Alba walked beside Gyr as they crossed the field headed towards the sacred stone. Her grandmother talked about a goddess and a god who appeared at the stone thirty springs ago. Alba wondered if she would get to see a god and goddess like her grandmother. She wanted to have blessings for fertility and have many children with Gyr.

They had walked for two days from their tiny village to the east along the River Ugie, not far from the endless cold sea off the coast. Gyr carried a wicker basket on his back with a small collection of trade goods. Alba’s basket held foodstuffs which they would eat on the way back to their village. They had been fasting for three days and wouldn’t eat until the sacred ceremony was conclude. Alba had been born fifteen springs earlier, the fifth daughter and seventh child of her parents. Gyr was one summer older than her.

“Alba, the villagers told us we should reach the sacred stone not long before the sun is highest. It can’t that much further.”

“You’re right, Gyr. The path through the grass is well trodden and offers faster passage than when we walked at the edges of the bogs.”

“The villagers said that others all ahead of us on the trail. We won’t be alone. A seer will be there to guide us,” Alba added. “I hope the shells will gain the goddess’s favour.”

“My flint knife will undoubtedly earn approval.”

Gyr had learned quickly the trade of his father who crafted tools for his home villagers.

They became aware of the sacred stone as they saw couples standing near what could only be the sacred stone. Gyr and Alba hurried their steps not wanting to miss the sacred invocation.

Sitting near the stone, an old woman was preparing an infusion. Alba recognized the mugwort which was being brewed. There was a woman in her village who brewed a herbal infusion for medicinal use, as well as for the Seer’s use at holy festivals. A white-bearded old man stood behind her as though waiting for the potion to be ready. There was no doubt in Alba’s mind that he was the seer who would call upon the immortals. Alba nudged Gyr and nodded toward the old man before whispering, “He is waiting. We aren’t late my husband-to-be.

Gyr nodded without adding any words. The two had spoken quietly along their journey about keeping their purpose unexplained. The priest in the village was brutal in his attempts to stamp out paganism.

Moments before the sun rose to its highest position, another couple arrived. The seer moved to stand beside the stone while the old woman went from couple to couple to have them drink the infusion using their own wooden cups. When all had swallowed the brew, they sat in a semi-circle in front of the seer.

They waited for what seemed unending time though the sun’s position told anyone watching that it wasn’t long after midday when the seer began to speak.

~

Alba didn’t hear the words as she sat, she felt them reach into her centre. Her eyes caught the shimmering of light as two figures emerged. The goddess with long golden tresses, and a god with a glowing mane of hair that included a long beard.  The goddess smiled

~

The sun had set behind the hills to the west when Gyr woke. He saw Alba, folded onto the grass, still sleeping. He looked around. The sacred stone stood where he had seen it at midday. However, the old woman and the seer were no longer by the stone. All that remained were the scattered couples still sleeping.