“I said you would learn quickly, but that—that is more than I expected,” the Knight-Commander said. “I’m going to push again …”

This time Dorrin felt nothing but a faint pressure, as if someone laid a cloth on her skin.

“That was not an attack, of course. But your personal shield has already strengthened.” He sat back. “I understand that you wish to leave soon, but my advice would be to spend another few days working with me and with Paksenarrion; it will be better for you and for those you lead if you have more understanding of your magery—both how to access it, and what temptations it presents.”

Dorrin glanced at Paks. “The prince bade me come as soon as possible.”

“You would not leave half-dressed, though that might be quicker,” the Knight-Commander said. “Magery—even such magery as yours—is not learned in an hour. You might ask Falk.” Implicit in that was his rank as Knight-Commander, second highest among Falkians.

Dorrin bowed. “Knight-Commander, I will do so, but I would not prolong the training beyond absolute need.”

“Understood,” he said. “With what I have seen this night, we are speaking of days, not hands of days.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Kieri missed Dorrin at dinner; word that she was closeted with Paks reassured him. Selfer arrived after dinner, anxious to know if they were leaving the next day or not.

“Paks wanted to talk with her,” Kieri said. “I expect it was about the gods, or magery, or something like that.”

“Kefer was talking about her and that sword she has. My lord—Sir King—do you think she has magery of her own?”

“She might,” Kieri said. “From what the prince wrote me, the former Duke Verrakai and his brother did, but perhaps that was Liart’s spells. But she’s never shown it to me. I knew her long ago, you know, at Falk’s Hall.”

“It’s against the Code of Gird,” Selfer said. “If she uses it, and we are with her—”

“With the Verrakaien showing their ability, I believe the Crown will approve Dorrin using hers, if necessary.”

“I would like to know,” Selfer said.

Kieri nodded, then said, “Captain, I have known you since you were my squire—less long than I have known Dorrin. If the gods gifted you with the power to make light or heal, would you use it ill? I think not. And I think Dorrin, if she has such powers, will use hers well.”

“Excuse me,” said a voice from the door.

“Come in,” Kieri said. Paks, Dorrin, and the Knight-Commander of Falk were there. “Well,” Kieri said. “This looks serious.”

“It is,” Dorrin said. “And Selfer should hear it as well, for it bears on him as well as on me and you.”

“Go on,” Kieri said, waving at chairs.

Dorrin repeated what she had told Paks of her knowledge of magery. “Paks discovered I had more, but it had been blocked by a Knight-Commander.”

“At Falk’s Hall when she was there,” the Knight-Commander said.