“And there are evil Elementals, too, of course,” Giselle pointed out, dusting the crumbs from her fingers. “Things that naturally just like to do harm, because they get some benefit from fear or killing. Things like, oh the Eiswurm, or the Nekke, or . . . well, lots of things. Rosamund gave me a book.”

Cody’s eyebrows rose, and he looked at her with a certain amount of accusation. “There’s a book? We’re trottin’ through the middle of this crazy territory, an’ there’s a book, an’ y’all didn’t give me a copy?”

“I only had one copy,” Rosamund replied, evenly. “And it’s a book that is supposed to be only in the hands of the Brotherhood.” She heaved an enormous sigh. “But I knew at some point you were going to find out about it, and I knew you were going to want one, so I took the precaution of getting some supplies yesterday in the town. I’ll make you a copy, and me a spare. It’s never a good thing, really, to have only one copy of something important.”

“Right, an’ that’ll take how—” He stopped at the amused expression on Rosamund’s face, and shook his head. “I ain’t never gonna get over how easy a Master kin jest do stuff—y’all are gonna make them copies with magic, ain’t ya?”

Rosamund smirked. Giselle giggled a little, but she also felt a little sorry for Cody Lee. Ever since Rosamund joined them, she’d been . . . not exactly acting superior, but never allowing him to forget which of them was the Master.

“Yes, I am. It is much faster than copying by hand, and unlike most such things, doing the copying by magic is also less effort than doing so by hand.” Rosamund spread her hands wide. “As you probably know, most times, it is far easier to just do something than it is to do it with magic.”

“But—the book—” Cody persisted.

“This book is something that the Brotherhood has been making and sharing for hundreds of years,” Rosamund said, “And it’s supposed to be only in the hands of a member of the Brotherhood because if the general public ever saw it . . . well, things could go badly.”

“I don’t follow.” Cody frowned. “I mean, it ain’t likely anybody’s gonna ask about magic, but—”

“It was not that long ago that the Brotherhood had to remain secret in order to keep from being burned as witches,” Rosamund pointed out. “Weren’t they still hanging witches in your country two hundred years ago?”

“Huh.” Cody scratched his head again.

“And these days, while that isn’t a problem anymore, we prefer not to frighten the folk we are supposed to be protecting.” She sucked on her lower lip, thoughtfully. “When you see the book, you will understand. And of course it is always possible that one day we will have to keep this book out of the hands of ordinary folk because anyone who reads it will think we are mad and try to lock us up. That is a problem that Elemental Magicians in the great cities have now.”