Dawn Breaks
an excerpt

Visit my blog www.mrsrigginspresents.blogspot.com for up to date info and excerpts on Dawn Breaks!

Prologue

“Arinav! Wait for me.” Fingal hobbled along slowly after me.

“Hurry up Fingal. Gelach has already begun his rise and we are going to miss them.” I scolded. Fingal wasn’t moving fast enough for me so I grabbed his hand and began to pull him along in my wake.

We made our way through the dark forest. Gelach, the lonely moon, had already risen half into the black sky. His silvery fingers illuminated the trees so they were easier to navigate. When we had reached the edge of the forest we lay down among the brush and looked at the stones which stood before us.

There were six stones that stood taller than any man. They formed a ring in the glade surrounded by the trees. This was a magical place and I could feel the energy of the trees and the stones humming along my skin like the buzzing of a bee. The elders had already gathered amidst the stones and they talked quietly amongst themselves while they waited for Gelach to finish his ascent.

It was some time before the ritual began. I lay quietly in the brush while Fingal shifted impatiently every now and then. He did not like watching the rituals he said that they were boring. It was the same thing every night and he did not understand my rapt fascination with it. Every night we came to see the elders gather energy from the moon and every night I became mesmerized, for every night it was new and exciting. Every night was like my first night

Gelach finally reached his peak straight above the circle of stones. His shadow fell down on the land until the glade seemed to glisten. The elders long white robes rustled along the ground as they formed a circle within the stones and outstretched their arms to touch, palm to palm with the others flanking each side of them. In the middle the high priestess stood and raised her arms up to the moon, her hands cupped above her head to receive his energy. They began to chant:

Gelach come down
And give your light
In this time of darkness
We mourn with you
Your lost love
The bright and shining Oiph

Gelach come down
And give us your power
So we might stay alight
And search this land for
Your lost love
The bright and shining Oiph

Gelach come down
The time is soon
When she who evil took
Will resurrect again
And once again we shall be graced
With her bright and shining flame

Oiph, mother of fire and light
Return to us oh, goddess
Hear our plea and find your way
Out of darkness and strife
So the lovers may once again
Rule the skies above
And rid us of evil for all eternity

Their voices were soft and slow but they grew louder and faster until they were shouting. The elders swayed from side to side eyes closed and hands touching. The final line of the chant was lost as the humming of the stones increased to deafening pitch. A beam of light shot down into the cup of the priestess’s hand and pooled there until she drew hers arms slowly apart. The light followed her hands down to her sides so her whole body was glowing hot white. Then the light lowered from the priestess and into the very earth, the stones soaking up the energy and glowing brightly against the night. Then all was silent.

The elders bowed their heads for a moment before breaking the circle. They had started to file out of the stone circle when the high priestess stopped and held out her hand to where Fingal and I lay.

“Who is this who watches the rites with a heavy heart?” Her voice was like the wind through the leaves of the trees, rattled and old. I took her hand and rose.

“My name is Arinav, Dama.” I used the name of respect and bowed my head. Her fingers were like ice in mine and my skin prickled with goose bumps.

Do not be afraid little star. Lift up your gaze and look at me. I heard her inner voice echo in my mind and I raised my head to look at the priestess. Her hair was shock white and fell down to her waist, blending in with her white robes until it was hard to tell the two apart. Her eyes which looked into mine were almost opaque and seemed to have no color but in their depths I saw an old knowledge, much older than the wrinkles on her skin foretold. No, this was much older. For some reason when I looked at her I though of a weeping willow.

For a moment her brows furrowed slightly and I felt a brief twinge of pain in the back of my head as she searched my thoughts.

“So little star this is not the first ritual you have partaken of?” She asked after a moment.

“No, my friend Fingal and I come every night. Though we do not partake of the ritual, Dama. We only watch.” I pulled Fingal to stand next to me when I said his name. His hand was shaking in mine. I knew he was afraid of the high priestess for she was a very powerful woman, but why was I not afraid?

“Everyone and everything in this glade partake of the ritual. The trees, the animals, the stones, the elders, and you both. But instead of lessening the power you add to it. Now isn’t that odd?” She posed the question though I knew she already had the answer to it.

“What, Arinav, do you think of joining the coven?”

“Oh, Dama, I would not dare to think of such a thing! I am only on the eve of my twelfth year and my parents-“

“Would be honored of the proposal.” She cut off my protest. “If those are the only objections you have then I shall have one of my initiates come to fetch you tomorrow morn.” She waited for a response but I could think of nothing to say so I nodded my head in agreement.

With that she released my hand and the elders followed her out of the glade, off to wherever it was they dwelled. After they were out of sight Fingal gripped my arm in excitement.

“You are going to join the ranks of the coven!” His voice was giddy.

Joining the coven was indeed a grand honor. Very few are chosen and of those few even less ever reach the rank of an elder. I was excited but at the same time I felt a sadness descend upon me. Becoming an initiate would mean I would have to grow up and leave being a carefree child behind, something I had been putting off for a long time. I stopped staring after the elders and looked over at Fingal.

“Well, it appears I am doesn’t it?”