The next morning, breakfast was delivered to Sabrina's room and, after eating and dressing, she used the mirror to let Jessa know she was ready to be picked up. When a knock rang out on her door shortly after, Sabrina smiled with relief to see Jessa herself standing there. While that most likely meant Warren was off planning their picnic, Sabrina appreciated the time without him, nonetheless.

"The other coven delegates are assembling in the courtyard," explained Jessa as she led the way through various hallways. "I'll introduce you to everyone, and then we'll join the Nichts on the outskirts of the Schwarzwald and see exactly what it is they plan to do." She shook her head as if eternally fatigued by the antics of the non-magical people, then quickly straightened her shoulders and assumed a more cheerful air.

"Warren told me you two are having a picnic this afternoon," she said, a smile drawing her full lips upwards. "What a marvelous idea!"

"Warren suggested it last night," explained Sabrina quickly, not wanting Warren's mother to think she harbored any romantic intentions towards her son. "He offered to show me more of the surrounding countryside, and since I've never been here before, I was grateful for the invitation." Trying to sound like a diplomat, she added, "It's a good opportunity to correct my ignorance about your coven and your lands."

"I have no doubt Warren will happily show you whatever you wish to see," assured Jessa. "It's a pity our covens aren't located closer to one another, but I'm certain you two will make the most of whatever time you have together."

Sabrina nodded by way of response, grateful to see they'd arrived at the courtyard, as anything else she said on the topic of Warren was likely to become increasingly less kind the more she spoke.

Following Jessa through an archway of timber and stone, Sabrina put Warren from her mind, leaving her free to notice her suddenly pounding heart...each beat sending pulses of nervousness throughout her entire body, and she took a deep breath in anticipation of meeting the other delegates.

"Good morning, Valkar," said Jessa, steering Sabrina towards a tall man with dark skin. His hair was arranged in numerous braids that cascaded down his back, wrapped with gold and silver thread that gleamed in the early morning sunlight.

Valkar turned around, and a smile spread across his face.

"Good morning, Jessa," he said before his gaze moved to Sabrina, and his eyes quickly lit with recognition. "You must be Marlene's daughter...Sabrina, I believe?"

Sabrina nodded, waiting for him to sneer and make a comment about her age or lack of experience. Instead, he placed a hand over his heart and inclined his head forward.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, straightening. "I'm Valkar, from the Allein coven. How wonderful to see a witchling take such an interest in broader politics. You truly are your mother's daughter." He chuckled. "Ever since your mother wrote and said you would be coming in her place, I've been most anxious to make your acquaintance."

Sabrina steeled her face to remain exactly as it was, even as she felt her smile slip. So, her mother had known other covens would be sending representatives to this meeting.

Now the question was, why hadn't she informed her daughter?

Knowing her mother, this was likely some sort of test or game, but Sabrina hated feeling unprepared for something, especially something that directly affected relationships between magic users...would it have been so difficult for her mother to be honest with her, at least to the point of talking about the delegates she could expect to meet and what was important to know about each one? Sabrina didn't even know their affinities, much less the customs and rituals of their individual covens, making it highly likely she would say or do something offensive.

And on top of that, when had her mother sent a letter to the Allein coven? Given the time frame, any communication would had to have been sent before she'd even spoken with Sabrina about attending this meeting. And if one coven had been alerted to Sabrina's attendance, most likely every coven had been informed.

Silently cursing her mother, Sabrina inclined her head towards Valkar.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, as well," she said. "And I appreciate the welcome. I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at just how much I don't know coming into this situation."

She felt proud of herself for finding a way to be truthful without divulging information that was simply too personal to share.

"You must be Marlene's daughter," came a voice over Sabrina's shoulder, and she turned around, only to find herself engulfed by a pair of strong arms that seemed out of place on the elderly woman they were attached to. Sabrina returned the strange woman's hug as best she could, but was glad when the witch released her and took a step back, allowing Sabrina to see her face.

"I'm Aster," the woman smiled, the long white hair cascading over her shoulders at odds with the youthful sparkle in her dark brown eyes, so dark, in fact, they were almost black. "The matriarch of the Magischer coven. Your mother said you'd be attending in her place. How wonderful!"

"Thank you," replied Sabrina even as her suspicions were confirmed...her mother had told every coven Sabrina would be attending this meeting in her stead. They had all been expecting her, looking forward to meeting her, and she hadn't even had the faintest idea they would be in attendance.

A raven suddenly landed on Aster's shoulder, but before Sabrina could gasp or otherwise react, the elderly witch reached up and ran her hand over the bird's glossy feathers.

"This is Augen," she said fondly. "Like the Hexen, we speak of our magical abilities in terms of affinities, and mine is a connection to birds, such as this beautiful creature. He's my eyes in the air since I'm forced to remain on the ground."

Aster gestured for the two remaining people Sabrina hadn't yet met to come nearer, taking over introductions from Jessa.

"This is Gunther," she said, gesturing to a short man with a rotund belly and round spectacles that made his eyes appear smaller, rather than larger. "He's from the Mannlich coven, but don't let his jovial personality fool you...he sees more than you realize."

Gunther giggled, the mop of curls on his head shaking, but he didn't deny the description of himself even as he took Sabrina's hand and kissed the top of it, causing himself to giggle even more furiously.

While Sabrina found the man odd, there was also something likable about him, and she smiled back before turning to the last person she had yet to meet.

"This is Celestine," explained Aster, "from the Trennen coven."

Sabrina bent her head towards the woman, who was a few inches taller than she was, as well as a few years older, although not by much. What most struck Sabrina about the woman was her hair...or lack thereof. She'd seen witches with short hair before, of course, and she'd seen witches with no hair at all, usually due to advanced age, but she'd never seen a young witch with a shorn head.

In addition to that, Celestine wore a gold ring in her nose, and a chain ran from it to one of the numerous earrings dotting her right ear.

Sabrina had never seen someone with such a fascinating personal style, and for a moment, she wished she could express herself so clearly through her outward appearance...instead, she worried over wearing breeches at dinner on the off-chance word of her clothing might make it back to her mother.

To her surprise, one side of Celestine's mouth twitched upwards, almost as if she knew what Sabrina was thinking. There was, of course, the possibility the woman could read minds, and Sabrina felt a warmth spread over her cheeks, embarrassed at feeling so jealous of someone she'd just met.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Celestine," she said cooly, trying to keep her voice even.

"I've been most curious to meet you, as well," replied Celestine. Her blue-grey eyes were filled with a merriment Sabrina didn't understand and immediately found unsettling.

Before Sabrina could reply, Jessa clapped her hands together, directing everyone's attention to her.

"Now that everyone's been introduced, we really should go see what the Nichts are up to."

Everyone began streaming out the open double doors set in the wall surrounding the compound, but as Sabrina moved to join them, she felt a hand on her elbow and turned around. Thinking it was Warren, she tried not to grimace but most not have entirely succeeded because Celestine laughed.

"It's only me," she said. "After we figure out what to do with the Nichts, would you like to have lunch together?"

Sabrina swallowed, one of the rare instances where she found herself at a loss for words. "Oh, I...thank you, that's very kind, but...I already have plans for lunch, I'm afraid...with Warren."

Celestine smirked. "That should certainly be interesting. Alright then, since I'm sure we're all excepted to dine together for the evening meal, what do you say to a walk around the grounds after dinner?"

Sabrina hadn't expected her to be so persistent, and while some part of her was annoyed, the rest of her was intrigued. Here was someone who didn't place propriety above everything else. Here was a woman who spoke her mind and went after what she wanted, unafraid of how she appeared or of being rejected, for that matter.

As if sensing Sabrina's hesitation, Celestine's expression became more serious. "I'm a Senser," she said, as if that explained things, but when Sabrina simply stared at her, she must have realized her words had fallen on uncomprehending ears.

"That's how we refer to our magical abilities in my coven," Celestine explained. "What we're able to do becomes a title. I can sense other's emotions, hence, I'm a Senser."

Sabrina didn't want to fall behind the rest of the group, so she started walking towards the open gate, prompting Celestine to fall into step beside her.

"That's quite an affinity," Sabrina said, making sure not to speak too loudly; something about this conversation seemed to necessitate the need for privacy, although she couldn't have said why, exactly. "But I fail to see the connection between whatever feelings you sensed in me and your offer of an after-dinner stroll."

"I try not to sense feelings without first getting permission to do," said Celestine as they followed the rest of the delegates. "But yours were so strong, I couldn't help it." Her eyes filled with something that might have been concern. "I sensed a great deal of confusion in you, as well as a powerful battle of wills. I'm sure this seems incredibly odd, and I apologize, but I can't just pretend I didn't sense what I did, and I want you to know I'm available to discuss it, if you like."

"Why?" asked Sabrina. "You don't even know me."

Celestine shrugged. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone you don't know. Someone who doesn't have any irons in your fire, so to speak...someone who isn't directly affected by any actions you take or don't take."

Sabrina considered that as the early morning breeze blew her hair across her face. Tucking it behind her ear, she took the opportunity to glance at Celestine again.

"Are you the leader of your coven?" she asked.

Celestine shook her head. "We're governed by a committee rather than just one witch," she said. "Seven members make up the Schwester Ratin, an odd number so there are never any voting ties. My aunt's a member, and she and the other members thought it would be useful to know how everyone's feeling about the events taking place, so they sent me."

"Why didn't they send someone who can sense thoughts, so you could know what everyone is thinking?" asked Sabrina. For a moment she worried her question might come across as rude, but then considering who she was talking to, she doubted the other woman would care.

"Well, for one thing, because it's impossible to separate thoughts and feelings," explained Celestine. "I can't sense every thought a person has, but I can sense general themes based on the emotions that come up in them. The same goes for someone who is a Thought-Hearer...they can't tell you about specific emotions tied to individual thoughts, but they can get a general sense of what someone feels about something. It's just a question of what you're more connected to, thoughts or feelings."

She ran a hand over her head. "My coven sent me because, when it comes to the Schwarzwald, people don't seem to do a lot of thinking...they act based on how they feel, not on any sort of logic or well-considered advice."

Sabrina nodded, finding the whole idea fascinating. "What do you think my confusion and internal battle of wills are related to?"

"There's not time to go into that now," said Celestine. "Hence why I suggested meeting later."

The rest of the group had stopped near the edge of the Schwarzwald, and as she reached them, Sabrina made a decision.

"After dinner," she said. "I want to know everything you sensed about me."

"After dinner it is," nodded Celestine, flashing a smile Sabrina, for once, didn't have to force herself to return.

Picture by Simon Weissler from Unsplash