Chapter 16 #2
“The king owes me a good favor and Elise had made already the acquaintance with the Duke of Dormhein, no less,” Morgaine proclaimed.
“The fine gentleman, after seeing Elise’s many aptitudes.
” She paused letting everyone appreciate what she was talking about.
Elise’s thin linen dress was almost transparent under the fire light.
It was not hard to imagine that even the most outranked man would take notice of such talents.
The witches nodded after a good look at the girl, and Morgaine thought she caught a brief tightening in Seth’s jaw.
The young infernal was a specimen like one does not see every century.
His perfectly bronzed skin over that lean muscular frame was a temptation that tested Morgaine’s discipline.
Devon was attractive of course, but the younger demon was feisty, and given Morgaine’s ample experience, she knew those types of gentlemen usually offered the most interesting pleasures in private.
Having still the crowd’s ears, Morgaine added, shaking her head at the imagination of the young demon, “Elise would be at the castle initiating the refinement of her link at once!” she finished, and despite being completely unaware of the particulars of the situation, the witches proceeded to cheer in support.
Elise, now more confused than before, shot her a look of disbelief, her fair open countenance clouded by fear.
Morgaine joined her and was about to explain what exactly had prompted the sudden decision when Devon, never one to surrender an audience, took center stage and began recounting the driving forces behind the situation at hand.
“Welcome to our coven, Elise,” he began.
Morgaine saw Elise’s face brighten as though fortune herself had laid a few sacks of gold at her feet.
The witches clapped and a few shrieks of celebration made their way into the dark night.
Devon, delighted to the marrow, continued, “Danu himself has claimed this young witch, and although I have seen this occur but once every century in this part of the world, I trust Morgaine and I have found the perfect way to manage the gift the divinities have placed upon us tonight.”
The grandiose speech did little to appease the surprise of everyone present, but Devon continued nonetheless.
“Elise is to remain near the Stone of Raj, where she may refine her gift. As a precaution, Seth is to watch over her and ensure both her safety and that the procedures for this rare link are properly followed.”
The young demon stiffened. “But, Devon—”
Devon interjected before the poor infernal could object. “The forces that bind this world to the one beyond are mysterious even to us, infernals. I would guard Elise myself, but my responsibilities on the other side are too many to take on another.”
But Seth was not the only one who seemed unhappy with the arrangement. Elise, already a few steps closer to the demons, rasped with displeasure, “Don’t I have any say in this?” she said. “And what exactly does it mean that he would guard me?”
Devon shot her a soft, charming smile, one he had surely practiced for a millennium and which had rarely failed him. “He would pay you only seldom visits, an aid at your disposal, my darling. The divinities have spoken, and they have seen something wondrous in you.”
Elise still looked unconvinced despite Devon’s most persuasive efforts. “If the divinity has claimed so rarely, how could you be so certain?”
Devon let out a small laugh. “All male divinities are one, just as all female divinities are one as well. The male and the female unite into the one grand divinity of all. That is the one I serve, and that is how I can know of these things.”
Morgaine had already heard this enough times not to be stirred by it, though she could not say the same of Elise. The girl looked as though a revelation of a lifetime had just been handed to her.
Before the words could return to Elise’s soft and meaty lips again, Morgaine tugged at her arm and whispered. “The other alternative was far worse, my dear. Trust me.”
Elise turned to her and gave a soft nod, her hair a tangle of dark curls.
Seth was nearly combusting at Devon’s side.
He was clearly waiting to snap once they were alone.
Morgaine smiled to herself. The young demon was evidently not immune to Elise’s beauty, and given his growing resistance to the arrangement, this might suit her purposes perfectly and buy her enough time to secure Elise a permanent position at the castle.
The festival eventually turned to what, in Morgaine’s opinion, was its true purpose: an excuse to awaken the witches’ fertility.
Just like mortal women, witches had their needs, and those were not always fully met by simple men.
Devon took it upon himself to ensure no witch was left unattended.
The heroic effort allowed the witches to maintain the strongest connection to the divine and, most importantly, unleashed the greatest spell in the clearing, one that would preserve the land and trees for centuries to come.
It was, after all, a collective sacrifice in which Morgaine considered her participation unlikely to alter the final result in any meaningful way.
Before the sight of anything indecorous could offend Elise, Morgaine took her broom and bid the others farewell.
Only Seth remained watchful of them, perhaps taking his new role a touch too seriously.
The young demon, equally uninterested in participating in the final tradition of the evening, disappeared into the flames with a frown and a muttered complaint.
“We have much to talk about, dear Elise,” Morgaine said, glancing at Elise’s crow, who now sat with its eyes closed as if enjoying a pleasant rest somewhere in Hell. “Is that evil bird a bother?”
“It’s starting to feel more and more normal to have it with me.”
“Let us hope the same happens with Seth.”
“That certainly would not.”