The Magician's Witch

Preparations

The morning of the Gathering came. Eilis rose before dawn, too excited to keep her eyelids shut. She rushed through her shower, twisted her damp hair into a braid (it took too long to air-dry), brushed her teeth, jumped into a pair of worn jeans and a flannel shirt, and shoved her sneakers on her feet. She jumped down the stairs two at a time, landing nimbly on the ground floor. Opening the door to walk to the main house, the crisp fall air hit her nostrils. She breathed it in—then sneezed.

"Ugh, dammit," she mumbled under her breath, sniffling. Something about going from warm inside air to cool outside air always made her nose twitch.

Eilis half jogged up to the house, opening the front door and shutting it silently since she knew the boys were still asleep. The smell of coffee and bacon wafted from the kitchen, causing her stomach to growled in response. She removed her sneakers and walked on tiptoes down the hall to where her aunt stood over the range.

Tanto, their big bear rug of a German Shepherd, lay sprawled out on the kitchen floor. His ears pricked up as Eilis entered the room and his tail gave two thwacks of acknowledgment. He was waiting for the bacon.

"Morning," Eilis whispered. Nancy half-turned, concentration set on her face.

"Morning," she whispered back. Nancy wore the floral apron Eilis had given her for her birthday over a flannel shirt and yoga pants. Her aged strawberry blonde hair was twisted up into a messy half ponytail. The large skillet next to her adjusted itself on the burner, a spoon stirring the contents while Nancy attended to the pan in front of her.

Uncle Matt was been up and gone already, running into town to visit the butcher for the meat they would need for the festivities to get ice, and a handful of last-minute additions.

"What do you need help with?"

Eilis crept up behind her aunt, so she didn't have to speak loudly.

Nancy thought for a second. "Can you take care of the chickens and grab any eggs? And wake the boys up?"

Eilis grinned, a plan forming. "With pleasure. I'll wake them up first."

Nancy chuckled to herself.

Eilis grabbed a spoon from the canister next to the stove, and a metal pot. Nancy snorted.

Eilis turned to the dog. "Hey Tanto, ye want to help me wake the boys up?"

The bear rug instantly became a hundred pounds of unbridled excitement.

Eilis and Tanto rushed up the stairs to the boys' bedrooms. Collin's room was first. Tanto pressed his nose to the door, which didn't budge.

"Wait," Eilis commanded. Tanto pranced in place, his tail wagging in anticipation.

Eilis turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Tanto bounded into the room, coming around the side of the bed to shove his cold, wet nose into Collin's unconscious face.

At the same time, Eilis clanged the pot with the spoon shouting, "Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!"

The effect was almost immediate. There was shouting, and barking, and cursing, and a flurry of sheets and comforter, and Collin dumped himself onto the floor. Tanto sniffed around him as if he was checking his vitals. Collin, still only half awake, tried to shove the dog away from him to no avail.

"Good morning, sunshine," Eilis crooned.

Collin looked up at her, his hair smooshed in one direction, scowling.

"Die," he snapped.

Eilis grinned, unfazed. "Your mam wants ye downstairs in ten minutes. If yer not down there, I'll send Tanto back up here to remind you."