This, Persephone could do. She began with the names of Ivy's immediate family, the name of the man who had told her she was a witch, banal details about life at school. She faltered a moment before adding, "I am not certain of the... perameters of the anomally. If there is a story in which I featured, I do not know if it still happened, as far as you're concerned. Like your teaching me to fight, after my kidnapping the year before last."

The witch hesitated. There was one story she expected was still true, given the reaction to Orwell's name. She took a breath to steel herself, for it was not something they discussed even amongst themselves, not since Thomasin died.

"Of coruse," Persy continued quietly, "there was the ritual. October 19th. The blood rain."