire community. The issue must be resolved right away.
    Now where could Hephaestus have gone this time?

9
    T he empty corridors of the castle stretched off in all kinds of directions. Enid had already spent endless hours roaming the empty halls in search of Hephaestus to no avail.