“Nix was bringing explosives here for some other reason. I think it will be nice for us to allow the Nixies to explain why they anchored that ship so far out in the water, with only one watchman aboard. What were they going to do with it? Why did they bring it right upriver to Ny itself?”

“You have a gatemage’s heart,” said Hermia.

“In a box on my closet shelf,” said Gerd. “Now take me home to my husband. I think he may conclude that we need to find out if Nix has reached a technological level that Alf and I can work with.”

Chapter 14

14

“I wish you wouldn’t,” said Wad, but Anonoei knew that he couldn’t stop her. And, because he couldn’t, he wouldn’t even try.

“You’re free to come along and watch,” said Anonoei.

“You think I oppose this because I’m afraid for you,” said Wad, “but I’m not. I know you can escape instantly. I still don’t understand what you do, or how Danny North managed to teach it to you. But you’re safer alone than you are with me.”

“Why do you oppose it, then? The last thing we need now is for Frostinch to invade Iceway, and I intend to prevent it.”

“I know you’ve been practicing with Bexoi’s powers, since you have them along with your own.”

“I’d be a fool not to,” said Anonoei.

“I don’t want Frostinch’s life to end in flames,” said Wad.

“There’s no reason why it should,” said Anonoei.

“He’s a selfish little cretin and he poisoned his own father, but only because you persuaded him to.”

“I take responsibility for that,” said Anonoei.

“No, you don’t, and you never will, because if you did, people might realize that Bexoi’s lovely body no longer contains Bexoi’s ugly little pret.”

“Inside my own mind, I take responsibility for it.”

“And feel not even a spark of guilt.”

“Frostinch’s father was the Jarl of Gray, who forced King Prayard’s father to accept humiliating terms and compelled Prayard himself to take Bexoi as his wife. I can’t mourn too much for his unfortunate demise.”

“And when you’re there in the presence of Frostinch, his murderer and successor, it will occur to you that Frostinch frightened is not half so useful as Frostinch dead.”

“Now it won’t occur to me there,” said Anonoei, “because you said it to me here.”

“There are larger issues in the world than whether Iceway or Gray is the dominant power in the North.”

“Larger to you,” said Anonoei. “Wad, don’t you see? Danny’s the one in control of things now.”

“Danny has no gates,” said Wad.

“Danny doesn’t need them,” said Anonoei. “And if he did have gates, then Set would have been able to use them.”