‘I don’t want to kill or wreak havoc,’ mumbled Clariel. ‘I just want to live in the Forest and be left alone.’

‘Yes,’ said Kargrin. ‘But how far would you go in order to live as you want to, alone in the Forest?’

‘Not very far, obviously. I wouldn’t even be here if I wasn’t so obedient!’ snapped Clariel. ‘I’d be in the Forest already.’

‘Yes …’ mused Kargrin. ‘That does indicate you have some measure of control over your anger and your desires. Perhaps, with some training, it will be enough.’

‘Enough for what?’ asked Clariel.

Kargrin’s nose twitched, and he rubbed it thoughtfully, but did not immediately answer. Clariel repeated her question.

‘Enough for what?’

‘I suppose you need not remember this, if necessary,’ said Kargrin. He spoke quietly, almost to himself, but Clariel caught the implication very clearly. For a brief moment she felt a shock of sudden fear, that he would kill her if he thought it was required. Then she realised that as an accomplished Charter Mage he was talking about erasing part of her memory. This did not greatly lessen her fear. Memories were part of what defined a person, and who knew what might be taken away with a memory?

‘I am in the habit of keeping secrets,’ she said quickly. ‘We do not talk much in the Forest.’

‘Very well,’ said Kargrin. ‘There is a possibility that you might be able to assist us … to assist me … with a particular problem that has arisen in the city.’

‘What kind of problem could I help with?’

‘There is a Free Magic creature in Belisaere,’ said Kargrin flatly. ‘And we need your help to find it.’

‘What! But … how? I thought that the aqueducts kept out the Dead, running water …’

‘Running water does protect against the Dead, and some lesser Free Magic beings,’ said Kargrin. ‘But there are things that can pass under the aqueducts, or even cross a great river like the Ratterlin. Creatures with power to remain unseen, save by careful scrutiny of Charter Magic. We suspect one such entity is here, within our walls and aqueducts.’

‘But how can I help?’ asked Clariel.

‘Like many of the Abhorsen line, you have a strong affinity for Free Magic, and great potential to wield it,’ said Kargrin. ‘The rage is one indicator of that, and there are other signs within you. Like seeks like, and once it becomes aware of you this creature will seek you out in order to augment its power. It is the nature of such things that they must test each other, and the lesser fall under the will of the greater.’

‘Like seeks like …’ said Clariel. Her thoughts immediately went to her experience of the hunt. ‘You mean to use me as bait? Tethered like a goat for a wolf-hunt?’

‘Not tethered,’ said Kargrin. ‘But that is the general idea. You are also well suited for another reason.’

‘Which is?’