Kaylin nodded. She had set aside the scratch pad; she had no intention of entering this discussion into any formal report.

“We were lucky,” the old woman continued. “We had a roof over our heads, and we had enough food for the table. We didn’t have a lot of money left over. But we weren’t dressed in rags. We had to make an appointment, and that was difficult; my mother had to answer questions about my ‘education.’” She enunciated the last word in a very different way.

“I knew how to read by then, but we didn’t have much time for other lessons. Practical lessons—cooking, laundry, cleaning—took most of our time. I don’t mind the outcome for myself, you understand. But my mother was so hopeful. And she was crushed by the results. I had no magical aptitude.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t believe that.”

“Pardon?”

“Whoever was responsible for the assessment had their head up—I mean, I think they were wrong.”

“That’s kind of you.”

“And I think we should visit again.”

Mrs. Erickson shook her head. “The Imperial Mages are very busy people.”

“Yes. And this is one of their responsibilities, according to the Emperor.”

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“You won’t be.”

“Corporal, I’m old now. I am too old to change. I am too old to plan or build a new life. All that would happen is I would waste a day—or several days—of a mage’s time. I’m not certain why you think this is a good idea—most people think I’m a bit dotty.”

“You’ve never worked with actual mages,” Kaylin replied. “They’re way more than a bit dotty. You probably have more common sense than the rest of them combined.”

Mrs. Erickson smiled, but also ducked her head as if to avoid the heart of the compliment. “Let’s pretend that you’re right. That I somehow do have magical aptitude, and that the mage who dismissed me decades ago was wrong. What do you expect that to change for me?”

Kaylin hadn’t been thinking about the future life Mrs. Erickson might lead; she’d been thinking about Severn, his weapon chain, and Amaldi and Darreno. She was fairly certain the ability to see ghosts wasn’t couched in magical talent, or rather, wasn’t couched in normal magical talent, if there was such a thing. Her own ability to see Jamal and his compatriots was almost certainly due to the marks of the Chosen.

She knew that Jamal was probably more important to Mrs. Erickson than Severn’s weapon chain or Amaldi and Darreno. But Severn wasn’t a ghost, and his weapons weren’t theoretical. Amaldi and Darreno weren’t ghosts either, in her opinion.

“If you’ll agree to it, I’ll make arrangements with the Imperial Mages. I’ll go with you as escort.”

“You have work.”