Chapter 1042

Coastal mist lifted from churning seas. Watchers gathered thick overhead, arcs of light slipping through low clouds. The wives set up beside a ring carved with dream-runes and watcherscript. Their offerings lined the stone, bowls of spring water, dew, plates of flatcakes, dream-gems nested in petals.

Jude stepped forward. "We honor the tides that dream in cycles. Tonight moon-water watchersong will carry dreamscript and keep covenant in ebb and flow." Wives stood in pairs; children severed dreamgems less luminous, choosing one each to place on the cliff edge, tied to ribbons that danced in sea breeze. They spelled watchersign words with runestones: memory, tide, dreampower. Laurel tied hers last and stepped to edge, eyes closed as if unsure whether to speak.