Annie Abbott and the Druid Stones by Isabelle Nelson

Author:Isabelle Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, youth, magic realism, teen fiction, teen fantasy, fantasy magic, youth fiction, young adults, magic fantasy, witch fantasy
Publisher: Indies United Publishing House, LLC

The Hedge Witch in the Dell

Annie dozed fitfully as Circe’ drove, the whine of the powerful engine somehow soothing. She roused occasionally to bright sunshine and long stretches of straight road that ended at the horizon. She doubted that the car ever dropped below a three-digit speed or that Patch minded. The autumn sun was lowering in the western sky when Circe’ turned off the road and into a long lane leading down into a thick wood. An ornate wrought iron gate and archway stood at the entrance. As they approached the gate in front of them slowly opened.

“Awake at last?”

“Not entirely. How long have I been sleeping?”

“Almost eight hours Youngest. We couldn’t come directly, so I took a few wide detours. But you needed the rest. Things were a little unsettling recently, and I’m sure it was very tiring.”

“Unsettling isn’t the word I think I would use.”

“This is as safe a place as any other in these times. We are at the home of Olivia of the Dell. One of the finest practitioners of herbology and divination that I’ve ever met. She was also very close with your mother at one time.”

“Really?! She knew my mother?” Annie sat forward in the seat, peering ahead now with anticipation. “How is it possible that I’ve never heard her name mentioned before?”

“Your mother and she had a falling out many years ago, and as far as I know never spoke to each other again after that. I’m sure she’ll be very excited to meet you again after so long. Very excited.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, she and your mother were extremely close until they weren’t. You look very much like your mother. I think you will find you have a lot in common.”

“You said she was a ‘hedge witch’? What’s that?”

“That explanation is a lot longer than this driveway. Let’s take it a step at a time and let her show you what it is. Shall we?”

“Yes Eldest.”

“That’s the spirit. Now in the little time we have left before we get to the house, see if you can do something with that hair of yours, please. I don’t think it can find any more directions to fly than it already does.”

While Annie struggled to try and arrange her long and tangled hair, the car reached the bottom of the lane and followed a curve to the right where a small cut stone cottage came into view. The roof appeared to be made of lush green sod, and to Annie’s amazement and delight several goats grazed on it. In the front yard a riot of flowers in every color bloomed vibrantly behind a snow-white picket fence. To one side of the house, a well-tended garden displayed rich black and weedless soil between the rows of healthy vegetables. The surrounding dense forest grew up to the edge of the property and gave the impression of country comfort and safety.

Leaning against the cottage doorway, an attractive woman of mid-years stood stirring a teacup and watching the approaching car.

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