The crow hopped down to the table and began helping himself, looking up at Korlak and helping himself to more, as if he were trying to show the Mage what to do. Finally the sight of his pet eating seemed to rouse him from his terrified stupor, and he did as Abi asked, slowly spooning stew into his mouth. Then he put down the half-empty mug of honey-water and tore off small bits of buttered bread to give to the crow, who looked anxiously into his face before devouring the tidbit.

Stev sat down across from him, Abi next to him. That seemed to steady him more, too.

“Better?” Abi asked.

He took in a huge breath and let it out in a sigh. “Yes . . . and no.” He shivered again. “Do you suppose you could tell me why a party of fake Valdemarans would have someone along who conjures demons?”

•   •   •

“. . . so we escorted him back to his shop, and I paid him a gold piece for his troubles,” Abi concluded. She cast a glance around the table. The other three Masters were sitting there with their spoons in the plates, staring at her, open-mouthed. Jicks’ jaw was set hard. Only Bret and Bart continued to eat, jaws moving in unison like a pair of munching horses.

“Demons?” Master Vance sputtered incredulously.

She nodded. “That’s what he said. One spell to pull the water into the mortar. One spell to invoke a demon with powers of heat and fire, one spell to invoke a demon with powers of cold and ice. He says he doesn’t know how they managed to control these things, or how they managed to keep them working on the wall without being seen, but he also says he couldn’t tell if the demons were also invisible, which is possible.”

“Demons?” sputtered Master Vance.

“I’ve heard of Mages that can call them up,” Jicks said, her jaw still set. “Never saw them myself, but plenty of people I know and trust have. But there’s one set of people I’ve heard of that can reliably call ’em up and make ’em dance that’s got a connection to you people, and if tales are true, a very powerful hate on for you.”

“Us?” Master Padrick bleated, bewildered and alarmed.

“Not you, specifically, Master,” Jicks amended. “You, Valdemarans.” She looked to Stev, who nodded grimly, and they spoke as one. “Karsite Priests of Vkandis.”

16

Karse, it seemed, wasn’t much more than a name to the three Masters, and “Vkandis” wasn’t even in their vocabulary. So they weren’t much help. They knew Karse was an enemy country, but that was about it.

Then again, they were no hindrance either, as Stev, Jicks, and Abi tried to put what they knew together with what was happening down here. As Masters, they knew to listen when they were ignorant, because you cannot learn when your mouth is open.