Chapter 42: Wishful Thinking

Just when I thought I'd gotten my happily ever after. Yeah, wishful thinking, Hayle.

Mom's second act of power was to declare an official week of mourning while her new Enforcer order scoured the continent for the lost and the dead. Every day reports came in on partial covens who made it into hiding, more stories of horror and death to share. I spent as much time with Mom those first few days as I could, offering a shoulder to lean on, an ear as she struggled to keep everyone from losing it while the final numbers came in.

Of course, her third order of business was to declare any Brotherhood member who was seen in her territory would be summarily killed without trial and without question. I wondered at her choice, worried as I was last time other sorcerers might get caught up in the dragnet of anger, but a warning through Piers and Gram would hopefully keep any strays safe from harm as long as they kept their heads down.