“Was it? How did that happen? A paladin of Gird named him the heir and gave him the sword to try: even if the display was elven in kind, it came from a paladin’s act. Duke Verrakai, how did you come by magery at your age?”

“It was blocked when I was at Falk’s Hall, but…” Her expression changed. “Paksenarrion released it.”

“You see?” Arcolin said. “A paladin of Gird, under Gird’s guidance, brought magery back—first in King Kieri, his own innate elven magery—and then in Duke Verrakai, of a family of magelords.”

“I suppose you could look at it that way,” the High Marshal said, looking at the Marshal-Judicar.

“And if she influenced this thief,” the Marshal-Judicar said, “then his hearing Gird’s voice … but wait. What about the others? Had she met Beclan?” He looked at Dorrin, who shook her head.

“If Gird wanted magery back in the land,” Arcolin said, “Paks may have been the one to bring it, but she might not be the only one. Or, once introduced, it might spread without that, at Gird’s will.”

“That’s true.” The king looked around the room. “So—if we have a reason to think Gird brought the return of magery, will that help the people accept it? Would it work in Fintha?”

“It might,” the High Marshal said. “And I suppose you think I should tell the Marshal-General about this thief?” He looked at Arcolin.

“Yes, High Marshal, I do,” Arcolin said. “As you said, how often does Gird speak directly and clearly to any of us?”

A hand of days later, Arcolin and his wife and her son rode north, a new wagon behind them, the gift of her father, wagon and team. It was half full of her things and half arranged for her and the boy to ride in when they tired. To Arcolin’s delight, Calla had continued to show the same combination of good sense and joy that he felt himself.

“I could never be a soldier,” she said, halfway through that first morning of the trip. “I was not formed for that. But this—riding into something new and strange—this I did always dream of. The very idea of the north fascinated me as a child. Seeing your troops come through every year, marching from one unknown to another, made me restless at heart.”

“Will you then want to visit Aarenis one day?” Arcolin asked.