Spells are words, and words are merely noises. You are the sorceress, not your instruction. Don’t limit… — Tanith Lee

When you fell in the sea, you should have heard them cheer. I made them rope the yard and fish you up. I said a ducking in water washes the witch-skill out of a woman until next full moon, and it would be bad luck to let you drown. How about that for a clever story? They’d believe anything if you make it sound silly enough.

There were clouds like sharks with open jaws in the sky that morning.