“Come on,” she said, and took his arm. “You’d best come inside. I can’t believe you’re here. It’s a good thing Morgan’s ridden out on business, for if he hadn’t we’d be mageworking and I’d have no time for you at all.”

Remmie fell into step beside her, and they tramped along the driveway toward the imposing stone mansion.

“I felt something… odd… as I crossed the estate boundary. Some kind of—”

“It’s a warding incant,” she said, glancing sideways. “Morgan and I are as fond of privacy in our magework as we are of solitude.”

“A ward? And it’s holding?”

She gave him another baffled look. “Yes, of course it’s holding. Why wouldn’t it?”

“Barl—” Stopping, he caught hold of her wrist. “I know you get blinded by your magework, but… you do know what’s happening in Dorana, don’t you? The mage-mist?”

“Mage-mist?” she said, suddenly wary, and tugged her wrist free. “What do you mean?”

A cold slap of understanding stole his breath. “Justice save me. Is Danfey keeping you a prisoner here, still?”

“No, of course not! Remmie—”

Heedless, he took hold of her shoulders. Shook her a little, staring into her face. “Barl, when was the last time you left this estate?”

This time she didn’t pull free of him. “Why?”

“Just answer me.”

“When I came to see you. Why?”

Letting go of her, turning away, he pressed the back of his hand against his mouth, breathing hard. When he could trust himself, he turned round. Rage was coursing through him, bitter and hot.

“So you don’t know. Which means Danfey’s been lying to you. I’ll wager everything he’s ever said is a lie.”

“That’s a lie!” Barl retorted. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“And you don’t know Dorana is falling apart!”

She stepped back. “Falling apart? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense,” he said. “Something’s gone very wrong. I can’t believe you don’t know.”

She was standing still and straight, her fingers clenched by her sides, all the colour drained out of her cheeks.