The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) Read Online Free Page B

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    'Your first card is to call your quarter North, East, South or West. The second card is to join in with the ritual at the end. I’ll perform the majority of the spell.' The look of relief on their faces amused her.
    'Read through the cards until you are comfortable with them, then let me know. Kassie, you start first.'
    I read through mine a couple of times, then nodded to Sian.
    She stood.
    'Ready? Right, then in your quarters and I’ll cast the circle.'
    We shifted to our appropriate positions. Audi sat between my legs and watched curiously while Lucky purred in her usual spot about Kassie’s neck. Sian had her wand in hand as she paced her way around the circle chanting, once, twice, thrice around it, then she stood in the center and declared it cast. She handed the wand to me and took her position at West.
    Kassie looked at Sian who nodded, and in a clear voice Kassie began.
    'Watchtowers of the East, element of Air, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'
    I lifted the wand and spoke, 'Watchtowers of the South, element of Fire, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'
    Then it was Sian’s turn, 'Watchtowers of the West, element of Water, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'
    And lastly, Loi.
    'Watchtowers of the North, element of Earth, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'
    She paused then continued, 'The circle is cast, the quarters are called. The rite may begin.'
    Sian stepped into the center once again.
    'Mighty Khronos
    Father of time and space
    Hear us.
    Glorious Ananke
    Wielder of destiny
    Hear us.
    Reveal our soul mates
    Their time and place
    Entwine our lives
    As our souls are embraced
    Open the Portal of Time and Space
    Carry us to our meant to be
    Glorious Ananke, make this our destiny'
    Together we spoke the last line, declaring, 'This is our will, we mote it be.'
    The words rang out and we stared wide eyed at each other. Kassie went to speak when Sian put her finger to her lips.
    'Shh. Now we will thank our quarters and then I shall close the circle. This time Loi starts.'
    Loi blinked in surprise, there hadn’t been a thank you part written on the card. Thinking quickly she stepped forward.
    'Watchtowers of the North, thank you for attending our rite.'
    We copied Loi’s format then Sian paced the circle three times again, though in the opposite direction and blew out the candles on her final loop.
    'There. All done,' said Sian.
    'So now we meet our significant other?' Kassie teased
    We sat on the carpet, still in our positions and chatted, questioning Sian about the spell. Leaning back against the couch I stroked Audi's head as I listened. Loi and Kassie lay on the floor, heads on hands as they conversed. Sian was the only perky one, sitting up, chatting away.
    The dim light from the candles at the corners of the room made me sleepier and sleepier. Without intending to, I dozed off.

 
     

    Ugh—my back was killing me.
    Why the heck didn’t I just go to my bed? Man this floor feels lumpy. I shifted position.
    Five more minutes, then I’ll get up, I thought before dozing off again. Some time later I went to roll over, but jammed up against a large warm shape. Patting blindly down my side I felt Audi lying next to me. Cracking open an eye I peered down at her.
    'Audi,' I mumbled. 'You’re blocking me again.'
    She gazed up at me and her tail thumped in the dirt.
    Dirt?
    My scrambled brain registered that I, too, lay in the dirt.
    'Whhatt?' I croaked.
    Hearing something move, I pushed up onto my elbows. The world spun before my eyes.
    'Ooooh dizzy.'
    I slumped back down and held my head with both hands.
    'Helloooo?' I called. 'Sian? Kassie? Loi?'
    The shuffling sound started again.
    Kassie heard a voice call her name and woke up.
    Why do I feel so tired? Her whole body felt as though it weighed twice what it should.
    'Sian? Kassie? Loi?'
    Was that