The witch Helen waited for them at the Coven office within the Sanctuary. This building had long been operated solely by the ladies of the Green Coven. Members of Grady’s Posse were only allowed within if they had an appointment, as Logan and his team did that afternoon. The office was a place for the witches to cool off and spend some time away from their Guns, if they were fighting. Helen rocked back and forth on the porch chair as she watched Team Bootknife shuffle up to the office.

  “Oh my.” She snickered as the boys nearly fell over themselves, “I take it you’re my 4:30.”

  “Yes Ma’am.” John pushed Buster off of him. “We didn’t want to be late.”

  Helen looked them over. She could tell they were in their Sunday best; new gun belts slung around the waist, with laundered shirts and shined boots. Seeing new Guns so excited to make their pacts always put a smile on her face. Even through the darkest times in the Posse’s history, there were always fresh faces on new adventures.

  The elderly witch stood up, leveling her purple eyes at Logan the Bootknife. “Well, we had better be off. Most of the young ladies would have made pacts by now. You could have scheduled a much earlier time if you had filled in the paperwork ahead of time, as is the norm.”

  John rolled his eyes with a groan. “You procrastinated. I’m not even surprised.”

  Arms crossed, Calvin glared at his teacher. “This is ridiculous!”

  Logan simply shrugged, “You’re here ain’t you? There’s plenty of witches, guys.”

  Her steps slow and measured, Helen summoned magical energy from within. She took a deep breath. The boys watched her eyes begin to glow, much like the Guns when they enter a Resolute State.

  “Stand still and I will perform the Translation to Emerald Lake.” Helen breathed out. Logan came up behind them and scooted them in close. The four remained still as a field of lavender energy encircled them. Calvin felt the world tumble, like diving into water. Everything went black.

  He could see those two eyes again, bright yellow in an infinite void. Like two little flames, they flickered and sparked.

  “I’m on the way.” The voice crowed, “I’ll come get you, bring you before the King.”

  Calvin, floating in these strange depths, leveled himself at the eyes. “Who are you?” His words were fearful.

  “We belong to Him. We owe our souls to the company store.” The voice answered, “You’ll serve as my brother. Hold out for me, boy. I’m on the way.”

  Cal opened his eyes, now standing again in the light of the Tennessee sun. He found he was holding his shoulder, where the twisting mark lay under his shirt. Looking around, the beauty of the scene hit him like a brick.

  This place was serene, to Cal, a mountaintop paradise. The peaks surrounded them like statues standing watch, and the clear blue sky reflected off the gentle waters of the lake. A lone rock jutted from the water, near the center. A broad, tall tree grew from the rock, and its bright green leaves appeared like emeralds. It shimmered in the summer sunlight as the wind tousled its branches.

  Before them was the Coven, log cabins sitting at the shores of the lake. A few larger brick buildings towered over the dwellings, their purposes unknown to even the elder Gun among them. A witch in a long black dress stood in front of them.

  “Silence.” The word spoke into Calvin’s mind, like a series of voices at once. He had read about Power Words in one of John’s books. These were magical runes manifested into the English language. When spoken, they could be loaded with magic, producing a hex. Power Words required arcane knowledge that only veteran gunslingers in Grady’s Posse could possess, but even inexperienced witches of the Green Coven could reliably speak these hexes. As the magic commanded him, he fell silent. He had no choice.

  She led the Guns further into the Coven grounds. They reached a cobblestone courtyard, where many young ladies stood waiting. Like the boys, they had done themselves up for this special day. Calvin’s eyes traveled over them in awe. They were beautiful, each and every one. He felt excitement bubbling up, he was finally in their presence. He had dreamed about this day for almost a year.

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  “On your knees.” Logan spoke low. The boys followed their teacher’s instructions, now presenting themselves.

  A tall witch, her face covered in a black veil, came forward. She looked to Logan.

  “You are witness to the massacre in St. Louis.” She spoke with heavy words, her authority very clear to Calvin.

  Logan held firm, eyes forward. “Participant.” He corrected her.

  Suddenly. Calvin felt the immensity of Logan’s Resolve. This was unlike anything he had ever felt, besides the ordeal of the Trial. Lou Cobb was the only worldly comparison he had, and Louey never opened up like this. He could see it on the young ladies’ faces, they were enchanted and haunted at the same time.

  “I kept my Pact.” Logan’s eyes remained forward, looking past them all.

  “We know” The veiled witch answered him. “You are forgiven, Logan Denton.”

  “My boys?” He dropped his Resolute State.

  “Silence.” She held up a hand. Logan obeyed, there was no need for a Power Word. Looking to the three young Guns, she spoke again. “Resolve.”

  Calvin breathed in, slowly entering a Resolute State. His green eyes glimmering, he could see the colors of this sacred place. Power flowed freely, colors vibrant and free. He noted the Resolve of his fellows shining brightly.

  The witches studied them closely, a few stepping forward. Calvin felt many sets of purple eyes on him and the nerves began to set in. He stifled anxiety as a raven-haired witch approached him.

  “Your hat, please.” She pointed to the cowhide hat on his head. Calvin swiped at it quickly, holding it in his lap. He raised his head, looking up at her. As their eyes met, he felt himself melt into the lavender glow. She placed a hand on his head, feeling the inner energies of his body. Calvin had never felt so close to another person. It was intimate, enrapturing. His breath was shaky.

  Her gaze turned sour, the peace broken. She snatched back her hand. “No… no no.” She shook her head. “No, no. I have to go.”

  Calvin’s gut sank as he watched her shuffle off. He didn’t understand. Looking around, he wondered if he had done something wrong. He looked to Logan, who stared forward.

  “Did… I say something?” He looked to the veiled witch, “I don’t know what happened, I’m sorry.”

  “Do not worry yourself, Son of the Southpaw. Continue.”

  Though the way she addressed him was curious, he obeyed and steadied himself. Buster and John had witches standing before them, they were too focused. He put a smile back on, remaining Resolute. Another young lady approached curiously. She placed a hand on him. Calvin smiled up at her, meeting her eyes, but utter disgust overtook this girl as well.

  Buster found a short, auburn-haired witch standing in front of him. He looked up to her, presenting a wide smile.

  “Can I touch it?” She spoke in a mousy tone, “Your makeup, I mean?”

  Buster turned back to Logan for guidance, but as with Calvin their teacher remained silent and motionless. The boys were welcome to be curious and speak, not the elder Gun. The time for him to speak on Coven grounds had passed. When he had no answer, he looked back.

  “Yeah, sure!” He shot her a sunny look. This earned a giggle from the witch. She placed her hand on his face, feeling the contours of his cheek. He let her try to resonate with his Resolve, the two vibrating in harmony. Buster blinked, feeling the natural sync they had settled into. He now understood what many in his order had talked about.

  “I am Mavis of the Green Coven.” The girl told him, “I would like to select you. Would you enter into a pact with me?”

  With a slight gasp, Buster nodded. “Hey, Teach. This is ok?”

  “The elder Six-Gun does not intervene.” The veiled witch told him, “Your answer is appropriate.”

  “Ok, cool.” Buster tried to catch his breath.

  John was in a stare down with the young woman in front of him. Already two had come to feel out his resolve, determining to pass him up. John’s Resolve was strong, for a young Gun, but the cold determination in his eyes put the more sensitive among them off. The one who stood in front of him now, however, was not so sensitive. She held his gaze, pursing her lips.

  “What’s your deal?” She asked in a short tone.

  “Great way to start up a conversation.” Remarked the young Gun.

  “Why’d Molly and Gerty walk away from you?” She continued her interrogation.

  John narrowed his eyes, studying her. She was beautiful, that was true. There was something else. Her eyes, purple like the rest, were sharp. She looked like a bird of prey. He could feel her judging him, handing down sentences like a Justice of the peace.

  When the witch realized he was just looking and not admiring, she tilted her head. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “You ladies do what you want. I’m here, take it or leave it.” John had decided he was done with this one and dropped the niceties. “But I’m not here to be stripped down.”

  The witch found that response interesting. The other three she had met and judged lacking earlier in the day had a dramatically different response. Those boys pleaded for acceptance, getting it from other girls in the Coven. This one had pride. His Resolve was firm, he was a fighter.

  “Alright. I’ll take this one.” She smirked, looking back to the veiled witch.

  The older woman looked at her sideways behind the veil, waiting for the proper formality.

  “Oh right, right.” She turned back, “I’m Elise of the Green Coven. I would like to select you. Would you enter a pact with me?”

  He almost said no, almost. John remembered what their teacher had told them this morning. As much as this witch was playing with him, he was not to play with her feelings. He gave her a slight nod, as if to rob her of some degrading gesture. She smirked, finding his contradictory act of resistance amusing.