“Yes, that’s how it seems,” said Wad. “But my guess is that nothing is as it seems. Or if it is, it won’t stay that way. Because mine is not the only will that’s working in these worlds. Danny North is already proving himself to be resourceful and oddly undefeated. What if Bexoi comes out of her coma? Set has infinite patience, when it suits his purpose, and no scruples at all. And who knows what the world of Duat will send us next? We still need to get Westil into shape to cope with that influx of mages. And why are you even resisting this? For the next few weeks, or days, or hours, you’re the most powerful mage on Westil.”

“Or years. It’s also not true, because you’re here.”

“Yes,” said Wad. “Ced, I can’t do anything. Not compared to you.”

“Because I’m such a likable fellow.”

“So you were listening. You’re the windmage who devastated fifty leagues of the Hetterwold and made them love you for it.”

“It wasn’t a trick. I was really sorry, and I worked hard to try to help them rebuild. They treated me better than I deserved.”

“I’m a good liar, Ced, but I don’t know how to make myself seem as sincerely miserable and repentant as you.”

“Because I’m not lying.”

“I know! That’s why I can’t do what you can do. If you make yourself master of Westil, they’ll love you for it.”

“So what does that mean?” asked Ced. “That only fifty assassins will be trying to kill me, instead of the usual two hundred?”

“Oh, it’ll still be all two hundred,” said Wad. “But you have me watching out for you.”

Ced only shook his head.

“Anonoei went on that little jaunt of hers against my advice, and while she was in the greatest danger, Danny North held my attention by using my gates to explore my memories.”

“And nothing will ever come together just wrong so that you can’t protect me either.”

“Ced, there are no guarantees in this world. Anonoei didn’t think anybody could kill her, because she could make people want not to have her dead. Except she came up against Bexoi, who had no human feelings, and so she had nothing to manipulate.”

“Your hypothesis.”

“No, it’s a fact that she has no human feelings,” said Wad. “The only part I’m guessing about is that that’s why Anonoei had no defense against her.”

Ced shook his head and laughed. “Wad, you seem to filter out of your memory anything that doesn’t fit your preconceived notions! Anonoei apparently did have a defense, because Bexoi, the firemage, got burnt. It nearly killed her and she only survived because you passed her through a gate.”

“I have no idea why that happened,” said Wad.