“I believe I understand the problem,” the Barrani Hawk said. “Terrano. Light?”

“I can see the light without the wing, Teela.”

“There’s no light,” Terrano said. “The ambient light of the hall, yes. The light above the painting, no. But you can see it with or without the wing?”

She nodded, looking at the marks on her arms; they had continued a steady glow, and she realized as she looked that they were the color of the light she could see, winged or unwinged.

Terrano, however, had returned to the alcove and was now examining the lighting slowly. He shook his head. “I don’t want to mutate my actual eyes, but whatever it is you’re seeing, I can’t see.”

It was Mrs. Erickson who said, voice soft, “It’s a ghost. There’s a ghost trapped there.”

Kaylin turned to Mrs. Erickson, remembering clearly what had happened the last time unexpected ghosts had responded to her presence. She then turned to the painting. “It’s a Barrani woman.”

Mrs. Erickson nodded. “It isn’t a Barrani ghost.” She stepped toward the painting and lifted a trembling arm. The children who lived trapped in 14 1/2 Orbonne had always been visible to Kaylin; she couldn’t see the ghosts Mrs. Erickson saw now. She could see the light detach itself from the height of the alcove at Mrs. Erickson’s approach; it traveled to the old woman’s palm.

Since all present knew about her ability to see ghosts—and even believed in it—Mrs. Erickson wasn’t worried about appearing to be delusional. “I’m Imelda,” she said. “What’s your name?”

As she spoke, the marks on Kaylin’s arms brightened. Kaylin, who could see Jamal and the children, could now see a dim, transparent woman who had placed her hand in Mrs. Erickson’s, adjusting the position when their palms failed to connect. She was older than Kaylin, but younger than Mrs. Erickson. All color had been leeched from her, but her hair was long, her cheeks delicate, her chin pointed; her arms were slender as were her fingers.

Kaylin could see her lips move, but couldn’t hear the words; Mrs. Erickson could.

“I’m not trapped, dear, and I’m not sure if you can see the others, but if you can, these are my friends. We’re trying to free the people trapped here.”

The ghost could see her friends, and she froze at the sight of the Barrani, her hand obviously tightening.

“I don’t know when you came here,” Mrs. Erickson said quietly. “I imagine it was a long time ago. Corporal Teela is a Hawk. She works for the Halls of Law. But she’s here because she understands magic in a way most of us don’t. This is Terrano, and this is Mandoran. The young man is Corporal Handred.