He was interested only if Sallis Arkley were here yet, but had no intention of alerting the man to his business. Instead he withdrew to the inner chambers and took possession of a cubicle, where he stripped himself of his finery and shrugged into the robe. Then he made his way to the communal hot room where Sallis Arkley so enjoyed holding court.

It was empty of all but billows of steam. He was early.

Prepared to wait as long as he had to, unwilling to offer for Parnel Garrick’s daughter until this last matter was settled, he loosened his robe, eased himself onto a bench and breathed deep of the heated, damp air. Sweat sprang through his skin within heartbeats. Eyes closed, head resting against the comfortably padded wall, he let the morning’s tension seep from his pores.

If only it were as easy to sweat out Barl Lindin.

The merest thought of the girl made his pulse race and his muscles contract. Not even the aromatic steam, rich with the healing properties of potent Ranoushi mineral rock, could ease him. Nothing could ease him.

Nothing save Barl Lindin vanishing from my life. But in binding her I have bound myself, too. It seems I am caught in a snare of my own making.

And ensnared, he could see no means of escape.

An eddy in the room’s clouding vapours as the sealed door opened. Sallis Arkley strode in, trailing four acolyte mages eager to be of use, so that in turn they might boast of it and advance their own causes. Sallis knew that, of course. Which meant either he sought to feed his avaricious appetite for flattery… or he was using them, as they thought they used him.

Most likely it’s both. Sallis is devious. Only a fool forgets that.

The steam billowed again, and Sallis saw him. Only someone who’d sat through a succession of Council meetings with him would see how his confident stride lost its rhythm, just for a moment.

“Danfey.” Because others were watching, Sallis offered a genial smile. At no time could the Council of Mages give a public impression of disharmony. “It is not usual to see you here.”

Morgan offered his own insincere smile. “That’s true, my lord. But you have a glow of health about you that prompts me to follow your excellent example.”

Eyes glinting, Sallis turned to his companions. “You would be serving me, my friends, did you retreat a short while to the smaller hot room. As it happens, this chance encounter is most timely. The councillor and I have a privy matter to discuss.”

The acolytes, years younger than Arkley, all of them ranked but not dangerously high, nearly fell over each other to prove their affability. As the door banged shut behind them, Sallis quashed his smile.

“I am not impressed, Morgan.”