Scotch Broom (Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim)

By Marva Dasef

A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.

Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.

While dodging the goddess’ minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too. Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marva Dasef
• Release date: Nov 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311393296

Marva Dasef

Born in Eugene, OR and a grad of the UofO, I still made a success of my life by constantly changing jobs and cashing in miserable 401K earnings. Finally, I decided to hell with it. If I'm going to be poor, I might as well be a writer.

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Scotch Broom

Book 3: Witches of Galdorheim

By Marva Dasef

Dedication:

For my husband, Jack, who puts up with my nonsense

Published by Marva Dasef at Smashwords

Copyright 2012-2014 Marva Dasef

Discover other books by Marva Dasef at smashwords.com

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mgdasef

Copyright Information

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Originally published in ebook format by:

MuseItUp Publishing

Also Available in Print

Layout and Ebook Production by Marva Dasef

Cover Art © 2012 by Marva Dasef

Print ISBN: 978-1481852418

Acknowledgments

My greatest thanks also go to my durable and endearing crit partners: Liz Brenaman, Brandy Bonecher, Dawn Keur, Jack Dasef, and Lorrie Struiff. My editors were invaluable in their assistance. This book is better for the hard work of Nancy Bell and Penny Ehrenkranz of MuseItUp Publishing.

Chapter One - A Winter Abroad

Kat lay on her stomach, elbows bent, hands propping up her chin as she read 101 Spells for Household Maintenance. She had trouble focusing on the runes and vaguely wondered whether the last spell she read for unclogging drains called for a plumber or a plunger. Her eyelids kept drooping, and just before she fell asleep, Teddy, her bunny familiar, nudged her nose with his.

Her eyes popped open, and she sat up. Thanks, buddy. Gotta ace this test tomorrow; then I’ll be free! Graduated and outta here on my first trip alone. I can hardly wait.

Teddy twitched his nose. "Study."

Kat heaved a sigh. I know, I know. She turned her attention back to the book.

A rap sounded on her door, and a muffled voice yelled, Decent?

Yeah. Come on in. Kat rolled onto her back and sat up.

Kat’s half-brother, Rune, pushed the door open. You got albatross mail. He shoved a dingy, string-tied package at her. I think Sean should retire old Bosun. He poops on every package he carries these days.

She took the small package between two fingers and held it over the wastebasket. As she pointed at the string, a tiny spark leapt the gap, cutting it.

Rune craned his neck to look over her shoulder. What is it?

Hey, nosy. This is private.

Rune grinned, exposing his pointed canines, an inheritance from his vampire father. It’s another gift from Andy, isn’t it?

Kat glared at her brother and then peeled the bird-pooped wrapping off. A book. Well, I like books. She opened it to the flyleaf to read the inscription: To My Dearest Kat, Love Andy.

Kat curled her lip. I wish he’d stop sending me stuff.

Rune took the book from her hand. I think it’s rad he likes you so much. I never hear a word from Nadia.

So, how many times have you written to her?

Um...I sent a note a couple of months ago, but I didn’t get an answer.

You don’t know how lucky you are. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, Rune. We’re witches, well, half-witches, and Andy and Nadia are mundanes. We’re just too different.

You’ve got a point, I guess, Rune answered, head bowed. Still, I just felt like Nadia and I clicked.

Maybe it’ll work out for you guys, but Andy...well, I met him when I didn’t have any magic. Now, everything has changed. I’m powering up more every day. I might even beat you some time.

Rune grinned. I doubt that, Kat. I’ve got some vampire tricks you’ll never have.

"I know, baby brother, but you can’t talk with animals."

Well, I, uh. Whatever. Rune reached for the book again and examined the spine. The letters were too scratched to read. Flipping open to the title page, he let out a loud guffaw. "The Poems of Emily Dickinson! Man, that’s about the most useless thing I’ve ever seen."

Kat snatched the book out of Rune’s hands. It’s the thought that counts. She went to her bookshelf and stuffed the book between Love Philtres and Captivating Potions.

* * * *

After her final exam, Kat hurried down Galdorheim’s only street. Cottages lined the lane on either side, most with neat picket fences and flowers forever in bloom. She headed home, hoping Rune would be there. More artsy than she, he could help tweak her presentation for the Witches’ Council to perfection. She reached the door and shoved it open. Looking toward the open kitchen, she found him in his usual position, standing in front of the icebox with the door open. He searched and ate simultaneously, choosing his next snack while finishing the previous one.

Kat rolled her green eyes and sighed. Rune, you can’t eat like that forever. You’ll be the first fat vampire in the world.

Hey, how do you know there aren’t fat vampires already?

She shook her head in wonder. Her little brother would grow up to be the most powerful warlock in Galdorheim, but what really bugged Kat was everyone thought him impossibly cute and funny, and now he was even taller than she. Casual observers might mistake the two for full brother and sister. Both bore their mother Ardyth’s good looks, but they got their black hair from their respective fathers: Rune’s sire, Drakos, a vampire with whom Ardyth had a brief encounter; and Kat’s father, Boris, a Siberian fisherman, buried in an ice cave collapse and revived only a few months ago.

Kat snorted. Watch out, or I’ll start calling you Tubby. Anyway, will you help with my presentation?

For what?

My Winter Abroad, goofy. I’m going to Stonehenge for Samhain after graduation, and I’ve got to tell the Council why it’s a good idea.

What’s not to like about Stonehenge? Rune reached into the icebox and pulled out a frozen package. He examined the label and then pumped his other hand. Score! I knew there had to be at least one reindeer roast left. He carried it to the food warmer, popped it inside, and turned to his sister. So, what’s this presentation supposed to look like?

Kat plopped down on a kitchen chair. Oh, you know. Background on where I want to go, how I plan to get there, stuff like that. I’ve already done most of it, so I just need to tune it up.

The food warmer dinged, and Rune took the dinner, now piping hot, to the table. Sure. Let me eat first; then I’ll take a look.

Rune unwrapped the meal and dug in. Kat’s stomach rolled a little, but at least he had quit eating his meat raw. She thought the cooked roast smelled good, but she’d become a vegetarian when she discovered her magical talent for talking to animals. She didn’t like the idea of eating anyone she could have a nice chat with. Still, her stomach growled at the aroma, so she decided to grab a snack, too.

When they finished eating, Rune cleared the table, and she spread out the notes. She flipped through them, reading aloud the first topic. Samhain: The Importance of the Festival, Origins and the Festival Today.

So far, so good, but that’s just the yada yada stuff. Where’s your map?

Kat pulled out the map token from the folder. She touched it with her wand, and the map sketched itself in the air over the kitchen table. Rune chuckled. Looks like Google Earth except see-through.

Kat shot a look at her brother. "I had to use something as a model."

Just sayin’ that’s a cool idea.

There’s Stonehenge. She tapped the map. A miniature picture of the standing stones appeared.

How about your route?

I’ll go to Norway on the supply boat. It’s scheduled to leave in a day or two. Then, I’ll travel by land to Bergen—probably take the train. Eurail goes everywhere. Air Norway flies to London, but I’m not sure I can afford that. Maybe I should take a ferry to Scotland. Kat sighed. I sure wish we could just poof ourselves wherever we want to go like the mundanes think we can.

I hear ya. Rune examined the map and then added, But you’d have to travel all that way down Norway. I think you should fly directly to Scotland.

Are you crazy? I couldn’t keep a broom in the air that far. It’s all water with no place to stop.

Rune’s brow furrowed as he studied the map, touching it here and there to add details. Well, I could go along to help. We could take turns.

Kat’s mood went from hopeful to angry, and her emerald eyes flashed—literally. Oh, no you won’t! she snapped. This is my trip, and I’m not dragging my little brother along.

Rune held his hands up palms outward. Hey, chill! Don’t spaz out, Kat. It was just a thought.

Kat reined in her temper, biting her lip. Every time she had left the island, it was always with Rune’s help. She wanted to make this trip alone. She couldn’t and wouldn’t depend on Rune all her life.

I just need to do this myself. It’s tradition. A witch always goes on Winter Abroad alone. You’ll get your chance next year.

Rune awkwardly patted Kat’s shoulder. I know. I really wasn’t trying to glom onto your trip. Hey, how about the ultralight?

Kat hung her head. Rune always came through for her, and here she was yelling at him. Straightening up, she replied, I think Aunt Thordis would freak out, but I can give it a try.

Yeah. She’d think it’d be too dangerous or something. I don’t know for sure, but I think the little plane would be up for it. I’ve taken a couple of flights, and it seems happy to stretch its wings.

Kat smiled at her little brother. Thanks for the help. I mean that.

Yeah, I’m a real philatelist.

Philanthropist you mean.

Whatever.

She and Rune set to work making the changes. Kat stood back and examined the presentation with a critical eye. This is getting all messed up. The routes we changed still show up, and I’ve got way too many cities that I’m not even going to. I’ll make a new one.

An hour later, Kat bundled her presentation into a ball of pale yellow light. She tore off another blank sheet from the notepad and, with Rune’s help, added a few Old Runic characters to one side. They agreed on raidô for journey and sôwilô for sun, to wish a good journey with plenty of sunshine. The power words also served to display the map when needed. Then, she turned the sheet over on the table. She directed the ball of light onto the blank side of the paper then folded it into a pentagram shape. Checking to make sure she had centered the Runic characters, she adjusted a couple of the folds. She held it out for Rune to examine. Everything look okay? she asked.

Check. But you’d better bolt. You’ve only got a couple of minutes to get to the Council Hall.

Kat nodded, took a deep breath, and let it out. Her eyes narrowed with determination. Thanks. See you later. She walked toward the door, which swung open at her approach. Glancing back at her brother, she smiled when he gave her a thumbs-up.

Chapter Two - And Now, Here’s Katrina!

Kat walked up the street for the second time that day. Her pace quickened when she neared the Witches’ Council Hall, where Aunt Thordis spent most of her time since attaining the position of Head Witch. Kat hoped the coven would approve her trip. How could anybody disapprove of Stonehenge? She wished her mother was here to root for her. Ardyth was supposed to have returned from Italy by now, and Kat was a little worried.

As she practiced her opening statement with her head down, mumbling the words, something hard hit her between the shoulder blades. Whipping around, she saw Merry, the bane of her school years, twiddling her fingers at Kat, a big grin plastered on her face, and a faint tendril of violet smoke drifting away from her hand.

Hello, Katty. Going to the Hall?

Duh, Merry. We’re both going for the same reason.

Merry caught up with her. Kat turned away and continued walking. Hey, wait up. We can walk together, Merry said.

Kat looked at Merry’s pert nose, blue eyes, and curly blonde hair. She suppressed a shudder. I guess so. Let’s get moving. As they walked, Merry began to chatter on about graduating, her Winter Abroad destination, the new hairstyle she planned to get, and all the designer clothes she was going to buy in Paris.

Kat gritted her teeth and just nodded. She had zero interest in where Merry went, as long as it wasn’t Stonehenge, nor any interest in hair and clothes. Kat’s two hairstyles were ponytail and not, and her clothes ran toward practical rather than fashionable.

Where are you going? Merry asked, startling Kat. Merry talking about any subject but herself was a rare event.

England.

Well, England isn’t very big, but surely you’re going someplace specific. London? Or maybe Bath?

Sto...I haven’t decided yet. Kat didn’t want to tell Merry anything. The girl had treated her like pond scum their entire lives. When Kat was cursed, and her magic either failed to work at all or blew up in her face, Merry made it her personal mission to tease Kat. No. Tease wasn’t a strong enough term. Merry had delighted in outright cruelty when Kat had been unable to fight back. Kat ground her teeth when she thought of the time Merry came close to killing her in a fit of anger. Fortunately, Rune stepped in before Merry blasted her halfway across the island.

How about that boyfriend of yours? What’s his name? Candy, Dandy...something like that.

Kat glared at Merry.