“No,” Mikeli said. “Blood magery is not legal. But I don’t believe children are born evil into good families like those we know have had children show magery. And magery not used for evil ends is no more evil than blue eyes or brown. I cannot change the Code of Gird myself—that’s for the Marshal-General and the Marshals’ Council. But I can say that in Tsaia, at least, the appearance of magery such as we’ve seen is not proof of evil. Without another crime—without using magery to injure, steal, kill—no one with magery will be condemned.”

He looked around the table, from face to face: most were still thoughtful and gave him a nod. A few looked worried. Duke Mahieran cleared his throat; Mikeli waved a hand, and Mahieran stood.

“Sir king, I know you plan an announcement to the rest of the palace staff. Would you like me to gather them at this time?”

“Thank you,” Mikeli said. “I’m sure we’ll be through here shortly—” He looked around again. “So yes. A half-glass, say.” Then, as Mahieran left the chamber, he said, “If you have questions about how to proceed, Marshal-Judicar Oktar has some recommendations for you and will be talking to the Marshals in the city as soon as possible.”

All stood, and Oktar led them out. Mikeli looked up at the ceiling for a moment and sighed. “I thought it would be fun to be king,” he said, and then chuckled. “And I dare think Camwyn is immature. I was every bit as ignorant when I was his age.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Ifoss, Aarenis

Not long before the end of the campaign season, an Aldonfulk gnome presented itself at the camp entrance. Arcolin happened to be nearby and intervened when the sentry would not let the gnome in. He guessed what it had come about but wondered why none had come sooner. Yet he knew from Dattur it would be rude to ask.

“I’m Count Arcolin,” he said. “Are you the prince’s messenger?”

“It is so,” said the gnome. “It is that this one enters?”

“Yes,” Arcolin said. “It is better to hold talk in my tent.”

The gnome hesitated but then came with Arcolin.

“It is true that our prince granted passage to humans under your command, for the value of information they brought. It is not known that humans remember such passage.”

“Most don’t,” Arcolin said. “Two old soldiers did, however. They spoke of it where someone heard. It was not believed by one, but another may have believed. And my junior captain saw a file of creatures—rockfolk, he thought—entering a place in the mountain that no human seemed to know about. He is new in this area; he asked questions.”

“And you sent word to our prince for what reason?”