140 Chapter One Hundred and Forty – Verd and Scu (1/2)

Hazé spun her Staff in her fingers, looking ahead of her.

She was invisible up on a roof, and this town didn't have internal Wards, so she knew she wouldn't be spotted. Her attention was on a girl below.

This girl's mother was a greenhag.

Hazé could see no sign of it. She was a green-eyed, brown-eyed young woman, attractive, of medium build that showed a hint of maturing early. Greenhags were the Hags of Cursed Fertility, the most numerous of them, supposedly their Curse originated from the punishment of the souls of men and women who abused their own children for their own benefit.

It wasn't the job of the Void Brothers to just slaughter Hags willy-nilly. Even in this day and age, there were some souls reborn precisely to become Hags and be punished for the evils they'd done in a previous life. The Curse was massive and unavoidable, a part of the magical landscape, possibly the literal Mother of All Curses.

But like most curses, it had been bent and corrupted, with the ability of the Hags to steal the lives of the children of others, and literally make their own Hagchildren, who would inherit the curse of their mother and were doomed to Hagdom when they came of age.

This girl was one of them. How the Fire and Sword knew before it was time, she didn't know, but gathered that he had met and disposed of her mother for some reason... and the Curse of the Hag was a magical thing, he would be far more sensitive to it than any Caster.

Her problem now was how to approach the girl... and her family.

Greenhags were the epitome of savagery towards children. What they typically did is charm a father-to-be, got themselves pregnant, and then swapped children with the mother-to-be in their wombs. Separated by the moment of giving birth, the transferred hagchild would inherit the soul meant for the real child, and the other would be stillborn, often made into a scrying globe or other foul instrument in celebration by the hag.

Often ate the dad, too.

This girl had naturally grown up unknowing of her nature, and wouldn't know until the first time she had sex... at which time she'd probably rip her lover apart and eat him. Given the strong sex drive and early maturity of Hagchildren, that was usually before their fourteenth birthday.

But how do you tell an eight-year-old girl they are going to turn into a Hag, especially when their own Curse would be urging them not to believe? It was cruel and merciless... just like the Curse.

The best way was probably to misdirect the idea completely...

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”My Verd has a talent for magic?”

The woman was blond, attractive, somewhat careworn by grief and time. She had a babe on her shoulder, who did not share a father with her firstborn daughter, so she had remarried. The man was obviously out to work, which was precisely why Hazé was here.

Talking with the woman was not difficult. A II Valence to appear years older and taller, the white and black of the Silver Queen's servants and silver crescent symbol at her throat was more then enough reason for the awed young woman to let her into her small home.

”A strong one. More precisely, witchcraft... a wizardess with a Patron. I think you can understand how important it is that such a talent not turn to darkness, Elia.”

”Yes, yes, of course!” Her dark eyes dotted back and forth, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. This was a massive opportunity for her daughter, and would take her off her hands, easing tensions in this household, where her husband had to be reminded every day that he was not the man she had loved first and most. Naturally, she did not know how her husband had died... or even if he had... ”Things have been so difficult since her father left...”

Well, that was one thing she could lay to rest.

”Died,” Hazé corrected crisply.

”What?” Elia stared at her in horror, shock... and an inner well of relief breaking.

”He was murdered before she was born.” Hazé tilted her head slightly. ”I naturally ascertained her parentage and the whereabouts of her parents after I saw her. The nature of his death was quite violent. Were you not aware of this?”

She was trembling, shaking, and the tears began to flow. ”I... no, no, everyone said he fled after he learned I was with child, he wouldn't marry me...” There were other things she was called. It seemed her husband had been desired by many of the young women her age, and naturally they blamed her for everything when he went missing.

But he hadn't abandoned her, hadn't betrayed the promises he'd spoken.

”If you are wondering, he is with Aru. He did not forsake you,” Hazé said kindly.

She was sniffling non-stop, unable to stop her crying. The years of abuse and tears came out together. Hazé kindly supplied a kerchief and waited patiently.

”I-I will have to talk my husband, Moonsister, but to have a daughter accepted into Sylune's service, I do not think there will be a problem! This is a great blessing of the Goddess!” She reached for the light in the gloom, and Hazé clasped her hand warmly.

”The stars have indeed blessed your family,” Hazé agreed patiently. ”How about this? I will return tonight, and if you and the child are willing, I will take her with me into Sylune's service.” Her voice dropped subtly. ”I do not know how long she will be in training, so it may be some years until you see her again.”

Elia nodded understanding, long apprenticeships were the norm in this society. Her daughter would come back to her when she was capable of doing so.

Hazé waved her hand as she left, and magic swirled through the small house. Elia looked around in wonder as the floors were polished, walls scrubbed down, dirt vanished, clothes were cleaned, dishes washed, blankets folded, and she heard the hot water bubbling suddenly in the kitchen.

Hours of labor, accomplished in mere minutes. Truly, this was a servant of the Silver Queen.

Walking away, Hazé nodded to herself that the first step was done.

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Verd was waiting for her when she returned at twilight.

She was wearing her best dress, clearly a little threadbare, shifting nervously from foot to foot. When she saw the tall woman in black and white coming up the road to her house, she couldn't help her eyes getting wide.

There were a lot of eyes on Hazé as she strode down the street. News of her coming earlier, and doubtless the tales from Elia's lips, had certainly spread. The silver light glowing softly above her head was more then ample proof that a Moonsister had come to their humble town, and her house and person, formerly ridiculed for her status, was now going an abrupt change.