Elementals small magick, p.3
Elementals: Small Magick, page 3
Without thinking about it, she found herself on the trail up the mountain. The sounds of her world surrounded her—the chirping of birds, rustling leaves and the distant plaint of a crow. Reaching the meadow, she crossed to the flat stone and sat down. Here she could almost see forever. Indeed, out beyond the village, far off where the hills parted, she thought she could see the silver gleam of the sea. Turning her face up to the sun, she let the gentle breeze caress her, washing across her aching temples and toying with her hair.
This was where she truly belonged, outside, among the creatures of the mountain. Here she found a measure of peace.
High above, a huge hawk floated in a lazy circle. She watched it idly, just enjoying the sensation of warm sunshine and gentle wind. What must the great bird feel, soaring aloft as it did? What did the world look like from that height?
She tried to envision the valley as if from above, the village laid out much as she could see from here, a scattering of buildings along the tracery of roads and paths. Hedgerows and woodlands would be dark patches among the green of pastures and planted fields.
The wind subsided and the grasses stilled. The faint trickle of water intruded on her thoughts.
Was this the source of the clear stream that welled up in a spring at the base of the mountain? She’d found it tasted just as good as the water from her well but was far too cold for bathing.
She swung off the stone and followed the sound across the meadow, to the side opposite the cliff. There she found water trickling out of the stone face and into a small pool. No out-flow from the natural basin was evident, so the water must seep through a crack down into the mountain again. She dipped a hand in and found it numbingly cold, even icier than the water from the spring.
Tracing the edge of the meadow, she found a break in the undergrowth near the path down the southern face of the mountainside. There she discovered a patch of blackened earth. A suspicion formed in her mind. She pulled aside the weeds that obscured most of the hearth, revealing a ring of stones to contain the fire.
Surveying the area from that point, she could see the meadow formed a circle. The cliff anchored one point of the compass.
Air.
Opposite it lay the pool.
Water.
Here was a hearth, long-abandoned, aye, but once used frequently, she’d wager.
Fire.
Across the meadow, she also wagered she’d find another sign of previous use.
Earth.
In the center stood the flat stone.
An altar.
How could she have sat there and eaten her meal several weeks ago, oblivious to what she now saw so clearly? From the looks of the overgrown hearth and the absence of ashes, no one had used it for many years. Surely long enough that knowledge of this place and its significance had fallen from local memory.
Rumors of the mage who’d built her cottage sprang to mind. Finally, some evidence that those stories might be true!
Excitement bubbled up within her, and joy that she had discovered something on her own. Finally, dusting off her hands, she decided she could not pass up the opportunity presented by the natural circle.
Her feet fairly danced down the trail as she returned to her cottage and gathered the things she’d need. Candles and coals from her hearth. Her little cauldron. A handful of seeds, both herbs and flowers. An antler she’d found in the yard when she’d arrived. The clay cup she’d made years ago and decorated with designs she loved. Her two ritual knives: the athame and a little belt knife. Her mother’s oak wand.
In no time at all, she stood back at the stone altar in her meadow.
Her race first down and then up the mountain path had warmed her beyond comfort. She unlaced her gown and pulled it over her head, folding it neatly beside the altar. Her boots and thick stockings followed.
She debated about her shift for a moment before deciding, why not? No one could see her, so she shed it as well. The sun on her bare skin felt unfamiliar and yet decidedly right.
The breeze rose again. She lifted her heavy hair off her neck, stretched her arms up and turned, letting the air waft over her and dry the perspiration on the back of her neck, under her arms and between her legs. She spread her limbs, reveling in the sensation of total freedom. How wonderful this was! With no one to watch her, she could wallow in the novel sensation of nakedness to her heart’s content.
The image of Jenny in Robert’s arms came back to her. What would this freedom be like if she had someone to share it? She could readily imagine the ecstasy of joining with a lover here.
Which of the men she’d imagined would he be? They would stretch out together in the soft grass, taking their time to explore each other’s bodies while the wind and the sun bathed them in warm caresses. She longed to see just how soft the grass really was and caught herself as she sank to her knees.
Was she daft, that she should lose herself in fantasies, when she had this wondrous circle to celebrate? She pushed all thoughts of men from her mind.
Drey began at the northern edge of the meadow, where she found a thick stone slab. Clearing away the choking weeds took but little time. She spent another few minutes rubbing moss away to reveal a star inscribed on the surface. There was a little indentation below that and there she poured her seeds.
She envisioned the seeds sprouting, bringing forth life from the earth. With a shaking voice, she began, “I bless these seeds and stone, that they may be fit to dwell within this circle of light.” She thought the engraved star filled with light for just an instant.
At the little natural basin filled by the trickle from the mountain, she dipped both hands into the icy water. “I bless this water and basin, that they may be fit to dwell within this circle of light.” This time, she was certain the water flashed silver.
She had cast circles in her cottage, in a field she liked and with her family but never had she seen such an acceptance of her blessing. Excitement tempered with awe quickened her breath.
She next gathered a few sticks from under the bushes and trees and dry grass from beneath the new shoots. Piled in the old hearth, these easily kindled when she dropped a coal among them.
The fire warmed her outstretched hands. “I bless this fire and hearth, that they may be fit to dwell within this circle of light.” A crystal-white flame blazed suddenly in the heart of the fire, then disappeared.
The eastern direction puzzled her. There was no sign there had ever been a symbol there, no evidence of a manifestation of the element. Mayhap it had gone over the edge in a rockslide in the time since this circle was last used. Finally, she found a stone with a dimple on top, filled it with a few pinches of herbs, dropped a little coal in and set it near the cliff’s edge.
She held her hands above it. “I bless this scent and air, that they may be fit to dwell within this circle of light.” As the fragrant smoke began to rise, she smiled. What would the wind do to acknowledge her blessing?
Instead of rising to the sky, a small cloud of smoke gathered just above the stone. As she watched, it grew in volume. The mass then formed a column and rose to wrap around her hands until they were completely engulfed. The ball of smoke hovered there.
After a moment of thought, she spread her hands apart, mentally pushing the smoke out, dispersing it to the wind. Sheer joy bubbled up inside her and escaped in laughter that followed the smoke out across the valley.
As she turned back to the altar, a breeze caressed her cheek, flowing down across her shoulder and between her breasts. A shiver ran through her. She felt that the element of air was special here, and perhaps that was why there was no anchor for the east; the altar faced that way and, in a sense, the whole circle was devoted to air.
Circling the slab, she laid out the items she’d brought. Satisfied that she’d placed her tools on the altar properly, she walked once more to the edge of the cliff. Holding one arm out, with her fingers pointed at the ground, she walked the perimeter of the circle, clearing her mind of everything but her gratitude for the lovely day. In each direction, she called upon the spirits to attend her.
When she reached the cliff’s edge again, the circle snapped closed with an audible click.
Never had she heard that before! Drey continued back to the altar, to call upon the Goddess and the God to join her in celebration of her newfound sanctuary. She had no purpose in this ritual, other than thanksgiving for finding this special place and joy in being alive.
Gone were her thoughts of wielding Power. Forgotten were her frustrations at bungling even the simplest of magickal tasks. There was nothing she wished to accomplish, so she resolved to send the Power she raised back whence it came, to the mountain and the sky.
And raise Power she did. She closed her eyes, feeling the energy rise within her. The sun warmed her. The earth cooled her feet as she turned beside the rock, facing each direction and bidding the spirits farewell and thanks. Her arms outstretched above her head, she released the Power she’d raised.
A gust of wind buffeted her as the circle dissipated and a thud shook the ground.
The hair on the back of her neck rose as a decidedly male groan came from close behind her. Her eyes snapped open. She whirled to find a man sprawled beside the altar stone.
He stared up at her in silence, blinking brilliant sky-blue eyes.
She stared back, taking in his pale blond hair and high cheekbones. His face was long and narrow, with sweeping curves that improved on her imagined men. Each breath he took drew her attention to the pleasing contours of his chest. Muscular, but not too much so.
Desire flared within her and she had a fleeting thought that now she could test the softness of the grass. She shook her head, turning her attention from that glorious expanse of pale flesh. He shifted and she focused on his feet. His large, strong-looking feet led to long, rangy legs. Long, rangy legs led to—
She swallowed hard and stepped back a pace.
He was naked!
She groaned in frustration. Holy Mother of all. Never before had she shown any indication of Power. Now, somehow, she’d conjured the man she’d decided was perfect. He was none of the three she’d envisioned but a combination of all she’d considered. A very appealing combination.
“Are you hurt?” His voice echoed the clear note of the alarm bell, not the husky rasp she’d imagined.
He still lay there, staring at her. When she drew in a breath, his gaze shifted, dropping below her chin. The light in his eyes changed as he surveyed her body. No longer showing shock, his face lit with what she could only describe as hunger.
Sweet Goddess, she’d forgotten she was naked, too.
*
The young woman stood over him, glowing in the sunlight. His fingers itched to stroke her creamy skin, to see if it would be as soft under his fingers as it looked. Her dark hair tumbled about her shoulders, several strands dancing over her breasts in the breeze. Ah, her breasts were truly beautiful, rounded enough to completely fill his hand, he’d wager. As he watched, her nipples contracted. His eyes narrowed and he fixed his attention on her breasts. A jolt of something, a feeling, the likes of which he’d never before experienced, passed through him with a shiver.
“I should ask if you are all right.”
Her voice rippled over him, causing another shiver. His groin tightened.
Her eyes were as dark as her cloud of hair. “Where did you come from?” She dropped to her knees beside him.
Her new position put her marvelous breasts on a level with his eyes. Almost close enough for him to take a taut nipple in his mouth. He wanted to do just that, suckle and tease her until she melted into him. She took another breath and those hard nubbins rose and fell, inviting him to lean forward just a bit and taste them. The effort of resistance robbed him of speech. Wordlessly, he pointed to the sky.
She looked up and frowned. When she met his eyes again, he read confusion there, mingled with her own desire.
“I don’t understand.”
He was certain she didn’t. He had detected a delightful innocence in her during her casting of the circle, a blithe unawareness of her abilities. Nonetheless, the reason she’d bound him was clear.
Desire for her surged in his blood, gusting through him with each breath he took. He was aware of every fiber of this mortal body being focused on her, from his hands that itched to explore the textures of her skin to his rampant cock that he could barely control. From the look in her eyes and the scent of arousal that surrounded her, he wasn’t the only one craving more than a kiss.
She put out a hand to his cheek. The tingle that spread through him from her touch was mirrored in the widening of her eyes. He turned his mouth into her palm and kissed her. The lingering taste of the herbs she’d burned for him was smoky on his lips.
Her sharp intake of breath told him just what he needed to know.
The desire that racked him also held her in thrall.
He drew her to him with an arm about her waist, transferring his mouth to hers as he did, swallowing her gasp as their skin met and slid in a delightful friction.
She tasted of sunshine. He gave in to the urge to stroke her, running his hands over her ribs, tracing the soft contours. Her body was nothing but silk and swans’ down beside him, arching into his hands, rising to meet his touch.
The soft globes of her breasts invited him to knead and explore. He discovered that her breasts did exactly fill his hands. The tight nipples peeked out from between his knuckles, repeating their invitation to taste. She had summoned him here to give her pleasure, had she not? He could do no other than oblige her. He bent his head and took one taut peak into his mouth.
She thrust against him with her hips and moaned. Her hands grasped his head, threading through his hair to anchor him in place.
The nipple he held tightened between his lips. He lightly nipped with his teeth, once, twice, before tightening his grip to pull gently but firmly, until the weight of her breast lifted off his hand, suspended from the nipple caught in his mouth. Her breath came faster, inspiring him to seek more ways to please her. Almost of its own accord, his tongue swirled across the tip of her nipple.
She jerked and cried out. Her fingers clenched and pulled at his hair.
He opened his mouth and the tight peak of her breast popped free, shining wet in the sunlight and bobbing with her uneven panting as she fell back with a helpless groan.
How odd these mortal bodies were. Merely tasting her, pleasuring her, had made his balls tighten. How could he feel her arousal so keenly in his belly?
He shifted his weight, moving so he could see all of her. The earthy fragrance of her arousal rose from her cleft, where her legs had been pressed together. He inhaled the scents that surrounded them. His head filled with the combined aromas of her heady womanly essence, the clean smell of the grass crushed beneath them and a sharp musk he realized came from him.
His breath came faster. When he stared into her wide, dark eyes, felt her shudder against him, his body reacted with a tingle along his spine and a shiver across his skin. What magick was this, that linked them so? His eyes narrowed. What else had she done to him, in her summoning spell?
His suspicion was lost in sensation as she pulled his lips to hers. Unbidden, his tongue swept inside the wet heat of her mouth to caress hers. By all the gods and goddesses, she tasted better than he ever could have imagined. Her hips moved against him as they kissed, slowly at first and then with greater urgency, inciting unrivaled sensations that streaked through him to pool in the growing hardness of his cock.
He wanted to shove his cock deep into her cleft, ride her until he exploded inside her. The insistence of that desire shook him; he had witnessed mortal couplings before but never had he imagined the unrelenting need and promise of release that now buffeted him.
She stroked her hands down his back, following the continued tingles that raced in tiny flashes of lightning up and down his spine. He wanted the magick of her touch on him, everywhere. He wanted the hot velvet of her mouth on his nipples, on his skin, everywhere. He wanted to taste her, her breasts, her fragrant mound, her mouth, her skin, everywhere.
When she traced the line of his jaw and ran her hand down across his chest, clouds of lust began to gather within him, piling one atop another in a growing storm. Her fingers feathered across the tip of his nipple and sparked a full bolt of lightning, a sizzling charge that blasted through him. As if he had not shaken and trembled beneath her attentions, she continued on, stroking him lower and lower. The heat of her touch scoured his nerves, further sensitizing his skin.
Who would have thought he’d feel each caress, whether across his inner elbow or his stomach, all the way to his toes?
Her breath came faster, in time with his. His need spiraled, growing as she met his touch with hers, mewing softly as he stroked her belly and inner thighs, wringing a growl from him when she wrapped one hand about his raging cock.
He rolled atop her, instinct bringing his knee between hers to part her thighs. He explored the soft curls that adorned her cleft with his fingers, finding dampness that grew to slick heat under his touch.
Her fingers played up and down his shaft, pressing below the head and bringing forth a small spurt of his seed. Wonder of wonders, that he didn’t spend himself right then. Why did not mortal men expire with the joy of this? He suspected he might, if he did not satisfy the thrusting urge of his cock, and soon.
Prying her fist from around his cock, he laid her hand on his shoulder and applied himself to readying her for his entrance. He suckled at her breasts, moving back and forth between them while his fingers teased her, tracing her wet folds and entering her weeping channel to stretch her just a bit, until she pounded on his shoulders and cried out.
She grasped his head in a fierce grip. “Now! Please,” she pleaded.
He obliged her, sliding his cock into her slick heat in one thrust.
The clasp of her hot, tight sheath almost undid him. He stilled for a moment, gathering the strength to resist, to prolong this incredible sensation as long as possible. Here, in this mortal body, he found more exhilaration than a raging tempest, more powerful joy than the rush of a tornado.
