Part 33 (1/2)
I wanted to find out who they were, but Selwyn refused It was like he just wanted to letforward But the speakers, whoever they were, had already disappeared Instead I was overwhel Sos at the Gathering ”I want to go,” I said ”Come on”
He looked back at me
”Co, he turned to follow me
Day two of the selection cere our breakfast together She already knew that I had been chosen by Ravenseal ”I can't believe it Right? You must be really excited Are you excited?” she said ”Because I would be Ravenseal They're supposed to be the best”
I knew she was only being kind I decided not to vent to her about anything There was no need to ruin her afterglow But just when I was settling in for a peaceful day, Ballard happened
Lia and I were going to see who else would be selected, but I had to confront Ballard first Or, I didn't know, slap hi So that's what I did
”Check your six, Bal”
”Bal, is it?” I said
I had just interrupted hi called lungotevere e the city, you see Just like we do, eh? What is it? What do you want?” said Ballard to me
It was the first time he had spoken to me in weeks
”You're a real shi+t, you know that, Ballard?” I said I couldn't help it, I stoed and left uys,” he said
Soot Badgley, which, go and figure There was only polite clapping A lot of talk, up in the stands where Lia and I were at, involved the Rook, as I heard it referred to I put my hood up
”Is it true her parents used to be in Pendderwenn? Where is Pendderwenn, anyway?”
”Probably off sulking He lost his pick, you see Oh, you mean the House? I don't know Somewhere”
I didn't want to hear any Rome, ere closer than ever
”Don't listen to them, Halsey,” she said to me
”It's hard not to,” I said
Veruschka continued her Selection duties I wondered if the Lenoir had a pick ”With the tenth pick,” she said
Nora Blackknight had just been selected
I found it funny that soed Wiccan surnaht went after Astra, Shaharizan, and soree, or provenance
”Just because you're in doesn't ree or provenance that I didn't fully understand yet ”They take into account talent Look at Vittoria What happened to her, anyway?”
I told Lia
”We'll see her again,” said Lia And then, changing tack: ”Guess what I heard?”
”What?” I said, listening hard I didn't want to hear the rest of the voices any business, you knohy they do it?” said Lia
”Why?” I said
”It's so that no one Wiccan House will get too big No, listen to this Gaven toldto those two Wiccans about, the day we cameere their na a Storm of Covens, and it's absolutely forbidden”
I listened on, intrigued
”It's what the Lenoir were so scared abouta hundred and twenty-five years ago,” said Lia, ”at the whatcha It's all in your book I looked it up 'If a House,'” she said, quoting frous Codex, ”'elects a leaderand that leader creates a Storm of Covens' you know, a bunch of Wiccan Houses all beholden to itthen that Household is said to be in breach and one of two things will happen Either itto the Houses and the themselves fully and completely from their parent covenor the Lenoir will be sent, to destroy it The coven and its satellites Anyway the Lenoir get to go kill that House and all of its offspring”
”A Storet what else exactly,” she said ”You'll have to look it up Anyway That's what Maria and all of them” She waved her hand at all of the invisible vaned the docule powerful Wiccan leader who could soainst the vampires That's why there're only twelve spots allowed in each House, and why choosing is so i choice”
”And the Houses?” I said
”Independent froh Gaven says some of the Houses don't play fair They cheat”
”What d'you mean?” I said
She looked around at all of them ”Some of the Houses” she said, ”Ravenseal, for instance”
”Yeah,” I said
”Gaven and so to, and these were his words, grow their power You know, handing over Houses to number teak Adepts whoet to elect who they want, you see?”
I nodded my head for her to continue I knew this
”Anyway,” said Lia ”It's only a andblaainst the I don't know But it's happened before That's what the First War was all about And the vampires and other supernaturalsyou know, us,” she said, referring to The Sons and Daughters of Root drawn into it, too The War of the Houses So I read, anyway”
”What about the Lenoir?” I said
”The Lenoir are powerful They hide their nued
I looked around at the Gathering Maria was still at the judges' table, along with the twins
”I'll bet that's why she's here,” I said ”Maria She wants us to, I don't know, fight a IShe wants to keep breaking it up To keep us in-fighting” I looked at Maria and knew that it was true
Lia said, ”Look at this place Look at the hierarchy Some Houses are better than others Just as some Wiccans, Halsey, are better than other Wiccans We are picked in order of our significance,” she said ”Just so with the rest of thehtbloom had just been selected Apparently, that was it Except for Vittoria, the Initiates had all been chosen