“Because it’s short, and I don’t know anyone named Del.” She turned back to “Del.” “You are never even going to attempt to run away,” she told him. “You’re going to be serving my Company from now on. When I or the Commander says to do something, you’re going to figure how to get it done. No excuses. Am I clear on all counts?”

“Yes, sir,” the Mage replied, beginning to look as if every bit of strength and energy had been wrung out of him.

“And you are never, ever, ever to conjure up one of those gods damned demons again!” Jicks snarled.

He started back away from her vehemence and whimpered a little in pain as he jarred his wound.

She dropped some clothing on him. “Brook’s that way,” she told him, pointing, “Get to your feet, get down there, get clean and changed, and come back before sunset.”

The Mage stumbled to his feet, clutching the bundle of clothing to his chest, and staggered through the bracken to the nearby brook.

Stev had meanwhile brought back the hinnies, who had been watered and were now enjoying better fare than they’d had in the forest. “You actually bound him to Jicks?” Abi said, as soon as the Mage was out of earshot.

“Total bluff,” Korlak said with a shrug, as his crow cawed derisively. “He thinks I can because I made shields that worked against the demons. He doesn’t know I tried three spells before that and six after. The only one that worked besides the shields was the one that put out the fires. Pure luck. I kept more of his blood on the rags, though, and I’m giving them to Jicks. If he ever does try to run, she can get another Mage to use the blood to track him down or maybe force him to come back.”

“I think I’ll go make sure he doesn’t try to test your ‘spell’,” Stev said, and he followed after the Mage.

Abi looked around to make sure that Stev was out of earshot before she spoke next. “Listen, Korlak, when we get back to your city, I want you to talk to that Mage-smith. And Albemarle, if he’s sane. If they do invite Valdemar to extend its borders here, you need to know that the day the new borders are set, the same thing that keeps Mages and magic out of Valdemar will move down here. You’ll have to leave if you want to stay sane.”

Korlak eyed her curiously. “Why are you telling me this? Aren’t you supposed to be persuading people they want this?”