No farmer in Perafita really has enough food these days. Taxes are always high, and Asmodeus doesn't grant Plant Growth. Laia's mother has never seen a Sower, though people whisper it used to be easier. But she's not hungry enough to expose the baby, when she comes.

By the time she's seven years old, Laia knows she's a burden. She knows they barely have the food to keep everyone fed, and if it's another bad year she'll be eating less again. And she knows she needs to eat more now. When the priest comes to say she's required to go to the school, she knows what will happen to her there. Still, it can't be worse than starving. She forces herself into the books, reciting and memorizing. When the wizard comes to say who gets to be a wizard, she's determined to be on the list. A laundry wizard gets fed.

When the wizard comes, he steps in, mutters something, gives them a cursory glance, and walks out without a word. Nobody is sent off to wizard school.

No farmer in Perafita really has enough food these days. Taxes are always high, and Asmodeus doesn't grant Plant Growth. Silvia's mother has never seen a Sower, though people whisper it used to be easier. But she's not hungry enough to expose the baby, when she comes.

By the time she's seven years old, Silvia knows she's a burden. She knows they barely have the food to keep everyone fed, and if it's another bad year she'll be eating less again. And she knows she needs to eat more now. When the priest comes to say she's required to go to the school, she knows what will happen to her there. Still, it can't be worse than starving. She forces herself into the books, reciting and memorizing. When the wizard comes to say who gets to be a wizard, she's determined to be on the list. A laundry wizard gets fed.

When the wizard comes, he steps in, mutters something, gives them a cursory glance, and walks out without a word. Nobody is sent off to wizard school.

No farmer in Perafita really has enough food these days. Taxes are always high, and Asmodeus doesn't grant Plant Growth. Silvia's mother has never seen a Sower, though people whisper it used to be easier. But she's not hungry enough to expose the baby, when she comes.

By the time she's seven years old, Silvia knows she's a burden. She knows they barely have the food to keep everyone fed, and if it's another bad year she'll be eating less again. And she knows she needs to eat more now. When the priest comes to say she's required to go to the school, she knows what will happen to her there. Still, it can't be worse than starving. She forces herself into the books, reciting and memorizing. When the wizard comes to say who gets to be a wizard, she's determined to be on the list. A laundry wizard gets fed.

When the wizard comes, he steps in, mutters something, gives them a cursory glance, and walks out without a word. Nobody is sent off to wizard school.