“Yes, Master, on account of I was really surprised. Klia didn’t tell me that when she gave me all the other things to remember. You didn’t know, either?”

“No, I didn’t,” Thero replied faintly, turning away with a hand to his forehead. “How is that possible?”

“Here, before you faint.” Micum drew Thero over to the other cot and sat down beside him.

Thero looked poleaxed. “It’s not possible!”

“Remember what happened to you in Aurënen?” asked Alec. “The dragon bite? Maybe that has something to do with it.”

“Illior’s Light!” Thero murmured. “The Bash’wai—” He was silent for a moment, then said, “The Bash’wai woman told me that my kind would be made whole.”

Micum rested a hand on Thero’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to say anything, since Klia hadn’t, but I thought as much, on the ship, and that day she got sick at the cave.”

“How could you know?” asked Thero.

Micum smiled. “My old gran and auntie were the midwives back in Cavish, so I was around a lot of pregnant women. And I saw Kari through four of her own times, of course. Even a man gets to know the signs. I’ve been thinking Klia has a look about her. Maker’s blessings, Thero.”

“I hope so,” the wizard murmured.

That could be taken a couple of different ways, thought Micum, and left it at that. “I think I’d best go see what Seregil wants.”

“Seregil’s not back yet?” asked Alec.

“He’s still in Deep Harbor,” Micum told him. “He’s fine, but he needs me to meet him there.”

“I’ll go.”

“I’ll need your help today, Alec,” said Thero, sounding a little more like himself. “You know what the town is like in the other plane. Perhaps that can help us find something there as it is now. I’ll explain all that Mika told us on the way.”

“What was that you were saying when I got here about fighting a god?” asked Alec.

“I’ll explain that, too.”

Doctor Kordira was mixing herbs in her dispensary when Seregil stepped in.

“Good morning!” she said with a smile. “How are you doing today?”

“Better, but still sore and in need of some doctoring. Do you have any more of that excellent brandy?”

She laughed. “I do, but it’s a bit early in the day for that.” She took a cup from a shelf, poured something from a large glass jug, and tapped some powder into it, then whisked it together. Coming around the table, she handed it to him. “This should get you back to Menosi with your wits about you.”

“Much obliged.”