Friday 26 July 2024

Historical Fiction Extract: Witches of Fawsetwood

Here's an extract from a new novel called Witches of Fawsetwood by Dorothy L. Abrams. It is set in 12th century Cumberland, Northern England, where witches grow wary as they try to avoid Church arrest.

“[Me old lass will] no’ teach me. She says a girl has little choice in her fates if she take th’ Goddess ta her, an’ she’ll no’ have me do it. Yer may gar ta th’ Goddess an’ fly on her back, but me old lass will no’ let me cross ta th’ worlds beyond this. She says I be too young an’ will be all me life."  Els sounded bitter.

“I trow yer mistook her meanin’,” Margot joined in. “Yer well marked fer service ta Thems that gather with us at th’ Stones. By yer birth an’ by yer lineage. Elisabeth cannae stop th’ world from turnin’. Your time will come, lassie. Tis no’ now, but twill come. An’ if yer old lass cannae bring hersell ta walk yer ta th’ threshold then I will."  

“Then teach me now!"  Els demanded. Margot laughed.

“Yer but a wee lass. Enjoy yer work before th’ hearth an’ play in th’ woods. There be time enow ta be a grown girl.”

“Nae, teach me summat. How magic works. Tell me how it works!”

Margot grew serious. She measured us both and read our lights before she answered.

“Tis no’ a simple thing ta say, how magic works. It works because we share our power with th’ flame or wind or rock or sea. Because we ken our hearts an’ weave their yearnin’ t’gether ta make our magic strong. Because we stand in a circle with th’ stars an’ moon an’ sun at appointed times of power. Th’ magic of th’ season or of th’ full moon becomes ours by contagion. What yer take ta your body or your soul changes yer an’ that’s th’ magic. But tellin’ yer th’ truth of it makes yer no wiser ‘less yer can feel th’ powers running through yer.”

“I feel th’ powers in th’ room or in th’ garden when I come back from th’ leather shop. Yer leave wisps of magic behind when yer circle,"  Elspet confided.

“Yer do? Well, tis a good girl yer be ta sense it."  Margot looked at her with wide eyes. Very little surprised her, but this confession did. 

“I do. An’ I ken it changes me, like yer said. It tingles in me blood an’ spins me heart inside.”

“Do yer sense it too, Alain?"  Margot asked. I was embarrassed to confess I did not. “Then tis likely no’ our failin’ ta release th’ powers. Tis yer gift Elspet, ta sense th’ slightest eddy in the air about yer. Let this be yer first lesson in th’ magic. Trust what yer feel an’ follow it when yer feel it, ta understand its source. Each thing, be it fish or fowl, rock or tree, has a power of its own. Our sacred tools remember how they’re made an’ used. I’d think th’ hands they’re tuned to sense them best, but if yer feel it too, tis useful to yer. Fer now, keep it ta yourself an’ watch."  Margot laid her finger along side her nose to seal the secret. Els mimicked her and nodded. It was a bond between them. She did not even tell her brother.

Witches of Fawsetwood is published by Eastman Books and Publishing. You can view copies on Amazon. Author Dorothy L. Abrams previously wrote Identity and the Quartered Circle.  

Please note I earn commission from some links.

Links to posts with other exciting book extracts:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/04/sea-magic-extract-from-erosion-my.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2020/02/extract-from-you-let-me-in-by-camilla.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/07/book-extract-magic-of-seal.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/06/books-fairy-herbs-for-fairy-magic.html

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