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“Wait. What group? What legend?”
He stared at me.
“What?” I said.
“You already know the answer. You just don’t know that you know it.”
I managed a laugh. “Another thing I’ll add to the pile, then.”
He took a few steps to the side and I moved with him, and there, on the wall was a framed piece of embroidery. It must have been hundreds of years old.
I recognised it from childhood. It was one of the myths and legends I’d learnt about in school. I’d written it in my school book and drawn some pictures around it, but Grandma had torn it up and told me it was rubbish. Like she had about so many things in my life.
I heard it as a whisper. The words dancing and glowing with life as I stared.
There will be nine witches from the bottom of Orcop to the end of Garway Hill as long as water flows.
I’d sung the line in the grounds of Garway church when I was dancing around the gravestones. I used to make daisy chains up by the old spring, to my own little song.
Of course. It was all making sense now.
I was one of the nine witches from the bottom of Orcop to Garway Hill. Just like the witches before me.
The question was, just who were the others?
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Hans told me. “They’re waiting for you. Just as they have been for years.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Myminddancedthroughso many of the women I knew from Orcop and Garway. Who were the other eight witches in the legend? Who would be in the Garway coven? Had I passed them every day without even knowing about it? Was it old Edna who walked her old Labrador every morning through Orcop village, or the goth girl who lived at the old pub in Garway, with the faded sun tarot card as a tavern sign? What about Amy, who everyone knew as thecrystal healing lady?
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Hans said.
I stared up at him with a raised eyebrow.
“You already know, don’t you?”
He didn’t answer, just turned his attention back to the embroidered phrase.
There’ll be nine witches from the bottom of Orcop to the end of Garway Hill as long as water flows.
“Come on, Hans,” I pushed. “Who are the other eight witches? Do I know them?”
“That’s a surprise for you to uncover yourself. Not one to be handed out to you. It would be cheating you out of a revelation.”
I could have laughed out loud. I didn’t need any more revelations this lifetime. I’d had more than enough to last for centuries. Still, despite the carnage I had a strange sense of euphoria. It was bursting through the chaos and pain of memories long gone like a phoenix rising. A weird excitement, as though my true self was peeking her head above the turrets for the very first time.
Seeing life through Mary’s eyes seemed different to mine. They were like mine –Katherine’s –with an extra magical shine on them. Mary’s magic and mine combined.
“Yes, your hearts and souls are two as one,” Hans said. “And the others will be pleased to see it. The ninth witch coming home.”
My heart sped up.
“I’m going back to Herefordshire? To live in Orcop? Is that what’s supposed to happen?”
His eyes were so steady on mine.
“No, Katherine.We’regoing back to Herefordshire.” He looked so happy, it was beautiful. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my eye very tightly on the clock. Events are unfolding, just as they should be.”
