Witch Born(119)
Moments later, Coyel, Prenny, Krissin, Millay, and Reden crossed one of the bridges surrounding the balcony on four sides. The four women were the new Discipline Heads. It had taken two months of haggling, but Krissin had finally agreed to take over the position as Head of Earth. She was actually better at it than Drenelle had been.
“Composer,” they murmured.
Krissin and Millay stood a little apart from Coyel and Prenny. But they’d arrived together, which was an improvement over last week. Senna hoped that someday, the two factions of Witches would become one.
Reden’s hard gaze met hers. He and Mistin had turned up in Tarten not long after Senna. Since their boat had flipped in the ensuing chaos of Haven’s disappearance, they hadn’t seen Joshen. No one had.
Senna tore her gaze from Reden and looked at the others. She had seen into their hearts, and sometimes she felt like she knew them better than they knew themselves. “Your reports?”
They shifted. All but Reden still seemed in awe of her. That awe led them to obey her unquestioningly, which frightened her. Senna had seen people with the best of intentions make mistakes. Even simple misjudgments could be rectified if they were made by a group, which is why she’d kept Caldash’s structure intact. The Orders, Guardian Leader, and Heads held equal power with her.
Though Reden wasn’t awed by her, he still treated her like glass—as if he were afraid anything but the gentlest handling would shatter her. “Some animal life has been seen,” he said. “Judging by their condition, a few have survived the curse. Others are coming in from beyond Tarten’s borders. We have put the call out for soldiers to outfit our army, and many of the Tarten soldiers have answered. I’m still looking for a general to lead them.”
Senna nodded. Reden hadn’t wanted the army to be a separate entity from the Guardians. But when given the choice of running the army or the Guardians, he’d chosen to remain the Guardians’ Leader if she let him pick the general. “Did you ask Mistin?” Senna asked Reden.
“I did, Composer. She does not want the position. Instead, she prefers to remain with her Order.” Reden actually blushed.
Senna had to suppress a smile. It seemed he had finally found a woman willing to accept his soldiering ways.
He cleared his throat. “You still need to choose a personal Guardian, Composer Brusenna.”
Senna held her hand out to forestall any arguments. “I will choose a Guardian when I’m ready for one.”
He pursed his lips and nodded, clearly unhappy with her refusal to replace Joshen, but knowing better than to press the issue further. That was wise. Senna wouldn’t allow more speculation on the subject. “Coyel?”
The Head came to stand beside her and stared out over the city. “Composer, it’s been done as you directed. The adult Witches have been relocated to Ashfall. All the students, both Witchling and Apprentice, have been moved to Haven and the school has been expanded. The call has been made that every Witch, regardless of level, is welcome. Already many of the empty tree houses have been filled.”
Krissin spoke up. “And the administration of our government has been successfully moved to Ashfall.”
Millay spoke for the first time. “Are you sure we should put a price on our songs?”
Senna smiled to herself. Finally, one was willing to voice the question all of them must have. After all, the Second Witch War was fought over the subject, and Espen was the biggest proponent for monetary gain for songs. “We must put a value onto our songs for people to respect them. I wish it were not so, but people value that which they must struggle for, and put little value upon that which they receive for free.
“We will make ourselves the world’s most valuable commodity.” She saw the Heads uncertainty and braced herself for bad news. “Speaking of, have any more come for our cures, songs, or services?”
Prenny and Coyel exchanged a glance before Coyel answered, “A few for Witch healing plants and potions. They leave as quickly as they come. But just this morning, Nefalie asked that we destroy a pestilence in the Urway City State.”
Senna rubbed her palms together, considering. “While they may not like us, Nefalie has had centuries to get used to us, I think. The rest of the world still fears and mistrusts us. As they should. It will take decades to earn their trust.”
Krissin licked her lips. “Our coin goes fast—building an empire does not come cheap. I don’t see how we can keep offering our services as Witches to the entire world when no one is paying.”
Senna smiled to herself. “It’s impossible for a Witch to starve. We’ll be fine.”