“However,” Mikeli said, in a tone that silenced both of them, “since it’s important that the announcement come from me, I’m going to tell the peers, starting with the dukes. So you, Aris, won’t have to keep secrets from your father any longer.” He saw the relief on Aris’s face and nodded. “And you, Cam, won’t have to keep it secret from our uncle.” Camwyn nodded, a slight frown creasing his forehead. Mikeli anticipated his next question. “Before you ask, this will not reverse Beclan’s position. I did what I did to save him—his life, as I was sure it would be—and he has settled in well with Duke Verrakai as her kirgan. Restrictions on his access to his family will change, but not the adoption.”

“When will you send word, sir king?” Aris asked.

“Immediately. Your brother Juris is leaving tomorrow to visit your family; I’ll send a letter with him. I’ve already sent a courier to Duke Mahieran, asking him to come to the city tomorrow.”

“What will happen to me?” Camwyn asked.

“I hope, nothing,” Mikeli said. “I’m reasonably certain the dukes will listen to me and to the Marshal-Judicar. That others have shown magery, including merchants’ and farmers’ children, means condemning you would mean condemning many. My hope is for a peaceful settlement, with the agreement that those who are not using magery for evil are no different than wizards.”

“But it’s still a secret for now?” Aris asked. “I can’t—I can’t tell Juris?”

“No. Neither of you can tell anyone anything until I’ve talked to the dukes and probably the whole Council.”

What’s this?” Duke Mahieran paused in the doorway, looking from Mikeli to the Marshal-Judicar. “Am I in trouble, sir king?”

“Not at all,” Mikeli said. “But what I have to tell you concerns the Marshal-Judicar as well.” He waved at the chairs. “Sit down, do.”

Mahieran sat, a little stiffly. Mikeli noticed with a pang that his uncle seemed aged more than a year since the previous summer. No wonder, with all that had happened.

“Have you heard any of the rumors from Fintha of magery?” he asked.

“Magery in Fintha? No,” Mahieran said. “Nothing of that. What is it?”

Oktar leaned forward. “There’s a Council convened in Fin Panir by the Marshal-General, to deal with it. Magery in children, mostly—some older, near-grown, with no known mageborn ancestry.”

“But then—” Mahieran turned to Mikeli, hope in his eyes. “Beclan—”

Mikeli held up his hand. “Uncle, I must tell you that magery has also appeared in Tsaia. I was waiting for a ruling from the Marshal-General, but it’s taken too long. We must—I must—act for Tsaia.”

“You’re not going to—” Mahieran turned pale.