Page 23 of Sightwitch
“But that was centuries ago,” Hilga explained in our meeting today. “In the days of the Twelve, when we Sightwitches were top advisers to queens and kings. When the wealthy and the poor alike sent their corpses here so we could record their memories.
“We had food, we had wealth, and we had space. The Standing Stones had not yet been erected, so no glamour hid us from the world.”
“Why was the spell made?” Ry asked. “Why did we hide?”
“Because six Paladins turned on the other six, and we were no longer safe.” Hilga lifted a flat-palmed hand before Ryber could inevitably demand more explanation. “That’s a lesson for another time. All you need to know now is that the day the spell was cast was the day the Rules of the Convent grew stricter. Including Rule 12.
“So you must harden your hearts, girls, for more children will always be left than we can safely keep. And always,alwaystheir parents will beg or scream, or curse you when you ignore them. And always,alwaysthey will say, ‘This child will die if you do not take her!’
“But you must not listen, and you must not believe. Look to the Rules to guide you, and remember to trust Sirmaya.”
When the sky splits and the mountain quakes,
Make time for good-byes,
For the Sleeper soon breaks.
—Sightwitch Sister skipping song
Ryber Fortiza
Y18 D216 — 42 days since I became the last Sightwitch Sister
DREAMS
The same dream came to me, except this time, Hilga was there too. “Find us! Please, Ryber, before it is too late!”`
Two Sisters trapped behind a wall of water.
Two Sisters I could not save.
MEMORIES
I don’t know where to start. The day feels so long and disjointed. So much has happened since I wrote my dreams.
So much haschanged.
But “there is no such thing as coincidence” and “there is no changing what is meant to be.” So I must accept this.
“The beginning,” Tanzi would say if she were here. “Start your tale at the beginning.”
Morning prayers it is, then.
I recited them as I always do, and no spirit swifts came for me. As soon as I’d uttered the final word, I scurried up to the telescope.
The Nubrevnans have made such progress, and their wooden scaffolding looks more and more like a proper tower.
They scuttled about even more industriously today, though their pale-haired captain was nowhere in sight. I couldn’t help but wonder where he’d gone.
The storm clouds gathering above the mountains must have spurred the workers on. Black thunderheads were not unusual for this time of year, except that these rolled in from the Northwest.
I’ve never seen a storm come from Arithuania before.
Eventually my eyes burned from the all the squinting, and lightning had begun to flicker. I needed to check on the sheep, not to mention cover the weaker vegetables and fruits.
Ever the dutiful Serving Sister.
That was when it happened. As I turned away from the telescope and toward the stairs, movement caught my eye.
