“I was wondering, sir king,” Master Lurton said, after a quick look at the other craft masters present. He was already formally on the Council, so the others had held back. “Yes, we do know about this magery—and in fact, some of us were thinking of coming to you or the Marshal-Judicar there, since our own Marshals couldn’t tell us aught but wait for word from Fin Panir. Our people are worried. The children are all at odds, not sure if they might have it and it might come out.”

“But if it’s magery released because the evil’s gone, that’s got to be good,” said Master Jornalt, head of the Grain Merchants’ Guild.

“We hope that’s what it is,” Mikeli said. “But the point is, we don’t want panic—it will do none of us any good—and we don’t want innocent children killed. We do want a list of those who manifest magery, for their protection.”

“And parents will need to know how to teach their children to use it well—difficult, since they do not have it themselves,” Mahieran put in. “Had my son shown magery at five winters or so, I would have had no idea what might happen next or how to cope with it. At least, at his age, he understands danger.”

The others nodded. “If no one knows how to train the children, it’s like having them running around with firebrands,” said Master Felnor of the Finesmiths. “It’s dangerous.”

“Yes,” Oktar said. “But any babe just creeping about may put its hand in the fire, or one a little older might light a spill and drop it … It would be the same, to teach them not to light fires by accident, would it not? Any child may cause harm by accident—it doesn’t take magery to start a fire or cut with a knife.”

“If you put it that way, Marshal-Judicar,” Felnor said.

“It’s just one more thing children can cause accidents with, I’m thinking.” Master Redan of the Knitters smoothed her apron over her skirt. “Children aren’t born knowing danger; every mother knows it’s the sharp eye and training that keeps ’em as safe as they are.”

Heads nodded. Mikeli relaxed a little, seeing the faces thoughtful rather than tense.

“So are you changing the law now, sir king?” asked Baron Brenvor. “Are you making it that all magery is legal?”