Vincent sat at his large desk finishing the final draft of a proposal, regarding a particularly stringent taxation, to go before the councils. He lay his pen aside when he heard Tali's light tap on the door. He noted her wide skirts, tall boots and simple braided hair as she strode across the room, "Riding again, Sister?"

"I have need of renewal, Vincent. This afternoon I leave to stay the night at the Mother's Pavilion," she replied, as she sank to the carpet at his feet.

Vincent nodded his approval; though he hated to have her out of his orbit, her magic was a valuable tool for him. The periodic trips to the Pavilion were a necessity to maintain the strength of that magic. He accepted the absences without embracing them. He eyed her sternly, "I presume that your household duties will not be neglected for this trip."

Tali nodded her head as she ticked items off on her fingers, "I will meet with Cook shortly to approve menus. The scribe has been reminded that the invitations to the ball must be ready for the couriers no later than midday tomorrow. The guest list finalized at three hundred. I have healed your favorite bed thrall after the damage you did to her last week. I will return before sunset tomorrow. All is in order, Brother."

Vincent grunted and waved her away, "Away with you, then. Travel safely. Tell Cook the roast of venison was too well done last time. See it doesn't happen again."

Tali'esa rose in one fluid motion and bent to brush her lips across her half-brother's cheek; she swept silently out of the room. Inhaling the light honeysuckle fragrance she customarily wore, Vincent pondered that it was not so much her absences he minded. It was that she was going to a place forbidden to him. She was going somewhere that he could not even find in the seeing fires. "Paltry women's magic, no doubt," he muttered dismissively and went back to his proposal for the councils -- something more worthy of his masculine attention.
******

After having dispatched her duties with the Cook, the scribe and other tedious business, Tali'esa had Nani bring a light lunch of cheese, fruit and bread to her sitting room. Nani scurried about doing the last of the packing; her expression was one of resigned sadness. She knew she must not mind her Mistress' leaving, but it seemed that a miasma of dullness settled over the villa while she was gone.

After Tali had finished her lunch and was making certain that her silver compact was safely tucked into her reticule, she noticed a touch of pallor in her maid's cheeks. "You are pale, sweet Nani. Do you feel ill?" Tali'esa asked as her hand flicked out to rest on Nani's forehead.

Nani thrilled to her Mistress' touch, "I'm fine, thank you for asking, Ma'am. I'll just miss serving you while you are away. 'Tis wicked of me, but I wish I could go to that place with you."

Tali caressed the curve of Nani's cheek, "If I could take you with me, I would. But you know that only blooded witches may approach the Pavilion. It is only one night, Nani. It will give you time to work on my wardrobe, without my incessant demands for your lovely body. Oh! Speaking of my wardrobe, confirm with the seamstress that my gown for the ball will be ready for the first fitting day after tomorrow." With that, Tali snatched up her saddlebags and the lynx-fur cape and was gone. Nani whispered a soft supplication for the Mother to travel with her Mistress and bring her home safely.
****************

Tali'esa rode across the plain as though the very demons of the netherworld were hot on her heels. Crouched over the neck of the stallion, she reveled in the sensation of near-flight that only Orn'shio's gallop could give her. Vincent often scolded her and there was much talk about how scandalous it was for a girl of her age and station to ride astride. To mollify her brother, Tali donned respectable riding clothes and used the cursed sidesaddle while riding in town, even though she loathed being limited to the stately trot and canter, required by the insane and inherent lack of balance. When riding abroad, though, she wore her wide peasant skirts and rode astride -- as the Mother had intended. When Vincent caught her at it, he would grumble, "Damnit, Tali, the least you can do is try to act like a lady. You are the Mistress of the villa now; not some adolescent tomboy."

Thoughts of Vincent fled her mind; she pulled the stallion up short -- a move that made him rear on his hind legs and would have toppled a lesser rider. There it was -- the circle of cypress trees that ringed the lake. Within the lake was the island that held the Mother's Pavilion; it was less than an hour's ride away. Soon, so very soon, Tali'esa would be able to rest and renew herself in the Mother's Arms. Orn'shio stamped and snorted impatiently. Tali stroked his mane, "I know, you are anxious to be there, as well." She took a long swallow from the wineskin that hung from the saddle horn, "Fly, fly us there." She gigged the horse's ribs with her heels and they were sailing across the plain.

In what seemed a few moments, Tali dismounted at the edge of the cypress ring. She stretched her legs and fed Orn'shio a lump of sugar. She took a deep breath and led the stallion toward the stables and the house of preparation.

The Preparatory house and the stables were operated by half-blood witches, who could not approach the Pavilion. They fed on the energy of the full blood witches they helped prepare for the journey to the island. While Orn'shio was being groomed in his generous paddock, Tali'esa was soaking in water from the Sacred Spring. Her eyes closed; her lips moved in a soundless chant to the Mother.

After the purification rites were over, Tali'esa stood naked on the bank of the lake, the light breeze played in her loose flowing hair. She extended her arms to the side, palms facing up, and whispered the words that would summon the barge to take her to the Pavilion. This was the final test of whether or not she was sufficiently cleansed; if she was not, the barge would not respond to her call.

Without a sound, not so much as even a ripple on the water, the barge appeared out of the mist. It was unmanned, but still made for the naked form on the shore in a direct line. Tali'esa waded a short distance into the lake. She whispered, "Thank you, Mother, for your grace." She stepped onto the barge; the enchanted craft began its mysterious, silent return to the island Pavilion.
***********

While the barge made its smooth, noiseless way to the island, the mists crept around Tali'esa's slender form -- embracing her like a returning lover. She felt the essence of the island infuse her with an odd mix of pure relaxation and crackling energy. Her aura became visible -- a translucent cloud of color that swirled turquoise with pulsing veins of purple and magenta.

The mists ahead of her were clearing; the low horizontal planes of the pavilion were becoming visible. There were few verticals; the pavilion hugged the land, appearing almost as an organic growth out of the island itself. Rich, verdant tropical vegetation -- vastly different from the scrub that grew on the plains surrounding the ring of cypress trees -- caressed the warm, moist air and overtook the senses. The blossoms were vivid reds and yellows and oranges; some of them could only be found on this island. Tali reminded herself that she needed to replenish her stores of several of the healing roots and leaves only available here.

She stepped onto the pier when the barge came to a gentle stop. She whispered, "Mother, I am home. Thank You for receiving me." She started up the path to the Pavilion and renewal.
*********

Tali was greeted on the stairs by an old woman, Madame Alar'cire, who could have been anywhere between eighty and one-hundred and eighty. The crone's hair was snow white; her face was creased with the lines of experience -- yet her step was as light and confident as that of a young girl. Her eyes glowed a luminous emerald and power resonated in her voice when she spoke, "Tali'esa, purple and magenta in your aura? You have been away far too long. Never mind, we shall have you back in lovely blues and greens in a twinkling. Welcome, sweet girl. In the Mother's name, welcome." The older woman bent to place a kiss of blessing on Tali's brow and led the troubled young witch into the inner chambers.
*****************

Shortly before noon the following day, Tali'esa stepped off the barge again. Her aura glowed with every imaginable shade of blues and greens. She clutched a parcel containing the roots and leaves she needed to replenish her healing stores, as well as a sealed sac with the rags that had caught her first moon flow. Her steps were quick toward the Preparatory House; she was anxious to be back to Vincent's villa. She had business to tend.

Orn'shio was already saddled and packed; she only needed to dress. In a small cell at the Preparatory House, one of the half-blood witches helped her into her things. As the black haired girl knelt to smooth the wool stockings up Tali's long legs, her nostrils flared -- hungrily drinking in the scent of the enchanted island that was forever denied the half-witches. She eased the tall, leather boots onto Tali's feet, rose and bobbed a small curtsy, "Mother grant you safe travels, M'lady."

Tali'esa smiled; she felt a great compassion for the half-witches. Only the phase of the moon at the time of conception determined whether a full or half-witch would be born; a half-witch who planned carefully could give birth to a blooded witch. A half-witch's life was fraught with danger; they could only cloak their magic imperfectly. Some lived on the outside, but they had to be constantly on their guard. Most chose to reside and serve in the Preparatory Houses at the various sacred sites; it was just safer.

The girl's plight was none of her own doing; Tali stroked her cheek and asked, "What is your name, Sister?"

The girl blushed furiously, "Ahni'ci, M'Lady."

The witch's long fingers brushed across the girl's lips, "A lovely name for a lovely witch." Tali swiftly moved to capture the girl's mouth with her own; tongues and breaths mingled. The blooded witch allowed a small infusion of enchantment to flow before she broke the kiss. Tali watched as the younger girl's eyes and skin took on a glow and she stood a little taller.

Ahni'ci whispered breathlessly, "Oh, thank you M'Lady. Thank you. You are far too generous." She sketched another curtsy and was gone.

Tali'esa shrugged her shoulders; she had no idea why the Mother had prompted her to do that. Who knew when the gratitude of a half-witch could come in handy? "The reason will be made clear in the Mother's time," Tali assured herself. In the Mother's realm, there was no such thing as a coincidence.
****************

Only minutes later Tali and Orn'shio were flying across the plain. The enchanted grove and waters from the sacred spring had refreshed the stallion -- it seemed they were about to soar into the clouds. Tali crouched low over the neck of the beast and surrendered to the sensations. She would be back at the villa soon, and resume the lady of the manor guise. For now, she was pure magic; soaring free -- one with Orn'shio -- feeling nothing but her own enchantment and power.