“We only know of a few cases for certain, but it was a trade those times,” Alec told him. “I think that must be significant. Otherwise the ravens could just as easily buy or steal what they want, right?”

Thero pondered that for a moment, clearly intrigued in spite of himself. The wizard loved a riddle as much as Seregil did. “Given the nature of the trades, it isn’t like for like,” he mused. “And apart from the quartz, none of the objects had any real value?”

“Is a hog’s tooth used for any magic?” asked Alec.

“None that I know of. And even if it were, you wouldn’t need to trade with a child to get what you could have for free from any butcher’s offal pile.”

“So?” asked Seregil.

“I’m not certain yet. If I had some other type of traded item, one that would hold an impression, I might be able to tell you more.”

A heavy knock sounded at the door and Thero went to let Valerius in.

“You’ve found something?” the drysian asked, tossing his wet cloak over a bench.

“Alec got this from a boy who traded for it with some beggars called the raven folk.” Thero handed him the yellow stone.

Valerius held it up to the light, sniffed it, then licked it. Shaking his head, he handed it back. “What am I supposed to make of this?”

“You don’t sense anything from it?”

“Nothing. It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you were thinking. And I suppose if it were cursed or bespelled, I’d be hearing about it from you, Thero.”

“I sense nothing on it, but this kind of stone doesn’t retain impressions.”

“You mean we went through all that for nothing?” Alec exclaimed in dismay.

“No, Alec,” said Seregil. “We just need to get something else, and now we know how.”

Thero rested a hand on Alec’s shoulder. “This is getting desperate. I know what this means to you, but the two of you have made inroads in both cabals that can’t be taken over by anyone else.”

“What about Micum Cavish?” asked Valerius. “Maybe he could look into this raven business for you. He’s very good with the lower classes.”

Seregil arched a wry eyebrow. “Do you want to tell Kari Cavish that we intend to send her husband into the south Ring?”

“You don’t think he can handle himself there?”

“Of course he can. But not alone. Bilairy’s Balls, Valerius, I wouldn’t go in there alone, and I doubt you would, either.”

“Micum wouldn’t have to,” said Alec. “We could take turns during the day, helping Micum.”

“What about Malthus and his friends?” asked Thero. “And the reprisals?”

Seregil sighed. “The two sides may do the job for us.”

“Have they tried assassinating you lately?”