Free Fiery Gemstones (A Heston Witch Novella) by Cassandra DeBrown

high, towering over the other trees in their vicinity. She remembered reading somewhere that their roots were embedded in the very bed of the Pishon River that was one of the four rivers that came out of the well in the middle of the Garden of Eden. This was the source of their nutrients and the special healing properties that the two trees were famed for.
    Esther glanced at the river. Its surface sparkled, and the water looked clean and clear. There was no sign of the Pelenchies this morning but she knew they would be around somewhere, watching. The fierce clan of women were the protectors of the river and took their responsibility very seriously. The river had stayed free from pollution for all these years due to their watchful supervision. She hoped they knew by now that the Hestons meant no harm either. She was just there to pick her pod and get her gemstone and that was all. That was assuming she could make it to the top of the tree.
    She looked up again, trying to see the topmost branch. It wasn’t happening. She was feeling dizzy just trying. And she was still on the ground. This did not bode well. She looked round at the family standing around, Mum, grandmother and aunts. They were waiting for her at the foot of the tree.
    I wish Elvira was here. Stupid rules.
    She’d be allowed to come for the manifestation ball but not today. Today was for mature Heston witches only. And her.
    Taking deep breaths in a vain attempt to calm the butterflies in her belly, she smoothed her hands down the front of her borrowed canary yellow tank top. Elvira had given it to her for luck. She popped in her iPod earpieces. With The Climb playing on repeat, she stepped closer to the tree. After one last glance at her family, she started her climb.
    Taking her time she shimmed up the trunk and reached out to the closest branch. She pulled herself up and sat for a minute, trying to plot a path but it seemed futile. There were branches everywhere, crisscrossing and ascending and covered with leaves. She stretched out her hand and took a firm grasp of the sturdiest branch in her visual field then pushed out with her feet and moved up into the cradle of two other branches. Soon she settled into a pattern of stretching, pushing and moving, instinctively placing her hand in handholds she soon realised had been used by hundreds of Heston witches before her.
    “It’s the climb, keep the faith, keep the faith…” Esther sang out loud as she paused for breath. She looked through the canopy of leafy branches. She could see the whole of Silverline City stretched out below her.  When she squinted slightly, lifting her hand to shade her eyes, she could just about make out Red Rock Haven and in the east, the dense forests that supposedly led into the Garden of God. In the west, she could see the bustling hub of activity that was the silver mines.
    Still looking out in awe at the fascinating view, she reached out for the next branch but slipped and missed her target. Luckily the thick branches broke her fall while she floundered and desperately tried to grab any branch she could reach. She came to a joint-wrenching stop with her heart pounding in her ears.
    That was close! Whoa!
    She’d lost some ground but as least she was still in the tree.  The thought of plunging to her death made goose bumps break out all over her. She tried to make her seat a bit more comfortable but hearing the thin branch she was sitting on groan with her weight, she hastily shifted to another, more reliable- looking branch.
    Her feet felt sweaty and uncomfortable in her sneakers. Actually all of her felt sweaty and uncomfortable. It was time for a drink. It was tradition for each Heston witch to climb with some water drawn from the fork in the river. It was supposed to be refreshing and to bring good luck and perseverance to the climber. After taking a few swigs, Esther had to agree that she was refreshed and ready for another round of climbing. She glanced at her wristwatch,