Chapter 288: A Witch’s Tools
While Talauia and Jacques cleared away the remains of their indulgent breakfast, Amahle took the opportunity to give Ashlynn and Heila a glimpse into the month ahead.
"Sorcerers can get away with simple invocations and crude rituals because they don’t work with much power, but for us, as the amount of power you draw on grows, your need for supportive implements will also grow," Amahle explained. "Like a craftsman, a witch is far more capable when she’s working with all of her tools."
"Like the items you put around the circle at the start of the seed-planting ritual?" Heila asked attentively.
"No, those are anchors or supplemental materials," Amahle said. "Let’s compare to a woodworker since we all have some affinity for wood," the elder witch said. "A carpenter has his hammers, saws, rasps, and so on as the vital tools of his trade. But he also needs timber, nails, glue ,and other materials that are consumed in the practice of his craft whenever he builds something."
"So, when you say tools," Ashlynn said. "You mean things like wands? I brought a branch from an Ancient Oak to craft into a wand for myself. I imagine we may need to ask the Ancient Willow for a branch for Heila?"
"Wands are the first tool we’ll work on," Amahle agreed with a smile. "Today, we can visit the Ancient Willow to ask for a branch and tomorrow I can help you both begin your wands. A wand is essential if you want to perform any large-scale witchcraft, or if you want to be very precise with your witchcraft. Both the very large and very small benefit from a wand’s ability to gather energy and give it direction."
"But, I’ve never seen you use a want, Aunt Amahle," Heila said with a frown. "I haven’t seen Jacques or Talauia use one either."
"I have my own advantages for doing delicate work," Amahle said. Her spider-like limbs reached out in front of her, each one coming to rest precisely next to a finger the Mother of Thorns placed on the table. A moment later, the tips of each limb began to glow with a dark crimson energy.
"If I’m attempting to raise walls of thorns, flood the Briar, or do something of a similar scale, I’ll still need a wand," Amahle explained as she withdrew the spider-like limbs. "But for delicate work, I essentially have four of my own wands to work with. It’s one of the reasons that sorcerers of the Night Weaver Clan are so feared, and witches from my clan are even more so."