"There is magic in starlight, of course.
This is well known. Moonlight, however.
That is a different story. Moonlight is magic.
Ask anyone you like"
Every year people of protectorate leave a baby as a sacrifice to the witch who lives in the forest...
Yes. There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch. Will you stop fidgeting for once? My stars! I've never seen such a fidgety child.
No, sweetheart, I've not seen her. Ni one has. Not for ages. We've taken steps so that we'll never see her.
Terrible steps
Don't make me say it. You already know, anyway. Oh, I don't know, darling. No knows why she wants children, we don't know why she insists that it must always be the very youngest among us. It's not as though we could just ask her. She hasn't been seen. We make sure that she'll not be seen.
Of course she exists. What a question! Look at the woods! So dangerous! Poisonous smoke and sinkholes and boiling geysers and terrible dangers every which way. Do you think it is by accident? Rubbish! It was the witch, and if we don't do as she says, what will become of us?
You really need me to explain it? I'd rather not. Oh,hush now, don't cry. It's not as though the Council Of Elders is coming for you, now is it? You're far too old.
From our family?
Yes, dearest. Ever so long ago. Before you were born. He was a beautiful boy.
Now finish your supper and see to your chores. We'll all be up early tomorrow. The Day of Sacrifice waits for no one, and we must all be present to thank the child who'll save us for one more year.
Your brother? How could I fight for him? If I had, the witch would've killed us all and then where would we be? Sacrifice one or sacrifice all. That's the way of the world. We couldn't change it I'd we tried.
Enough questions. Off with you. Fool child.
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