Spark to Shadow

By Atima Kim

Witch. Warrior. Dragon Rider.

Long ago, the covens of the east made a pact to bring peace to the continent. To unite the clans and create a new era of witches, starting with the next generation of matrons. Fang is the first witch of her generation to reach her debut, as the next matron

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atima Kim
• Release date: Feb 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735796918

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Damn the Andans and their misguided ideas of modesty, Pim cursed furiously as she dangled from the edge of the roof, slapping in frustration at the heavy folds of her obstructive silk robes.

Beside me, Nita tugged at the hem of her own clothes and tucked the long ends behind her knees as she squatted against the slope of the curving tiles. Nita's round, earth-colored eyes caught mine and sparked as we both watched Pim swing precariously from the edge of the eaves while spitting a stream of oaths as she tried to shove her drapey sleeves out of the way and grab onto the roof.

Are you sure it's the jacket, or have you just been packing in too many rice cakes lately? Nita teased, making no move to try and help our struggling sister.

Pim glared up at her and made a very rude hand gesture that sent both Nita and I into fits of giggles. With a heave and a swish of fabric, Pim pivoted forward and managed to get enough momentum to swing her leg up and hook a knee over the edge of the roof. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the tiles and dragged herself up beside us. As her feet cleared the drop and she pulled herself up to a sitting position she let out an angry snort and swiped at the scraped palms of her hands, scowling.

What moron designed these things anyway? she complained, plucking at the shimmery silk sleeves of her scarlet red dopo, the robe-like outer jacket customary to a complete Andan outfit, over top of the matching jeogori shirt that closed at the shoulder with a silk knot over baji pants tucked at the ankle into black boots. The outfit was simple compared to traditional Andan standards, and it was traditionally male, though preferred by my countrymen and anyone who engaged in anything more rigorous than court activities like tea ceremonies and stitching or reading.

What could possibly be the use of ten pounds of extra fabric besides making the outfit look unnecessarily complex?

I shrugged, I myself had no love for the excessive Andan fashion, but Nita and I had dressed a bit more sensibly before heading out that night. The two of us only wore our simple jeogori over our cotton undershirts and pants, cinched at the waist by a sash that kept the shapeless fabric from flapping about in the wind. Pim hadn't thought to change out of her more formal court attire and was weighed down by the heavier, flashier garments and extra sashes of silk and satin.

I turned my head toward the spine of the roof, squinting into the darkness of the night as the sound of horseshoes on stone and the whinnies of horses circled up into the air. I could make out the male voices shouting as they approached, and I immediately began to climb upward. I crawled across the roof and crouched low to the tiles, pressing my palms flat and scuffling along on my toes. Pim and Nita slowly followed along behind, and Pim cursed under her breath as she stepped on her own hems and struggled to kick excess fabric out of the way.

I made it to the top-most point where both sides of the roof met at a sharp angle and used it to move sideways, until I was at the joint where below the main hall met the west veranda and opened up to the south courtyard. I paused there, hoisting myself up so that I could peer down into the courtyard, feeling Nita and Pim take up positions to each side and poke their heads over the top as well.

Below, the outer walls of the estate were lit up by braziers along the top of the stone barriers that blazed with fire, upon every parapet flapping banners of scarlet that snapped in the wind. The towering wooden gates were open to the road leading out into the village, and there, a long line of men on horses were being ushered through.

Upon the backs of every beast rode riders swathed in gleaming scarlet silk. As they passed through the gates the enormous torches upon the walls threw their faces into blazing light. It was a large party of young men, each of them straight-backed and proud, their heads held high. They spoke to each other in easy tones and hailed greetings to the guards as they passed, familiar and comfortable with their companions and with the people of the estate.

All hail the pretty little lordlings of the Ruby Clan. Pim smirked, her cat-like eyes flicking from face to face as they traveled over the party of riders. And pretty they are too. She whistled. Like a flock of peacocks, if only they were wearing jade instead of ruby. She turned her head towards me, her teeth gleamed in the torchlight as her lips curled up at the edges. What do you make of them, Matron?

My own lips twitched as I examined each of the young faces that passed beneath the gate. Every pristine line and angle, each flash of dark, tilted eyes and strong, arching brows; each head of sleek black hair primly combed back and neatly arranged into place. Andan men lacked nothing in beauty; this was undeniably true when looking at the prospects filing into the courtyard below. Each of the young men were as eligible as the next, each brimming with confidence and grandeur. They weren't about to make this easy on me.

Nice to look at, I agreed, hanging onto the tiles with one hand and leaning back to get a more extensive view. But they're almost interchangeable.

They were. Each man was almost indistinguishable from his fellows, all clothed in the same colors and dressed in the same look in mind, with the same air of importance but lack of individuality. To the Andans, this was no doubt a necessity. Standing out among your peers—especially in this society—would mark you as an outcast. It also meant that choosing one among the many was nearly impossible.

I like that one, the one at the back on the bay. Nita pointed, her chin jutting out as she stabbed a finger toward the back of the line.

Pim squinted. Which one? The one with his hair parted to the right or the one with the middle part? Or the guy next to him with...Damn it, they all have the same style.

"No, no that one, the one with the gold accents on his saddle...or wait... Nita frowned and touched her fingers to her lips fretfully. Maybe it was him?" She pointed in a completely different direction, the crease between her brows deepening.

Pim laughed, and I couldn't help but crack a smile with them.

Forget it, Pim advised. I can't make out their features clearly enough from up here anyway, they'll all look totally different face to face I expect.

She was likely right. In the morning we would be able to peruse them from up close, formally, when they were all properly rested and even more groomed then they were now. They had arrived late so that they could have the night to get settled and arrange themselves in an appropriate fashion before they were to be presented. Which was all well and good, but I also wanted to see them in a setting where my reaction was not being watched, on my own time. So here we were, squinting through the dark and clinging to the roof to try and make out one face from the next and guess which of the eleven young men below would make the final cut. That of course, was for me to decide.

Will the others just go home once you've chosen? Nita wondered, staring fixedly at each of the young men in turn like she was making her own assessment.

I tipped my head toward her and grinned. Why? Looking to salvage my leftovers?

Nita's round eyes sparkled, returning my playful grin, and Pim reached across to smack her shoulder. Don't get any ideas yet you scoundrel. We have to split them, and I want my pick too!

Nita arched an eyebrow at her. You already have a consort, she reminded.

Pim rolled her eyes. Well it's not like I'm going to take them home with me, now am I?

Nita shrugged. Only fair I get first pick, then. After Fang, of course. she grinned, darting a look at me.

Pim scrunched her nose, preparing to object, but I bobbed my head in agreement. That's reasonable. Besides Pim, you and Nita have vastly different tastes; I doubt you have much to worry about.

We had never clashed over a man before anyway, as close as the three of us were, we had different demeanors and far different appeals. Nita and Pim drew in two completely different types of attention. Nita was girlish and bubbly, and even though her demure, lady-like grace masked the vicious warrior I favored her company for, it worked fabulously on men who desired the softer touch in a woman.

Pim, on the polar opposite end, moved like a predator stalking prey. Her wicked tongue and brusque straight-forward manners often worked better on soldiers and villains of her caliber. As it was, Nita was right. Pim had promised her blood rights to a garnet clan soldier a year past and had long since merged his household with hers, giving him his own housing in the villa and a place among my family's mortal guards and the other wethers.

This didn't seem to deter her in the least bit from seeking comfort elsewhere when she needed it. No one paid it much attention, Pim was my second in command, someday to be the second in command to the matron of the ruby clan, so no one would dare to question her even if they cared.

I, in fact, had no problem with Pim wandering wherever she pleased so long as she was by my side when I needed her. It didn't occur to me to wonder whether or not her consort himself objected, but I thought it unlikely, considering the position she'd given him. Besides that, as long as she returned to him once a year during the month she was able to conceive then she could hardly be accused of abandoning her vows.

The young men were starting to dismount in the courtyard, bowing as they were greeted by the stewards of the estate and clapping each other on the back as each new one approached. They must not have traveled together then, as I'd first assumed, as quite a few looked as though they were greeting each other for the first time in a while.

I could feel Nita and Pim's gazes on me, carefully broaching my expression. I didn't mind the two of them watching like I would have the members of the Andan ruby court. Most of the time Nita and Pim could guess what I was thinking without being told, that was just how it had always been. We had more or less been together since birth, the two of them being the first picks when it came time to choose the seven witches that would make up my coven. At that moment it was Nita who spoke what they must have guessed I was thinking.

None of them pretty enough to sway your heart from the Sun lordling though, are they? Nita mused.

My mouth curved with slight amusement at how easy it was for her to deduce this from my lack of visible emotion. That remains to be seen.

Pim snorted. Sure, we'll all pretend that you haven't already made up your mind and play along if that's what you want. You won't hear me complain, but I hope you're not planning to string them along for too long.

I couldn't even if I wanted to, I pointed out. We only have a month, at max I have three weeks to make my choices and send them home with us.

And a month for us to have as much fun as we possibly can before we have to go home and be responsible little witchlings again. Pim smirked. Got it.

I mirrored their mischievous grins as the young men began to climb the steps and allow themselves to be led inside the halls of the Sun estate. I jerked my head and turned, sliding against the roof tiles on my backside until I reached the edge. Nita stopped beside me, but the hems of Pim's dopo caught beneath her feet and she slipped, letting out an indignant shriek as she went tumbling over the edge and free fell into the garden below. Nita and I leaned forward to watch as she crashed into a conveniently placed rhododendron bush below the awning and winced at the snapping of branches and loud mutterings of curses that echoed around the empty moonlit yard.

Nita launched herself from the eaves and landed solidly on two feet, standing to full height and peering down at Pim as she extricated herself from the rhododendron, swearing and pulling leaves from her hair. I dropped down beside them with a soft thump on the blue-green grass, bracing my knees and straightening as Nita reached down to help Pim out of the crushed foliage. We could hear boots pounding down the veranda seconds later, obviously drawn by Pim's shriek and loud fall from the roof.

I looked around to face them as the guards swarmed into the garden, they poured out in a trickling flow of scarlet uniforms and hemmed us in from both sides, bristling with arms and long wooden staffs tipped by sickle-shaped iron spears. I made no move to flinch away as they lowered the spears and formed a defensive circle while Nita helped Pim smooth out the wrinkles in her clothes, the two of them completely unbothered by the circle of bristling armed guards surrounding us.

I watched the slow transformation as each guard took stock of us and put together what it was they were seeing. I could see their reactions as they heard Nita's teasing and Pim's growling retorts in Miangese. I saw them scanning our appearance, gazes flickering back and forth, putting together our presence, and then very bluntly staring at the color of our skin above the neckline of our clothes.

They were comparing our dark copper coloring to their light honeyed-tan, and it seemed to dawn on them all at once, the lines of tension easing man by man until one of them in the center of the circle relaxed and lowered his spear. The man stood to attention, and I saw the steady knowledge in his eyes beneath the rim of the tall black hat perched on his head just before he bowed respectfully in my direction.

Lady Fang, he greeted. My apologies, we heard a disturbance and thought there may have been intruders. At ease men.

In a single motion every guard surrounding us lowered their weapons and straightened, their shoulders going back as they gripped their weapons at their sides and obediently waited for further instructions from their captain.

No offense taken, Captain, I assured the young guard. We were just out for an evening walk when my second tripped, that's the disturbance you heard. The Andan words rolled off my tongue, easy and fluid; the result of years of private tutors and studious practice.

Though Pim and Nita were not as fluent and practiced at speaking, they too had been taught Andan by their tutors and understood enough to get by. Pim obligingly made an apologetic bow in illustration and gestured to the squashed rhododendron.

Pass my sincere condolences to the gardener, I'm not quite used to the weight of Andan clothing yet. Pim made a self deprecating expression and tipped her chin sideways, batting her eyelashes discreetly at two particularly interested looking guards. Her Andan had a slight lilt to it, but clearly distinguishable to a practiced ear. A few of the guards tried to hide smiles and coughed to cover up amused chuckles.

The captain blinked and cast a quizzical look at the flattened shrub. Are you hurt? I can send for the house physician.

Pim waved a breezy hand at him. Quite alright captain, a bruised bum never killed anyone. She said while helpfully rubbing her backside.

One of the guards choked at her no doubt un-courtly speech, but I caught the slight movements of a few of the others openly grinning. The captain himself looked a little thunderstruck, but quickly recovered by shaking his head and clearing his throat.

We appreciate your concern, but we should head back to our rooms now, I interjected, sliding a meaningful look toward Nita and Pim who took up their places at my sides, Pim still propping a hand on her lower back.

Of course, the captain said promptly. We can escort you—

Don't trouble yourself captain, we're not likely to get lost, I'm sure you and your men have other matters to attend. I wheeled purposefully toward the opposite end of the garden. Have a good night captain.

I...yes, good night, Lady Fang. The captain bowed again after a moment of uncertainty and the three of us passed by as the guards parted to let us through. They had relaxed their grips on their weapons I saw, which was good, because they would have been useless against us anyway. We didn't carry any weapons of our own at that moment, and we didn't normally need them. A witch was her own best weapon.

CHAPTER 2

I woke myself early the next morning, in an attempt to beat the servants before they bustled in and insisted on trying to help me dress and see to my own personal hygiene. It was not that I was opposed to or even unused to being waited on by servants. We had servants back home, but they were not expected to do even half as many personal things as the Andan servants. I could draw my own bath and put on my own clothes easily enough, and though I didn't mind them bringing fresh sheets and arranging my wardrobe and some of the simpler menial tasks, there were something's—like brushing and pinning up my own hair—which I preferred to do myself.

I was a warrior, not a princess, and though the luxury of Andan court life was nice and convenient, it could also be stifling to people who were raised with the idea of looking after one's self. I did not need to be coddled and helped to step into my own underclothes, but I also didn't want to shoo the bird-like hand maidens away each time they came to my rooms to assist me, so I made sure most of the work was already done by the time they arrived.

No less than six filed into the room that morning, in their pastel silk blouses and long bright colored skirts of matching cut and fashion typical of the estate maids. They looked just as surprised as they did every morning to find me already bathed, dressed, and with my own hair done, applying just the last bit of black kohl to my eyes as they pushed open the paneled bamboo doors to my personal quarters. Adjacent to the rooms given to Pim and Nita, though mine was also attached to the garden and came with a small study area in the alcove and its own private bath.

Predictably, Pim and Nita had also sought out ways to avoid the fussing of the estate maids. I spotted them waiting in the hallway, fully dressed and looking as though they had been sleeping since sundown instead of creeping around the grounds at my side till near dawn. As I stepped out to join them, one of my maids strode past us and waited patiently at the end of the hall for us to follow her.

Lady Sun and the ruby clan lords are waiting in the main dining hall, breakfast and tea has been prepared, if you will follow me. The prim-looking maid bent her head before turning and pushing through the sliding doors that cordoned off my quarters from the rest of the estate.

Pim caught my eye over the shorter maid's head and smirked. We all knew where the main dining hall was already but followed the maid through the halls anyway. We knew where everything was, even though we had only been guests of the Sun estate for two days. We were told we would be given a formal tour once the young lords arrived, but none of us had the patience to wait, and so we'd privately given ourselves a tour, both of the Sun estate and of the village and market beyond during the last two nights, after the rest of the Sun family nobles had emptied the halls to adjourn in their private chambers.

As we glided down the veranda, Pim and Nita at my elbows and a line of servants with their eyes on the ground trailing behind, I swiveled to get cursory looks at the gardens on either side, at the tops of the buildings we'd been scaling the night before and how the maroon and jade paints on the roofs stood out more in the day. There was nothing understated at all about the grounds of the Sun estate, though Andans liked to think their architecture was about subtle beauty.

It was similar in some ways to home, but the sloping roofs were flatter, the colors darker, with more red instead of gold, the curling ends stopped sharply where in Miang they would have curled till they were spiking sharply toward the sky. Even though it was nearly summer the air was colder here, it didn't sing with the drone of insects in the trees and the forests were milder and tamer than the wild jungles that surrounded the Surawan lands. Anda was a mountain kingdom, surrounded on all sides by gray and white peeks and dotted with gnarled trees of bluish green. It was a much more modest landscape compared to the vibrant emeralds of the Miangese rainforest, the rich red earth and the hills that sang with life.

The gardens faded from view as we crossed the flat wooden bridge over the pond and rounded the corner into the main commune building. The ceilings were higher here, held up by thick wooden beams that were painted the color of spilled blood and wrapped with corded gold ropes. I saw the thick wooden doors of the main dining hall ahead, different from the outdoor pagodas where we had been left to have our tea and meals in the peace of the gardens and quiet cool breezes in the days before.

Still, statue-like guards lined the hall on both sides, staring sightlessly ahead and looking immovable in their bright scarlet uniforms. I recognized a few from the night before and saw the slight flicker of movement as their eyes looked up at the sound of our footsteps.

The male guards were young, and they bowed their heads deferentially as we passed, but I caught several heads that tilted discreetly, their gazes sweeping hungrily over my face and figure. I paid it no mind; I was used to the lusty stares, delighted in them even. Beauty was one of my most noticeable assets, and I eagerly wielded it as the weapon it could be. I was not arrogant about it, simply knowledgeable.

My mother was beautiful as well. My grandmother—who was coming close to being a hundred years old but appeared no older than twenty-seven—was still turning heads even in her golden age. It was their features I inherited, their grace and power. I was born to be revered, as were all witches. In fact, I had never met a conventionally ugly witch. Some are less notable than others, but not plain, certainly not dislikable. There were aesthetic benefits after all, to centuries of breeding magic into the blood. It was as though our bones and bodies were formed to resemble the gems chosen to represent the clans; sharp, cutting, iridescent.

The guards closest to the doors stepped forward as we paused on the threshold and they grabbed the looped iron handles, pulling them open. They and the maids stepped back as the room inside was revealed and moved out of our way as I and my coven entered the dining hall. Heads turned to watch, seated on the floor along the wall behind knee high tables equally spaced to fit two to each. They all stood as we entered, and I quickly looked over the faces of each young man that lined the walls, unable to ignore the shining embellishments of their robes and regal set of their shoulders and confident, expectant stances.

At the back of the room—seated upon a raised platform at tables of their own—sat the members of the Sun family proper and the witches of the Sun coven. At its center I spotted our host.

Nita, Pim, and I had all taken the initiative to dress ourselves up for the occasion. Wearing our best court outfits, a scarlet silk dopo with hems and sleeves embroidered with gold thread, over finely made jeogori and baji and our best boots. I'd made an effort to pin half of my hair back and secure it in place with heavy silver combs in the Andan style, matching the combs to the delicately swaying earrings I'd speared through my lobes and the slim delicate rings on my hands.

It was more formal than I'd ever dressed in my life, the layers of shirt, underclothes and over robe weighing my shoulders down uncomfortably. Miangese formal wear consisted of a simple length of fabric fastened around the waist and a long strip of silk wrapped around the breasts and thrown over one shoulder, in the most formal of occasions paired with gold accessories like a belt, a brooch to hold the wrap in place at the shoulder and bangles around the biceps. At most, two items of clothing, that still traditionally left our shoulders and midsection bare. By my standards, I was dressed so lavishly as to be overkill, and it was still nothing compared to Lady Sun.

Most Andans wore modern versions of the more elaborate traditional styles. The noble women preferred a simpler version of the Andan Hanbok that usually consisted of the Jeogori blouse that closed at the shoulder and long shapeless skirt or chima that in the modern style, stopped at the ankles and was paired with delicate satin slippers and stark white socks. Rarely if ever did I see the noble women wearing pants, but also sparsely did I see them bother with the traditional style.

As matron, I supposed Lady Sun had the luxury of extravagance. As she stood the long bright pink of her chima skirt fluttered out, and the sleeves of her pastel colored jeogori flowed around her like rippling waves. She moved like she was in her own personal waterfall of embroidered flowers and shimmery pastel colors, the clothes layered in traditional Andan style, her sleek black hair piled on top of her head in elaborate loops and speared through with several heavy combs and a jeweled binyeo. Her sleeves were so long they almost covered her hands completely, but I could just mark out the black lines of the tattoos on the back of her hands that marked her as a witch.

The Andan witches were marked differently than we were, as to be expected. The tattoos that had been inked into the backs of my hands, as well as Pim and Nita's, were a thin pattern that looped once around the wrist and extended up in an elegant chedi-like steeple, the black lines twisting into the licking flames of the Miangese fire crest, the tips of each spire touching the knuckles.

Each line was threaded through with almost imperceptible curves of ancient script, the language of the old witches; the words were the same in any language—the fire clan mantra. The tattoos appeared naturally when a witch came into her full power at sixteen and were known as caster lines. Legend had it they were inherited spells originally cast and embedded in the skin to help us channel and direct our powers and then replenish them as needed. The Andan tattoos were much softer looking; the shape of a circular crest in the Andan style with the symbol of fire in the center marked the back of the matron's hands.

I'd yet to get a closer look at the caster lines, most the Andan witches kept them hidden beneath long sleeves and of course, none of the men in the room had them. I bowed automatically, keeping my back straight as I bent at the waist. When I raised my head Lady Sun gave me an acknowledging tip of her chin. She was a beautiful woman, unsurprisingly, with pretty curving lips and doe-ish light brown eyes.

My family would like to welcome, she spoke, her musical voice floating up into the waiting silence. Lady Fang Surawan, of the Miangese ruby clan. The next matron of the Surawan coven.

As one, the young men lining the room bowed, but it was the young man seated at Lady Sun's right that my eyes went to first. As he straightened, his gaze locked on mine and he smiled that bright, all-encompassing smile that felt like staring into the sun. With just one glance I was certain he was the most handsome man in the room; tall and broad-shouldered, with an easy confidence and crinkling light brown eyes that curved whenever he smiled or laughed, a dimple in one cheek that appeared only when he was genuinely delighted or amused. He was the reason this gathering should have been unnecessary, for I had set my sights on Sun Kyuho years before, and no one had ever been able to hold my eye since.

Lady Fang. Lady Sun spread her arms out and gestured grandly about the room. I give you the young lords of the Andan ruby clan, gathered here for your convenience. Sun, Jeon, Cho, Bae, Ahn, Lee, Lim, Kang, and Seo, respectively. So that you may decide which of these young lords you may take as consort, as agreed upon by the pact made between the coven leaders of the east.

I nodded to each of them in turn, my stomach fluttering as I took in naughty grins, roguish smiles, polite, kind nods, warm, friendly beams, and playful winks as I went. Not a single flaw to be found, it would be like trying to pick a diamond out of a bag of crystal.

I want to thank you all for coming, and for the Sun family for hosting me while I'm here. It was agreed that I should come here and meet all of you in person so that my decision would be fair and balanced, and I will do my best to ensure my choice will honor both families and nations. I spun back toward Lady Sun and without meaning to, my gaze slid sideways, once again lingering on the endearing crinkle of light brown eyes and the curve of a familiar mouth. I looked back just in time to see that Lady Sun had caught me eyeing her son.

Her knowing eyes sparked lightly, and I noticed a slight tilt to her mouth. Of course, we must be fair. And we will of course honor your choice. These things are up to your discretion, and we will provide whatever needed, even if it means sending all eleven of our young men to Miang for your debut if you cannot decide before then.

I gave her a grateful look then shook my head. I appreciate it, but I will not let it come down to that. Before I leave Anda I have promised my own coven that I will narrow it down to six, they will come with us and meet my family and people, so that they may help me make the final choice. I believe this is the right way, as my consort will have to serve them as well.

I heard the stifled murmurs as the young men absorbed this information and discussed it between their peers. I noticed a few of the Sun coven members seated behind the matron whispering to each other as well, but most seemed to approve.

That is quite wise, Lady Sun noted, tipping her head and giving me a measured look.

I glanced back at Pim and Nita to steady myself. No one had ever done this before, so deciding upon what would make my choice fair and rational had been entirely up for me to decide, though it had been discussed at length with the elders before I left home, and again with Pim and Nita over the last two days.

I was the first of my generation of matrons to come of age since the pact had been made between the covens of the east. In the last hundred years, most of the eastern continent had been in a state of upheaval following the vicious wars that started when the Nakoyan witches had nearly decimated large parts of Xu Xia and almost all of Anda.

Nakoya had enslaved and slaughtered most of the largest witch families, leaving devastation behind. In the absence of war, the covens had begun to repopulate, but it was slow going, after centuries of solitude and relationships with non-Andans strictly forbidden until the witch wars, the Andan bloodline had grown frighteningly thin. Miang was among one of the few nations who had been able to avoid bloodshed, so far removed from the island nation of Nakoya in the northern seas. Unlike Nakoya and Anda, Miang had been a diverse and open country for generations now and we had always cherished witch blood and welcomed our own kind with open arms. As a result, Miang had one of the largest witch populations of any country in the world.

To keep the peace and to help Anda and Xu Xia recover, Miang had offered a lifeline to unite the eastern nations. The next generation of Miangese matrons would all take foreign consorts, and the other nations would reap the benefit of new blood and renewed magic as well as the alliances that came with merging families and territories. It was mutually beneficial, but unprecedented, and as such I was forced to make it up as I went along, carefully considering the differences between Miangese and Andan culture. I had chosen Anda to source my consort, not out of any particular bias, but because I'd already had a certain Andan lordling in mind. If it had been up to me that would have been the end of it, but I was the first witch to fulfill the pact, and it was mutually agreed upon by the elders that I had to at least go through the motions of considering other families.

When and while I make my decisions, I will give each of the six a gift that they may consider an invitation to join me in Miang and take the opportunity to win their place, if they so desire.

Lady Sun raised a perfectly groomed brow. A gift?

Just a small token, I hedged, sniffing dismissively. I will expect those that receive it to keep it secret, at least until all six are chosen so that it remains discreet. I looked around, but each of the young lordlings seemed to understand and accept my warning.

As you wish, Lady Sun said calmly, nodding her head. We will make any accommodation you may need in order for you to make your decisions. However, the other matrons and I do have one small stipulation to make this contest as fair as possible.

I looked at her and waited, apprehension flaring up from the still set of her features. Which is?

In respect to the customs and integrity of the Andan ruby clan, you are not to have any intimate contact with any ruby clan lord until the blood rights have officially been pronounced.

I might've been less shocked if she had told me that I was being thrown out. I could feel Nita and Pim stiffen at my sides, and before I could compose myself, I blanched. I knew I turned pale as my mouth parted in surprise and I blinked stupidly as I worked to understand her words. No contact? I couldn't touch any of them? And what for? They knew well there was no risk involved, even with the blood right there was only one month a year in which I ever had to be careful.

Witches and our magic were tied to celestial patterns, our clans linked by powers given by birth month. All fire witches of the ruby clan, for instance, were born in the seventh month and so consequently, witchlings could only be conceived in the ninth month preceding the summer shift.

Lady Sun smiled at my obviously stunned look. A simple precaution, you understand. The other matrons simply want to ensure that if their son is not chosen that they would still be able to be offered as a consort to someone else, which would be against Andan witch law if they have already been bedded.

I frowned, I'd never heard of such a law, and all things considered,