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“He said the castle was haunted.”
“Not entirely wrong, but in this case, that isn’t what happened.” I leveled a look at the woman while Munroe rounded the table to my side.
“Lia…you don’t have to explain anything. Robyn’s cool. She’s one of the good ones.”
“I get that, but I’m also not afraid to tell my own truth either.” I met Robyn’s eyes and saw the spark of approval there. “So, in speaking about sharing our truths. I’m a Kitchen Witch, and the antics you saw tonight were due to a broonie who lives here.”
Robyn’s mouth dropped open, and she glanced between the two of us. Likely to see if we were having a joke at her expense.
“And, with that being said, I’d like to do a spell for you. I’m torn though. Is it courage you need or protection?” I tapped a finger at my lips, and Robyn’s face bloomed in a smile.
“If I get a say? I’d pick courage. I don’t need protection from my parents. I’m strong enough to come out standing on my own two feet whatever may happen.”
“If you really feel that way, what’s stopping you from saying anything?” I asked, likely more bluntly than needed, but I’d had a long day, okay?
“Courage.” Robyn laughed. “And I don’t know…I’m just not ready to break their hearts, I suppose.”
“But you’re breaking your own in the meantime,” Munroe said softly, and my heart trembled at his words.This man. This impossibly lovely and decent man. How did I luck out to have him be interested in me?
“I am.” Robyn’s face fell. “I’ve met someone. I think…I think she’s the one. And she’s being patient with me, but I hate having to hide her like she’s a dirty little secret. She’s not. She’s wonderful. She’s everything.”
“A tea, a tincture, or a soup?” I asked, studying the recipe for courage.
“Tea, I think. Since we were going to have a cup anyway. Oh, wow. Is this…like am I going to have magick now?” Robyn patted her hands on her cheeks, an excited flush crossing her face.
“No, at least I don’t believe that’s how it works. I’m the one who carries the magick, and you’ll be the beneficiary. Right, let’s have a look.” Pursing my lips, I studied the ingredients list before walking over to the spice cabinet. Mustard seed, black tea leaves, and thyme. It didn’t call for much, and to me, that made sense. When courage was needed, who had time to build a massive spell? It made me think of the history of this book, and other times through the years when courage might have been called for. Had Kitchen Witches of yore brewed this same tea for their men going into battle? Simplicity certainly made sense on such an occasion. I imagined a woman, bent over a boiling pot of water in a small cottage, rain raging outside while she worked, knowing she’d have to say goodbye to her love. It was enough to make me weepy all over again, and I forced myself to bring my thoughts back to the present. It had been a long day, and clearly exhaustion was making me a touch maudlin.
Following the instructions, I ground the spices together in a clockwise motion while they watched me, solemn looks on their faces. I hadn’t yet tried my magick in front of anyone, so I sincerely hoped this wouldn’t backfire. However, I was too tired after my day to care all that deeply. Either this would work, or it wouldn’t, but at the very least—I was trying to help. My tea kettle whistled, and I turned to pick it up from the stove.
“Munroe, can you get a candle and lighter from the service prep area?”
“Nae bother, hen,” Munroe said with a wink and disappeared while I poured hot water into a mug and added the tea in a little mesh bag. When Munroe returned, with a chunky white candle in hand, I pointed to the drawing in the book.
“I need you to carve these into the candle,” I instructed Robyn, handing her a knife.
“Me? But…what if I do it wrong?”
“You can’t go wrong if your intention is pure.”
Robyn studied the drawing of a diamond shape with three straight lines coming from the bottom and dutifully inscribed it on the side of the candle.
“Now…” I pushed the mug in front of her and handed her the lighter. “Light the flame while I recite the spell and then you’ll drink the tea.”
“Do I have to chug it? It’s still quite hot,” Robyn pointed out, and my lips quirked.
“I think you’ll be fine to finish it with dessert.”
“That’s grand. Right, let’s get on with it, shall we?” Robyn clasped her hands in front of her and stared at me, as though she was waiting for a punishment.
“Relax,” I advised her, nudging the tea in front of her. “This is good magick. Light to light.” With that, Robyn lit the flame and I reached for that space inside me where my magick danced and flowed. Grabbing a tendril of it, I pulled it through my body and placed a finger on the handle of the mug, and another finger on the side of the candle.
“Fire, we ask of you to burn fear away,
A tea to give strength to a nervous heart,
And grant bravery in her life each day,
Along with the courage to tear doubt apart.
