Anarchist Knight

Chapter 10-Circle

Circle was different this time around and Tobal whistled merrily as he traveled the path into camp. He didn’t see anyone on the trail and no one tried to stop him or Rafe. Rafe seemed amused at Tobal’s whistling but didn’t say anything about it. He only whistled a few short bars at two sharp turns in the trail and that was it.

People were setting up teepees and gathering wood for the fires. There was a lot of work to do and Tobal joined in with enthusiasm. He helped dig the roasting pits where the bigger animals were being prepared. It felt good to work along side other clansmen and joke with them. He was grateful to contribute and as evening came closer he wondered what the night would bring.

Everyone was changing into robes. All clan members at circle wore robes that they kept in one of the storage buildings. A black robed guard was handing them out. There was no reason to haul robes around all month when they were only used here. Tobal was given a long gray robe similar to the one he had gotten at sanctuary.

"Just bring it back tomorrow when you’re done with it", was all the guard told him.

It turned out only four newbies were being initiated that night. Tobal made some new friends and was hanging out with them. They were all Aprentices. Zee was a raven haired girl with shoulder length hair and a good sense of humor. She had been one of Rafe’s students and was training her first newbie. Nicky, the newbie had just arrived at sanctuary two weeks ago and was being initiated as Apprentice tonight, but would be waiting till next month before starting her solo.

Wayne was a stocky good natured fellow with sandy hair. He had been an Apprentice for two years and wasn’t in any hurry to make it to Journeyman. He didn’t have any student and hadn’t been training anyone for the past few months. He was more interested in being with his girl friend who was also an Apprentice. His girlfriend, Char, had curly brown hair and a ready smile. They were always seen together at circle. Tobal remembered both of them from last circle. It was easy to tell they were in love.

A tall, lanky, sandy haired kid was soloing the same time he was. They hit it off right away during last months initiation. In fact, all six that had been initiated last month were soloing this month. Kevin was more nervous about his solo than Tobal was. It made Tobal realize Rafe was a very uncommon teacher and extremely good at teaching others what they needed to know. Most soloists didn’t have the quality of training or the experience Rafe had given him. Kevin kept thinking about bad things that might happen in the woods, things that hadn’t occurred to Tobal since his first weeks of training. Many clansmen were excited about the six of them soloing and they were given lots of support and encouragement.

Nicky kept staring at Tobal’s face, finally she blurted out. " What happened to your face anyway?"

Tobal was caught by surprise and off guard. "I was attacked by a wild animal that knocked me down. I fought it off and was really lucky", he lied.

"I almost lost the sight in this eye", and he fingered the long scar around his right eye.

Nicky said, "It makes you look kind of sexy and dangerous", and it was her turn to blush. Rising to her feet, she crossed over to where Tobal was sitting and crouched down in front of him putting her arms around his neck.

"Very sexy", she whispered and kissed him deeply and passionately on the lips pulling his hand against the top of her breasts where her robe lay casually open at the top. Then she stood back up and walked toward the kitchen to refill her mug of beer.

Tobal was stunned, then pleased. In this camp there were many scars and tattoo’s and each one had a story. In fact, the more scars or tattoo’s a person had, the more stories that went with them. Wayne was planning on getting matching tattoo’s with Char. They were debating what tattoos would look right and the best places to have them.

There was an awkward silence but it passed and everyone started talking again about the coming solo. After awhile one of the red cloaked figures came toward their group. She was a medic named Ellen. Tobal recognized her as the High Priestess that initiated him. She asked if everyone was ready for circle.

A few hours later Tobal and the others were at the circle entrance waiting and watching as it was cast and purified. The older members were gathered around. The central bonfire was piled high and the smaller fires at each of the quarters burned merrily. The High Priestess and High Priest cast the circle and Tobal watched with interest as they worked closely together.

They stood together before the stone altar that was set on the northern side of the central fire. The High Priestess handed the High Priest a bowl of water. As he held it she put the tip of her knife into it.

"I purify you spirit of water, banishing all impurities and illusion. May you be charged with the power, strength and love of the Lord and Lady. Blessed be!"

Then the High Priest put the bowl of water back on the altar and picked up a bowl of rock salt handing it to the High Priestess. She held the bowl as he put the tip of his knife into it.

"I purify you spirit of salt, banishing all impurities and evil. May you be charged with the power, strength and love of the Lord and Lady. Blessed Be!"

Then he took the bowl of consecrated salt from the High Priestess as she picked up the bowl of consecrated water. They faced each other and he poured the salt slowly into the bowl of water and set his empty bowl down on the altar. He stayed there as the High Priestess set her bowl on the altar and began casting the circle with her knife. She started in the north west corner of the circle directly where Tobal and the others were standing and moved deosil walking the perimeter of the circle saying.

"May this circle be a meeting place of love, joy and truth. Shield us against evil, protect us and direct the power we shall raise tonight. In the name of the Lord and Lady, So mote it be."

The High Priest joined her as they both came back to the circle entrance. With her knife she opened a pathway for them to enter the circle. Then she and the High Priest began to admit members into the circle with a hug and kiss spinning them clockwise into the circle. The High Priestess greeted the males and the High Priestess greeted the females into the circle until everyone was within the circle and seated.

The entry was sealed and the High Priest took the bowl of water and started at the North signal fire behind the altar sprinkling it with the water and salt mixture. He continued around the circle stopping at each quarter sprinkling the water and salt mixture intoning.

"I purify you with water."

Coming once more to the North he continued around the circle sprinkling each member with water and blessing them.

As he was doing this a different Master in a red cloak took up a smoking smudge of sage and stopped at each quarter waving the smoking smudge saying.

"I purify you with air."

She continued around the circle blessing and purifying each circle member.

Another Master took a flaming torch from the central bonfire and purified the circle and members with fire. Only the High Priestess and High Priest had their hoods down. The other red cloaked figures had large hoods that covered their faces and hid their identities. Tobal only recognized Ellen as the HighPriestess.

The High Priestess went to the East of the circle and drew an invoking pentagram of air with her knife.
"Watchtowers of the East, powers of air. I call upon you to be with us tonight."

Moving along the edge of the circle to the South Quarter she traced a matching invoking pentagram of fire in the air in front of the signal fire.

"Watchtowers of the South, powers of fire. I call upon you to be with us tonight."

Moving to the west she traced an invoking pentagram of water in front of that signal fire.

"Watchtowers of the west, powers of water. I call upon you to be with us tonight."

Moving to the North she traced an invoking pentagram of earth in front of that signal fire.

"Watchtowers of the North, powers of Earth. I call upon you to be with us tonight."

Tobal suddenly felt an electrical tension that filled the circle. It was a powerful energy but also quiet and balanced. He sensed each of the four energies and wondered at their uses.

Returning to the altar in the North, the High Priestess made the sign of the cross and turned with her back facing the altar. Her robe slipped to the ground displaying her naked body in the fire light.

The High Priest with his right fore finger touched her right breast, left breast, womb, and back up to her right breast making a downward pointing triangle.

"I invoke and call upon the eternal Lady that is deep within you and has always been within you from the birth of your physical body and from the birth of your eternal soul. Join us in peace and love within our circle and give us your blessings."

The High Priest stepped back and waited silently. The High Priestess opened her eyes and Tobal could swear it was not the same person. Her eyes and voice took on a power and authority that filled the entire circle.

"Let there be Love."

Slowly they traded places and the High Priest stood with his back to the altar and his robe slid to the ground exposing his hard and muscled figure. The High Priestess with power and authority touched him first on the center of the forehead, then the left shoulder , the right shoulder and back to the forehead once more making an upward pointing triangle.

"I invoke and call upon the eternal Lord that is deep within you and has always been within you since the birth of your physical body and the birth of your immortal soul. Join us in energy and light within our circle and give us your blessings."

Then she stood back and waited. The High Priest opened his eyes and responded spreading his arms wide in blessing.

"Let there be Light!"

Tobal could feel energy filling the circle. It was charged with a type of static electricity and was feeling hot and stuffy, almost a little uncomfortable. He also felt the presence of the Lord and Lady within the High Priest and High Priestess and wondered at it.

The High Priestess and the High Priest then stood side by side facing the East holding hands as she intoned the charge of the Lord and Lady as he first heard it during his initiation.

He felt deeply stirred at the memory and suddenly he could see and feel both the Lord and Lady leaving the High Priest and High Priestess and taking their place above the central fire. He sensed them in his mind looking down in blessing and filling the circle with love, peace and healing. It seemed they looked directly toward him and smiled in welcome.