When she was gone Micum leaned closer to Thero and whispered, “What do you think so far?”

“I’m not sure yet. There’s no overt sense of magic around her, but a skilled necromancer could probably mask it. I haven’t mentioned the curse, and neither has she.”

“She’s very charming.”

Thero smiled. “So I noticed. We shall see.”

The serving woman came for them shortly and they went downstairs to find the physician by the door, a leather satchel in hand.

“I noticed your limp, Micum.” Kordira handed him a small clay phial sealed with wax. “Take this draught tonight and have a good soak in a hot tub. It should give you some relief.”

“Much obliged, Doctor. It’s not so bad that I can’t carry that heavy bag for you,” Micum offered, to see if she’d relinquish it. “It’s a long walk down to the harbor.”

“You’re very kind.” She handed him the heavy case and led the way down to the madhouse.

“By the way,” said Thero as they went along. “Our ship was overrun with rats on crossing. Filthy things, full of disease. Do you know of any sort of poison to take care of them?”

“Poison has a way of turning up where it’s not wanted,” Kordira told him. “Tell your captain to take on some cats. There’s no shortage of them on the island.”

Thero trod very lightly around Kordira. If she was a necromancer skilled enough to hide what she was so well, then touching her mind was out of the question, as she’d most likely know it. And she was clearly well liked here. Everyone they met greeted her or gave a respectful nod. Many of the men took off their hats to her.

“The new lords of Mirror Moon are causing a bit of a stir,” she remarked as they walked along. “Are they friends of yours?”

“Yes. What are people saying?”

“Oh, nothing serious. It’s just jarring to many, seeing a powerful, free ’faie. And no one’s sure what to make of him gathering former slaves to the estate.”

“Word certainly travels fast around here,” said Micum.

“It’s a small place. So tell me, why is Baron Seregil massing ’faie at Mirror Moon?”

Micum chuckled. “I’d hardly say massing.”

“No, it’s nothing of the kind,” Thero explained. “It’s out of compassion. It pains him deeply to see his countrymen in such a miserable state.”

“Ah. Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Kordira shook her head. “Slavery is the curse of my people, and one that took root here, sadly.”

“You don’t hold with slavery?” asked Micum.

“If I say no, will you believe me?”

“I thought all Plenimarans practiced it.”

“I’m a physician, Micum, from a long line of physicians. We deal in misery every day and don’t believe in adding to it through such degradation.”

“I heard that some of the islanders killed their slaves to cover up the fact that they’d kept them.”