Torrid Tarot 42 - Ace of Cups - Cauldron of Keridwen (K. Z. Snow).pdf - Snow K Z - terranova.books

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Cauldron of Keridwen

ISBN 9781419914362

Edited by Carole Genz.

Cover art by Syneca.

Electronic book Publication March 2008

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in

part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing,

Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal

punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/)

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales

is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

C AULDRON OF K ERIDWEN

K.Z. Snow

Dedication

To my talented fellow authors at Cerridwen Press.

Ace of Cups

Ruled by the bonding element of water, the tarot’s cups are probably the most

emotionally charged suit in the deck. The Ace of Cups, like all the ace cards, represents

a distillation of the suit’s characteristics.

The upright, overflowing goblet is indicative of love—past, present and future, in

all manifestations—and the qualities necessary to keep it abundant. A subject who

receives this card is likely a sympathetic or even empathetic person with a warm and

open heart. She may even be on the brink of a romantic relationship, marked by deep

intimacy and lasting commitment. To fully realize this positive emotional potential, she

should heed her inner voice. Intuition will lead the way to fulfillment. Vivid dreams

may accompany the process since it’s inextricably bound to the psychic powers of the

subconscious mind.

Some tarot experts view the Ace of Cups as a variation of the Christian Holy Grail

or the pagan Cauldron of Ceridwen—hence, the title of this story. In Welsh legend,

Ceridwen (there are many variations in spelling) is the mother of the great enchanter

Taliesin. Depicted both as the goddess of poetic inspiration and a kind of witch with

considerable supernatural abilities, Ceridwen was not only an adroit shape-shifter but

also had a wondrous cauldron in which she brewed a wisdom-bestowing potion.

So welcome to my magical valley, the Cauldron of Keridwen in the Kingdom of

Galdesh, where water, dreams, second sight and even shape-shifting contribute to a

humble empath’s discovery of abiding love.

Cauldron of Keridwen

Chapter One

It was a splendid way for any woman to spend a midsummer day—lazing naked

on a soft, shaded carpet of grass beside a softly burbling, crystal clear stream, one naked

man to the right of her and another to the left, both with slow hands and slowly

swelling cocks. Content for the moment, Hilendra let herself enjoy her position.

She felt more or less fortunate to have met Elswin, a Dragon Healer with a special

talent for herbalism. It was lucky he regularly called on her. She was glad—at least now,

because she’d been uneasy at first—that Elswin soon brought along his friend Purnab,

an Armorer. If it hadn’t been for these men, Hilendra could very well have lived out her

days without male sexual companionship in this valley called the Cauldron of

Keridwen.

For generations, the Cauldron was where the “Strange People” of Galdesh lived—

those who had supernatural gifts or were practitioners of the occult arts. Viewed with a

certain degree of suspicion, they were generally avoided…although the kingdom’s

citizenry was not averse to calling on them in times of need. The prostitutes came

looking for love potions, knowing the right spouse would free them from their

servitude at the Redames Lodge. Anxious wives wanted to find out if their husbands

were being unfaithful…and if so, with whom. Bitter men occasionally sought vengeful

curses that would lay low their enemies. People of both sexes and all ages wanted their

fortunes revealed, their illnesses cured, their broken hearts mended. Yet still, in public,

the Strange People were treated like invisible entities and those Galdeshian citizens

who visited the Cauldron did so quite furtively.

Only two groups of outsiders seemed unashamed of their interaction with the

valley’s residents. Travelers and refugees, ignorant of the Cauldron’s reputation,

occasionally made their way there. In return for food and shelter, they helped with

Torrid Tarot 42 - Ace of Cups - Cauldron of Keridwen (K. Z. Snow).pdf

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