The Gentle Maiden and Five Lustful Brothers-Chapter 163: A New Crone

The lanterns still floated in the night breeze even though the music had died down. The last of the crumb cakes had been eaten and the stalls emptied of drinks and snacks.

Arya didn’t know how badly she needed a break until she was taking one.

The war planning had been unending and tiresome. With only some clues to Odette’s whereabouts, shed been at a loss. Her magic had failed her, she couldn’t locate her friend’s daughter, she couldn’t protect her son’s fiancée, she failed the people who mattered to her.

The weight of that guilt was crippling. She hadn’t realized how exhausting it was to carry the burden of all her worries. However, this short time away was enlightening.

Violet was so different now. Arya felt the shifting happen each new time she saw her friend. The transformation was by no means, subtle.

Arya needed a room to rest in and decided a hotel inside the close quarters of the coven instead of her home on the borders of their coven’s turf was the smart idea.

Once the celebration was over the selection would begin. And the coven would elect a new Crone.

At midnight a hushed silence spread through the coven members, dozens of members, young and old, gathered in the square.

Chalk lines drawn on the stage, the smell of crushed herbs, and moss settled in the air.

Arya stood near the outer edge; her purple eyes locked on the stage. The Maiden and The Mother stood at the center, in front of three chairs, draped in black like the night sky. Arya’s heart felt a persistent ache looking at the empty seat on the stage.

Three elderly witches stepped forth, each chosen as potential successors to The Crone’s seat, by The Crone herself. Once chosen their names would be forsaken and they would take their seat with their sisters and become only The Crone, live only for the coven.

The Mother raised her hands to the moon in open arms "By the blood that binds us, by the bones of the earth and breath of the sky, by the powers of the gods, we choose a new Crone."

The three women step forward The Maiden stepped up and placed a crystal in each of their hands, they take stones in their hands clutching them tightly. The stones changed from black to a color that corresponded with their element affinity. One turned moss green, for earth, on turned dark blue for water, and one light blue for air.

The Maiden threw her hands to the sky palms open wide. Threads of magic crackled from them. The sky darkened with heavy rain clouds.

And the witch holding the light blue stone glowed bright neon blue and then white and then returned to the light blue color it held before.

"The Gods have spoken." The Maiden said loudly, her voice carried and air of finality to it.

The woman, who was once named Selene stepped away from the other two witches and walked towards her seat next to The Mother.

The moons light illuminated the figure in black.

"Selene, do you swear to take on the duties of The Crone for the Circe Coven? Do you forsake the name you were born with? Do you swear to put the coven above all else? Do you swear to cut your ties with your family and the coven to become your family? Do you swear on your blood and with your life?" The Mother asked facing the woman.

"Yes."

"As so says the Gods, than so say The Mother, I accept thee, what do you say, Maiden?" The Mother asked looking at The Maiden, who was now standing next to the witch.

"So says the Gods, than so says The Maiden, I accept thee, so shall it be." The Maiden answered.

"So shall it be!" The entire crowd, including Arya, clapped their hands and repeated.

The crowd of witches applauded at the selection of a new Crone.

"Blessed be, my brothers and sister." The three coven leaders bowed and left the center stage.

The Mother looked at The Crone and said "Follow."

The Mother and Maiden lead The Crone through winding paths and halls until they returned to a small ceremony room, the same one they used earlier to summon the late Crone.

The Maiden and The Mother cast blanket of silence spell.

"We formally welcome you Crone as a member into the sisterhood." The Mother spoke first bowing her head in respect.

"Thank you, Mother and Maiden, I assume I need debriefing? That’s the reason behind the barrier?" The new Crone mentions.

"You would be correct, and this information is quite protected and cannot be spoken of or written down, is that clear?" The Mother continued.

"Yes, of course."

"Good. As you know we have sent witches of all calibers to help with our coven’s royal allies. Do you know why, a coven that doesn’t concern itself with night world politics has interfered?"

"I have asked myself that question, yes, but never thought to deeply, it was not my place then, but now I admit I’m curious." The Crone nodded.

"Because history is destined to repeat itself" The Maiden started sharing the story. "Our dearest sister Arya has a close personal relationship with the Vampire Queen, Violet, and during a reading on Violet’s pregnancy, she learned of a prophecy, one that told us of the future birth of a goddess. She would be the daughter of Artemis, goddess of the moon and of the hunt."

"You mean to tell me..." The Crone had started, but the Maiden silenced The Crone, "I am not done, please wait until the end to speak."

There was no sister that had more say than another, they were equal in power, though experience and time as well as loyalty added to the weight word could carry. The Maiden having played her role for over 10 years, her voice carried weight.

The Crone respectfully quieted. Taking no offense to The Maidens sharp tone.

"Recently, I’m sure you’ve heard, the vampire princess was kidnapped by wolf shifters?" The Maiden asked.

The Crone kept her mouth shut and nodded.

"Well, she is not simply the vampire princess, she is the prophesized daughter of Artemis, the Moon Goddess. Naturally we stepped in to protect the daughter of an ally and goddess." The Maiden informed her. "The MoonChild is what she is called, and she is fated to defeat the evil we have been preparing for."

"However, we recently learned, that the wolf shifters she’s with is not be accident, but by fated design. History is repeating itself and the MoonChild has made her way to the chosen one. Among those shifters is the wolf destined to protect her." The Mother added. "The MoonChild is where she is supposed to be following the path the Gods have laid for her. and because we will be withdrawing our aid and focusing on being the support for the MoonChild, her ready army."

"History repeats itself? This has happened before?" The Crone looked confused, she’s never heard of this before. What were these women talking about.

"This knowledge is old and long forgotten, even we do not know much and only recently learned what we are telling you with the wolves." The Mother defends.

"Then our work ends here, we must withdraw immediately. The gods will is not to be ignored." The Crone affirmed.