A.k.a. Goddess. Evelyn Vaughn

the sixth century, ritual groves were being destroyed in an attempt to convert blasphemers. Like Charlemagne cutting down the sacred oaks of the Saxons.”

      “And that worked? If you cut down my sacred trees, you’d tick me off worse than before.”

      He’d slowed his step, so I no longer felt like I was chasing him. “Back then, power defined your ability to lead. If your gods were so great, how could they let us cut down their trees?”

      I glanced at the trees around us, dappled greens and golds and browns, and felt sorry for them. “You’re not really saying that your god can beat up the other boys’ gods?”

      He grinned. “The remaining pagans would have met in secrecy—at night, or in the woods.”

      “So if these people worshipped a goddess who was connected to a local spring…”

      Thankfully, he picked up the thread of my idea. “Then they would have met near that spring. Their ceremonies would resemble witches’ circles, complete with moonlight and cauldrons.”

      “Or cups. Or bowls. Or chalices.” Or grails.

      “That is it exactly,” he agreed.

      I took a moment to look around us. The banks of the Vonne were slightly rockier. It was all fairly soft limestone. One boulder looked particularly significant somehow, especially white amidst vines and brush.

      “How far have we come since Lusignan?” I asked.

      “I’d imagine we’ve come four or five kilometers. Why?”

      I was noticing another bank of white limestone, near the boulder. “Do you suppose the Melusine worshippers would have come this far out?”

      “If they feared the Church more than they feared wolves.”

      I noticed a third length of limestone. My pulse picked up.

      Three fair figures?

      I sank down into an easy crouch to untie my boots.

      I kicked off one boot, then the other and put down my backpack.

      Then, I waded in to swim the water where Melusine the goddess may have once bathed.

      Chapter 7

      B y the time Rhys and I signed ourselves into a small bed and breakfast in Vouvant, I was still pissed off.