The Witches of Holmwood 4/7

After breakfast Dave did the washing up as usual, all the while complaining about the difficulty of getting a decent edge on mum’s knives.

“Well you always said that Sir George made a better job than you could, because he used the large grindstone that was on the back of his cart,” said Mary.

“I’ve just had an idea dad,” said Jennifer Jane, “when George went home he had to leave the cart behind. We could go into the woods with some of your tools and bring the stone home.”

“Worth a try at least,” said Dave, “if it’s still there and we can carry it. We certainly won’t be able to bring it back on the cart, we’d need a horse for that job!”

Dave went into his shed to get the tools he’d need, while Jennifer Jane went along to show him the way to the place where the cart had been abandoned.

When they arrived, they found the undergrowth had grown through the planks of the cart floor, but the stone and its supports looked fine.

“I’ll unbolt the stone and roll it off the back, then I’ll dismantle the stand and hopefully you won’t find that too heavy to carry home.”

Jennifer Jane found she could just about manage to carry all the parts of the stand, but the stone had fallen on the ground with an awful thump. Fortunately it wasn’t damaged but it was far too heavy for Dave to carry. He tried rolling it along but it was very hard work and he soon found a soft patch of ground that he couldn’t push it across. The weight of the stone made it sink two or three inches and that was that.

At that point in the proceedings they heard someone coming along the path. To their surprise it was Eve and one of the other witches, still dressed in their ceremonial clothes.

“Oh good,” said Jennifer Jane, “do you know a spell that will make this stone lighter? We want to take it home to use for sharpening mum’s knives.”

“You’ll have to excuse my daughter,” said Dave rather quickly, “I’m afraid she tends to be a bit literally minded. Seeing you dressed as witches makes her think you might be able to make spells work.”

Jennifer Jane looked at her dad in surprise.

“Sssh,” whispered Dave, “you know what’ll happen if we tell any one in this world about the witches. Just pretend it was a joke.”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t really serious, I hope I haven’t upset you.”

“That’s quite all right dear,” replied Eve, “we really are witches of course as you’ve noticed; we’ve come into the wood to try and find some special mushrooms for our meal tonight. I’m afraid we can’t help you lift your stone though, our magic is more involved with the spiritual and the higher things in life!”

Jennifer Jane was close enough to Eve to be able to get a close look at the largest badge on her cloak. It was very impressive.

The word ‘MAGIC’, was spelt backwards to form a circle with a full stop between the ‘M’ and the ‘C’. In the middle of the circle was an embroidered representation of a witch’s broomstick.

Eve noticed her interest. “It is a lovely badge isn’t it! The letters stand for the name of our Order. We’re all Members of the Antediluvian Guild of International Covens, the initial letters spell the word ‘magic’ but they have to written backwards because all witches’ spells are written widdershins. That means anticlockwise you know! The dot between the letter and the picture of a broomstick make up the seven symbols necessary to form a magic number.”

“Gosh that’s ever so impressive, can anyone join and have a badge like that?”

“Yes of course, but only if they’re grown up, we don’t have children in our order.”

“Not even as apprentices?”

“Good heavens no, what a strange idea!”

Jennifer Jane looked at her dad again with rather a puzzled expression on her face.

“I’m afraid we’d better be getting along now,” said Eve, “I hope you manage to get home with your grindstone.” She and her companion went off along the path heading towards the giant’s pool.

“Dad, do you think she’ll find Wilfred?”

“I don’t think she will, just because she says she’s a witch and has a fancy badge doesn’t make her able to perform magic you know. Anyway they don’t want children”

“That badge looked ever so real. Better in some ways than Abigail has on her cloak.”

“Now look, I’m a giant and if you’re not careful I’ll tread on you and squash you flat.”

“Now you’re being silly.”

“Yes but that’s the point, just because I say I’m a giant, or a wizard, doesn’t make me one. So don’t believe everything you hear! Now then have you got any ideas how we’re going to get this stone back home?”

Dad helped carry the stand back to the house. Jennifer Jane could only suggest getting Abigail to help them move the stone when they next met.

“It shouldn’t be too long now before we go to see Megan and I can ask her then."