Free Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

agree,” Visser said, as if the girl had spoken. “We’re finished here.”
    Aata’s Right Hand nodded and made a hasty bow to them all, again eyeing Ryder nervously as she stood up. She’s eager to leave, Ryder thought as he bowed back. She’s afraid that any moment I’ll accuse her of stealing my mother’s bone. But Ryder didn’t say a word as the two women filed out of the tent. He and the white witch were co-conspirators now.
    He tried to take Mabis by the arm, but she shrugged away his help. Kef stood up but remained by the exit. As Mabis passed to leave, he reached out and gently touched her on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t want you to go without knowing that there are many in the coven who remember you, who would be happy to take you back.” His voice was as kind as Visser’s had been harsh.
    â€œTake me back?” Mabis laughed ruefully. “After what you’ve just seen?”
    â€œDon’t you think you should be with the brothers and sisters of the coven? Especially now?” Ryder didn’t understand the sadness in his crooked smile.
    â€œThere is nothing in the mountains for me.”
    Kef shook his head. “Not even Aata and Aayse? How can you presume to throw the bones when you have nofaith? Did you even pray this morning before you came to us?”
    Mabis hesitated, then shrugged. She hadn’t. They all knew that.
    â€œYou cannot be a boneshaker while looking down your nose at our beliefs,” Kef went on. “You’re either a witch or you’re not.”
    â€œWhy are you here, Kef?” Mabis said abruptly. “You’re not an elder. You’re not a boneshaker.”
    â€œNo . . .” Kef seemed to hesitate. Ryder hadn’t thought to wonder why such a new member of the coven would be sent to answer a firecall. To carry the gear and light the fires?
    â€œIt’s not really me you want to lure to the coven, is it?” Mabis said.
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œDon’t you? All this concern about my health, my faith.” Mabis put a hand on Kef’s wrist and pulled him close. “Tell old Sodan that my health is fine. And as for my faith, ask him why I lost it. Ask Visser. They know. See if either of them will dare to tell you.”
    With that she took Ryder’s arm and swept out of the tent.
    Instead of going into the cottage, Ryder lingered outside under the silvernut trees, looking down on the valley. The sun had set, but there was still light in the sky. Hismother and sisters had gone inside. Far below on the path, Ryder could just make out Dassen’s little brown horse. Dassen had been invited to stay the night but had insisted that he’d already left his establishment too long in the hands of hired girls. At this time of the year the tavern would be busy. Farmers from far and wide would be bringing their hicca to the village mill to be roasted and ground, and they would need a place to eat and drink. Dassen would probably tell them all to be sure to stand in the river when the monsters came. Ryder’s cheeks went warm at the idea.
    It’s all over, he tried to tell himself. Things will go back to normal now . But dread lay coiled at the pit of his stomach. He had the feeling that the future was stealing up behind him, about to tap his shoulder with a cold finger, about to break the spell of this perfect twilit night.
    Again and again, the image of the white witch floated to his mind—the strange girl lit up by the moon, the dying embers of the fire. Guilt, he told himself. Guilt over letting her take his mother’s bone. But it wasn’t just that. It was as if the girl were a puzzle that his mind was trying to solve.
    The singing he had heard earlier in the day was gone, but the world still seemed to shimmer. Strange as the day had been, he didn’t want it to end, didn’t want the time to pass. It seemed to Ryder that his whole