“You might feel better now, but that’s no reason to take chances with your health,” Isla told her sternly—in a voice that made Delia think she really wanted to use some of that attitude on absent Kordas. “You go back down to your bed, and have another sleep. And if you find you are feeling up to it, try laundering some of my underthings and laying them in the sun to bleach, or do some mending. I’m sure I have something that needs mending. That’s work enough for now.”

The maid thanked her, but Isla was already out of the room and heading to the kitchens to talk to the cook and look through the stores.

When they had finished deciding what needed to be brought in from the manor farm to supply meals for the next day or two, Isla left her with a scrap of used parchment to make her list for the farm steward. “I’ll be down in the cellars, checking the beer,” she said aloud. “We’re likely low, and by this time most of it will be strong. It’s just about the time of year when we should start thinking about brewing again.”

That’s a nice touch. What noble in the Capital ever thinks about brewing his own beer?

Isla gestured to her, and they both made their way down into the kitchen cellars . . . and from there, down into the old manor cellars.

From the soft murmur of voices ahead of them, Delia knew her sister was right. The mages were gathering, and she was just a little surprised at their eagerness to get to work on something that was bound to deplete their energy so badly. Not to mention something that was going to force them to camp. She very much doubted that any of them had ever slept out of doors in his life.

—or will it deplete their energies? I could be mistaken. If Jonaton is right, there is that energy source there. And if it self-renews, maybe they can draw on that to do their work.

That might explain the enthusiasm she saw when she and Isla entered the “Preserved Nuts” cellar. The gaggle of mages, all of them dressed for travel and sitting on packs, turned their heads at the sound of footfalls, obviously expecting Jonaton at any moment. They didn’t exactly look disappointed to see Lady Valdemar, but as they turned their heads to resume their conversation it was clear she was not who they wanted.

But a moment later, Jonaton did appear, and for once, wearing something so workmanlike and practical that Delia hardly recognized him, with his hair bound up in a tight knot on the nape of his neck.

Then again, he’s about to go camping in the wilderness. Probably even he recognizes this is not the time for flowing tresses, jewelry, and lace.