slightly in competition with a cold wind that was sighing through the leafless trees which surrounded our large back yard. “Those wishing to be in circle please join hands, left palm up, right palm down, and take a moment to ground and center.”
We hadn’t yet had any snow to speak of. A flurry or two here and there, but nothing that stuck around for any length of time. Now with the temperature still above freezing, it was looking very much like we were in for an “earth tone” Christmas a few days hence. Even so, the night was chilly enough that my shoulder was already starting to ache, and we’d only been outside for fifteen minutes. I suppose there had been only just so much that could be done to repair the joint after my encounter with Eldon Porter, so I figured I’d better get used to it. Still, I was starting to regret not donning a heavier coat.
We were all standing in a loose circle on our deck-Me, Felicity, Ben and his wife Allison, and a small group of Pagan friends. We surrounded a portable, outdoor fireplace that had been positioned on a wide bed of fireproof bricks and then stacked with carefully arranged kindling that consisted not only of dried sticks but of pinecones and a remnant of the previous year’s Yule log as well.
Felicity and I were actually solitary practitioners of The Craft and didn’t belong to a particular coven. Truth was we rarely held ritual with anyone other than ourselves, and maybe a cat or two present; however, this was a special occasion. Of the eight generally accepted Pagan holidays scattered about the wheel of the year, this was the final one before beginning the cycle anew. Though labeled as a minor Sabbat, Yule was without a doubt a holiday of immense importance and a celebration that literally demanded the camaraderie of close friends. Ben and Allison were the closest friends we had, and those in attendance besides them fit the description perfectly as well for they had become an integral part of our lives over the past year or so.
R.J., Cally, Randy and his wife Nancy, and a bubbly pair of identical twins named Jennifer and Shari-who had a proclivity toward finishing one another’s sentences-were in some ways our adopted children. And it wasn’t necessarily because they were all several years younger than us. The primary factor was really the horrific circumstances under which we’d met-a turn of events that had moved us to, for all intents and purposes, take them in like strays. They had been the core group of a fledgling coven that had been formed and led by Ariel Tanner-an old friend and former student of mine back when I’d endeavored to instruct others in The Craft.
Ariel had met a gruesome end to her own young life at the hand of a sadistic serial killer, and through my connection with her I’d become deeply embroiled in the investigation. In the process, Felicity and I had befriended the leaderless young neophytes, and soon we had taken them under wing in order to provide some of the guidance that can come only from age and experience. It had been rewarding, though trying at times. Still, a strong bond was forged, and they would forever be a part of our lives.
Eight of us formed the relaxed ellipse with Ben and Allison standing quietly outside the group. Everyone had been in agreement, and we had made it clear to the couple that they were perfectly welcome to join us in the circle but that they should feel no obligation to do so. While Ben was far less a skeptic than he’d been in the past, it was obvious that he felt somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of being a part of the ritual. However, the two of them were curious, and since everyone else was fine with having an audience, they were content to watch from the sidelines as we proceeded through the simple rite.
“I don’t suppose I need to ask if everyone is grounded, now do I?” Felicity asked on the heels of her own musical laugh. “This is feeling way too good.”
Quiet chuckles and stifled laughs elicited from the small group. Being an eclectic, non-traditional group, we tended to practice in an informal, freeform fashion, and at times the steps of a given ritual would take on a mind of their own. She had drawn her proffered conclusion from the fact that energy had already begun to pass about the circle in a smooth, unrestricted flow, several steps ahead of being called for.
Even with my current state of being, I’d actually managed to achieve a solid ground in short order. It had taken serious concentration to do so; something I was still getting used to, but I’d done it. I’m sure that I had a bit of help from a particular redhead since she was latched tight to my hand, but none of that mattered to me right now. What was important was that I was fully grounded, and the combined energies of the group circling through felt absolutely wonderful.
“Well,” my wife spoke again, “since this production doesn’t seem to need a director, which one of you would like to call the quarters this time?”
“We will,” Jennifer and Shari both chimed in at once.
With no argument whatsoever, the two of them smoothly broke the ranks of the circle, opening ethereal doorways by which to properly exit as the rest of us shuffled around to close the voids. Moving in opposite directions, they orbited us, passing one another at the easternmost point of our deck and then continuing along the circuit until meeting once again in the east. There, they stopped, face-to-face, and joined hands in a miniature circle of their own.
“On this night…” Jennifer began.
“…of darkness long,” Shari continued.
“We join together…” Jennifer said.
“…our circle strong,” Shari completed.
“We raise our voice, above the rest…”
“…and make to you, this gentle request.”
A short measure of silence fell in behind the quick chant, and we all waited.
“Watchtower of the east…” Jennifer finally said as they continued to trade off the lines.
“…Element of air…” Shari added seamlessly.
“…Guardian of the wind…”
“…Breath of life.”
“We invite you,” they spoke simultaneously this time, blending in a double-voiced harmony. “Join us this night and watch over us in our circle. Blessed be!”
“So mote it be!” the rest of us sang out in unison at the queue.
After a double beat of quiet, the two girls released hands and turned their backs to one another. Jennifer went into motion first, Shari remaining steadfast in place until her sister was on the opposite side of the circle, whereupon she set out in the opposite direction. They pranced, almost fairylike, as they made the circuit. It was obvious that they were enjoying the task at hand and loved being in the spotlight. This time around they passed one another at the southernmost point of the group, again continuing about us until meeting once again in the south.
Repeating their earlier posture, they clasped hands.
R.J. canted toward me and I leaned in to hear him whisper, “They’ve been planning this for three weeks, ya’know.”
I grinned at him as he stood there shaking his head.
“Guardians present…” Shari’s voice met our ears.
“…We count now one,” Jennifer followed.
“Demands of you…” Shari again.
“…We shall make none,” Jennifer said.
“Now our quest, is but to ask…”
“…If in fire’s glow, we may bask.”
Again, a momentary lull followed their chant as we all anticipated what would come next.
“Watchtower of the south…” Shari said.
“…Element of fire…” Jennifer followed.
“…Guardian of flame…”
“…Bringer of warmth.”
“…We invite you to…”
The twin’s conjoined voices were unceremoniously interrupted by an evenly spaced staccato of piercing electronic beeps. An extremely brief interval of silence ensued, only to be followed by a second set of the annoying tones that increased in volume by at least half. A third set barely got off the ground as an abbreviated chirp. What quickly followed was my friend’s embarrassed sounding voice.
“Sorry ‘bout that. Thought I’d set it ta’ vibrate,” Ben apologized meekly as he scanned the face of his pager.
“Is it the sitter?” Allison asked, leaning closer to her husband to have a look at the device.
