SATURDAY, JUNE 18
3 DAYS UNTIL THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
Honey’s Helpful Hint, from
Honey Frost’s Southern Cookbook for Recipes Gone Wrong:
Long past the farm, down in the Holler
there is a sideways place
where the friends are foes,
lost in the creek and deep in the caves,
there is a sideways Witch
with a soul of shadow
who goes by the call of woeful Widow.
—“Song of the Widow Witch”
Strong hands stir me awake.
My eyes stay shut in protest. Ifinallyfell asleep. Just a few more minutes.
“Ms. Frost, wake up.”
That man’s voice again. I recognize it. Why isn’t he asleep, too? It’s way too early for this nonsense.
“You have to fight through the lethargy.”
Why won’t the universe let me sleep? I. Am.Tired.
“Honey, can you hear me? Wake up.”
Ah, I see. We’re playing a game. I can do pet names. “Of course, dear,” I murmur. With some drool, I’m sure.
“Of all the times—you are the most vexing woman—do not make me empty our water bottles on top of your head—”
“Let me sleep, darling.” I’m going to run out of patience. And endearments.
The next thing I register is that my soft bed is gone and I’m upright on two feet, swaying with sleepy eyes. The Warlock’s face is not the worst view to wake up to, even if it’s rather tense. And sallow. He’s hauled me to my feet, my cheeks cupped in his palms. “Are you all right?”
I bat at his hands. “Congratulations, you saved me from a nap.” Now I’m tiredandflustered. His thumbs were doing these nice—
“A nap courtesy of the Widow Witch.”
My dreary eyes go wide.NowI’m awake.
We arenotwhere we fell asleep.
We’re still in a cave, but not any kind I’ve seen before. Our bedrolls are gone, and we’re standing in a meadow. The green earth beneath our feet covers the entire expansive footprint of a gaping cave chamber. Stalactites hang from the uneven ceiling and stalagmites sprout from the ground like stony trees. Pools of cave water glisten, and trickling waterfalls echo around us. Pinpricks of light glow and wink out everywhere I look.Fireflies.
Farther into the cavern, dusky sunshine filters through the air.
I can see.
