But Rosa shook her head as they reached their vardos, and paused beside Rosa’s. “Most of the magicians in cities are not part of the Bruderschaft,” she said. “It’s different in a village or a small town, where there generally aren’t more than one or two, and quite often there’s none. So being part of the Bruderschaft is an advantage, even if you don’t live at the Lodge, because if there is something going on that you cannot deal with yourself, you can call on the Bruderschaft.”

Giselle nodded, and pulled her woolen shawl closer around herself. Over the course of their stay here it had gotten colder. Very soon she was going to need a coat or a cloak—or both, because if it got cold enough she could wear a cloak over a coat. “Now that I think about it, I believe Mother might have gone to help the Bruderschaft a time or two.”

Rosa nodded, and leaned against the side of her vardo. “Most magicians in the country make a point of knowing at least a few others. But in the cities, well . . . there’s no advantage at all to being in a Lodge if you are the sort that doesn’t care for being dragged into other peoples’ problems. Magicians are people; plenty of them want to be left alone, and there are always the ones that use their abilities selfishly. That’s not against the law or even our customs, or anything like that, but . . .” she shrugged. “You can imagine how someone like that would feel about constantly being asked to do this or that for the common good.”

“Like a rich man being asked to give to the poor,” Giselle grumbled, already disliking these people, and she didn’t even know who they were. “It isn’t as if they couldn’t spare a bit to keep someone from starving. But when you see them being approached, often as not from the way they react you’d think they were being asked to sacrifice a limb.”

“Exactly. But if it’s any comfort, magicians who only use their powers for selfish purposes don’t get any help when they are in trouble.” Rosa paused with one foot on the steps to her vardo. “But to get back to our wretch . . . whoever it is has to know now that not only are you a Master, there are two other Masters here who helped you ward your wagon. Yet whoever it is only seems interested in you. That makes me think it has to be someone you’ve had some sort of encounter with in the past.”

Giselle shivered, and the shawl wasn’t helping with the cold sensation of vague fear Rosa’s statement made her feel. “Me too. But I can’t think who it could be.”