It’s been 200 years since the last witch was burned. The witches are long gone, but the Torchbearers still stand on the walls of Brightcastle, as if in wait, should another dare to show their face. That’s not likely though, with The Sacred Sisters patrolling the towns and villages, ruthlessly hunting for any with The Mark, a patch of white hair by the temple that all witches have.

Not far from Brightcastle lives a girl, Beatrix Bellafonte. She’s a normal girl, and lives a normal life, with her normal cat, and her normal family. And everything was very normal indeed, until she started having strange dreams of a castle. A castle in the sea. There are other girls there, girls like her. Girls in uniforms. Is it some kind of school? And there’s a man there. A man with the most brilliant blue eyes. Who is he? And why does he smile at her so?

But her dreams are the least of her worries. Her mother, Cath, wants her to become a Sacred Sister, and takes her to Brightcastle to meet with them. The Sacred Sisters send mistresses to each of the towns and villages across the kingdom, to look out for witches, and to ensure their teachings are followed. They live a devout life. A boring life. Certainly not the life Beatrix dreams of. She wants to run away and be a barmaid in the city, and spend her days getting into adventures.

But while she’s in Brightcastle, she catches the eye of a Torchbearer called Gladius. Gladius notices something suspicious about her, and follows her back to her village.

What is it he noticed? Whatever it was, it can’t be good…