Back to Hazé...

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.

That girl’s mother was a greenhag.

Hazé could see no sign of her heritage. She was a green-eyed, brown-haired young woman, attractive, of medium build that showed a hint of maturing early. Greenhags were the Hags of Cursed Fertility, the most numerous of the Hags. 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 by 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 mothers 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 Hazé didn’t know, but she gathered that he had met and disposed of her mother for some reason... and the Curse of the Hag was a magical thing, so he would be far more sensitive to it than any Caster.

Hazé’s 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.

They often ate the dad, too.

This girl had naturally grown up ignorant 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 ten-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, and 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, along with the white and black of the Silver Queen’s servants and the silver crescent symbol at her throat was more than 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 darted back and forth, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. This was a massive opportunity for her daughter, and would take the child 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 first 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 had blamed her for everything when he went missing.

But he hadn’t abandoned her, he 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 to 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, as 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.

--------

Verd was waiting for her when she returned at twilight.

She was wearing her best dress, clearly a little threadbare, and 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 than ample proof that a Moonsister had come to their humble town, and her house and person, formerly ridiculed for her status, was now going through an abrupt change.

Her daughter was going to be brought into the service of the Silver Queen! Only a fool would want to offend her now...

Elia came to the door behind her daughter. She was standing straighter now, the grief of years gone, and a fierce pride was in her eyes now. Her daughter, THEIR daughter, was being called to serve the Silver Queen! For a laborer’s family, this was truly a massive honor and good fortune. All the curses, insults, and doubts were gone now, and destiny had paid her back for all her pain.

The younger brother and sister who could walk were leaning out the windows to watch, and indeed, there were a lot of spectators who silently filed out to look on. An older man and woman, her paternal grandparents, were present, as well as her maternal grandmother, all watching from the side in silence.

Indeed, there were a lot of people out there with their children. Their goal was apparent, especially as they slowly moved into her wake. They wanted to see if any of their own children could catch the eye of this Priestess of the Silver Queen.

As this was one of her responsibilities as a Priestess, Hazé didn’t shirk it, but her first duty was before her.

Verd was staring wide-eyed at the tall and beautiful raven-haired woman before her, so strong and powerful, unseen magic plucking at the edge of the eyes of all who looked upon her. She radiated power and control, completely overwhelming everyone around. The young girl was finding it hard to breathe.

“Are you ready to go, little sister?” Hazé asked with a smile that dazzled everyone nearby.

“Y-yes, ma’am,” Verd managed to get out, awed at all this. She clutched the bag of her most precious belongings.

“Very good.” Hazé gestured, and a lotus-style lamp appeared on her hand. She handed it to Elia, and it opened up slowly, revealing the bright Eternal Moonflame burning steadily within. “This is a Scrying Focus. We will use it to check up on how you are doing over time, to set my little sister at ease. And exactly once, you may snuff it out, and I will know that you are in great danger.”

Elia’s eyes widened, and those of the lean man behind her trembled, knowing the value of such a gift. No one would dare to invade their house with such a thing present, nor dare to steal it, lest it lead a Priestess of Sylune right to them.

The Goddess had extended a shield over them...

Hazé met both their eyes, and her fingers twinkled as she laid them on Verd. Both of the parents had a very clear image of a purse appearing in a corner of their loft, under old blankets and clothing too worn to wear, containing a thousand pieces of silver... a true fortune for a family at their standard of living, but a pittance to Hazé now. If they were prudent, it would last them for years, and provide a good home for their other children.

“Come, little sister.” Magic swirled around Verd, and she gasped as she was suddenly wearing the black and white robes of an acolyte of Sylune. The eyes looking on her all changed instantly, and she straightened up despite herself, holding her pack to herself.

Hazé casually relieved her of it and tossed it on a Disk floating on her side. Leading her new acolyte by the shoulder, she turned and walked back out the street.

Her eyes sparkled with stars as they swept over the men, women, and children on their path out, especially the children.

She stopped before a skinny blond girl, perhaps six, who stared up at her in wonder. Her parent’s eyes went wide, and her siblings nearly exploded on the spot.

“Take her to the Harvestmother’s House,” she said softly, and continued on her way, while bows and prayers rose spontaneously behind her.

“If you keep your fire, Valus will take you,” to a young man, who quivered to hear it.

“Go to the Guild Arcane, and ask for a member of the Eclectics. Tell them Moonsister Hazé sent you,” to a thin boy with dark, active eyes.

“If you dare to ride free, Aethra will take you,” to a fiery-eyed, freckled redhead who clenched her hands to hear it, turning instantly to glare at her parents, who almost rolled their eyes in relief.

---

“You may come out.”

From the shadows between two homes, a thin, scrawny young man stepped out. He was dressed in rags, cast-offs from others, with sunken eyes and scars from fists and the lash. His hair was black, his skin pale, and he had already lost a couple teeth from beatings.

But his eyes were hungry, not afraid. Bitter, angry, and stewing with emotions.

Verd gasped next to her, and took half a step forward. “Scut...”

Hazé raised an eyebrow on seeing this. “Come forwards, young master.”

The boy shivered at being addressed so, and came cautiously closer. His eyes met hers, afraid but defiant, expecting the worst, spitting at his own despair.

“Your potential is higher than anyone else here, save my little sister.” Hazé squeezed Verd’s shoulder, and she trembled. Scut shivered, and despite himself, stood up straighter, those words reinforcing his own beliefs.

Hazé’s fingers twisted, and a silver coin appeared there, rapidly flowing into the shape of a crescent moon. His eyes fixed on it hungrily. “I will give you three choices. Take this and present yourself to a true Bard, not a mere musician. A drop of blood upon it, show it to them, and the sorrow in your heart will one day be heard across the land, and men will know your name and respect you deeply.

“Or,” she turned her fingers, and the darkness on the other side gleamed like black oil, “take this to the Guild of Thieves, one of their masters, and men will one day learn your name, but they will only speak of it in whispers...”

She lowered her hand, and his rose to take it, eyes gleaming. “Lastly,” and his hand froze, “you may come with us, and I will introduce you to someone.”

Verd’s jaw dropped, and Scut blinked as well.

He looked at the crescent moon, the two choices of fame and infamy, and then at Verd, up at the beautiful Priestess before him.

“I-I’ll go with you...” he grit his teeth and clenched his fists.

“Cunning already.” Hazé’s eyes sparkled, and she waved her Staff.

A silver wind swept down the street, and before he could say anything else, they were gone.