(urth) Dorcas and Fechin (and Catherine)

[Dave Tallman]

Andrew wrote:
> If his Sev-mojo was bred into him, can we find any trace of the 
> breeding? 
>   
We've looked at Dorcas, but we shouldn't skip the next generation. 
Catherine seems to have considerable powers herself. She appears the 
same year after year at the Feast of St. Katharine, which suggests 
time-travel abilities.

Her beheading is first explained by Sev as a fake, but there are 
discrepancies. Sev's sword "met resistance" and her head seemed to be 
really gone (Shadow XI). Later he says "How could I refuse the Increate 
what I had willingly given the Autarch when I struck off Katharine's 
head?" (Sword XXXI). That doesn't sound like he was just participating 
in a fake ceremony.

Catherine was probably the third "witch" who hid when Sev appeared in 
Claw XXX, and left the Pelerine robe in Claw XXXI when she and the 
others fled. I believe she hid so she wouldn't be recognized. The three 
witches are like the weird (wyrd) sisters of MacBeth, the three fates. 
They are the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. The Maiden is Merryn, 
the Crone is the Cumaean, so that leaves the Mother (Sev's mother, 
Catherine). She must have had power to assist in the time-warping spell.

Most Pelerines are exultants or armigettes, according to Ava (Citadel 
X). Catherine was tall (Shadow XI). so she was probably an exultant. 
Sev's memory as Thecla in Claw XXVII shows three exultant women with 
glowing eyes (and the ability to command small bats: "a heart-shaped 
patch beside the lips of the nearest spread web-fingered wings," which 
may throw more light on Jolenta's death). I wonder if these are the eyes 
of the Pelerines that Cyriaca never had but hoped she might get when she 
took her vows (Sword V)?

I don't think Catherine is the same person as the Holy Domnicellae of 
Shadow XVIII. Sev seems to have seen her face despite her hood, because 
he says "There was much beauty in her, but it was not the beauty of 
women who quench desire." The Domnicellae is another candidate for the 
third witch at the Stone Town ceremony, but I favor Catherine. I don't 
know why the head of the Pelerine order would participate in necromancy, 
but a run-away monial who worked for the torturers might assist her 
witch daughter, Merryn.