Aris went on down the ladder; Camwyn followed, hanging by his arms most of the way. It was easier in the light; he could see the rungs before reaching for them. Aris waited at the bottom, shoulders hunched. When Camwyn touched the level surface and was able to force his feet to uncramp, the light in his hand went out like a snuffed candle. Dim light from the door they’d left open remained, enough to see Aris’s expression.

“Did you know?” Aris said.

“Hush,” Camwyn said. “We are late now, just as you warned, and we don’t want to be caught around here.”

“You—that was magery!”

“I don’t think so,” Camwyn said. “I hope not.”

“But did you know?”

“Not exactly,” Camwyn said. “I’ll talk to you later about this, but we have to get back to my rooms and clean up before they find us looking like street thieves.” Their clothes bore the stains of everything that had been on that roof.

“But magery—that’s—”

“That’s illegal. I know. Beclan was banned for it. I know. Later, Aris, please. Just don’t spread it around right now.”

Aris nodded, his mouth pinched tight. Cautiously, they eased into the branch passage and made their way down from the top floor of the north wing to the next and then the next, where they were immediately collared by palace staff before they could reach the passage that led to Camwyn’s room.

“Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you—the king is most displeased. And you’re filthy, both of you!”

“It’s my fault,” Camwyn said. “Mik—the king had given me permission to go up on the roof if I had a friend along, so I asked Aris, and—”

“What were you doing? Rolling about like puppies in a dunghill? Because that’s what it looks like.”

They were near enough to Mikeli’s rooms that he might hear. “I’m sorry,” Camwyn said. “We’ll clean up, we’ll change—”

“No. The king said bring you straight to him when we found you.”

Mikeli looked all king this morning, none of the caring older brother about him at all. He looked them up and down and said to one of the servants, “Take young Marrakai off to bathe and change. Camwyn will breakfast with me.”

Aris left; Camwyn hoped he would not reveal anything.

“Sit down, Camwyn,” Mikeli said. “You look like someone who had an unfortunate adventure. Care to tell me about it?”

As much as he could without … Camwyn sorted his memory of events and began. Finding himself suspended in the air for a few moments and the light that showed him the ladder’s rungs never made it past his teeth.