“I don’t know. It was the sort of thing you didn’t share with anyone. Knowing and not telling was as bad as having the magic yourself.”

“I suppose so.”

As soon as the bacon was crisp she heaped four plates with it, oatcakes laced with honey, and fresh bread spread thickly with butter. Alec entertained them with tales of Rhíminee while they all ate together.

When they were through, Seregil and Alec carried heavily laden trays up for Thero and Sedge.

“How are you feeling today, Captain?” Alec asked as Sedge eagerly set upon the hot food.

“Better than last night,” he replied. “Been talking with Lord Thero here. Reckon I owe you all an apology for how I acted.”

Micum came in just then, pulled over a chair, and sat down by the bed. “Not a bit, after what you’ve been through.”

“My family—can I go to them? My poor wife must be beside herself with worry.”

“We’ll send word to her today,” Seregil promised. “Commander Klia should be here soon and you’ll need to answer her questions, and Thero’s.” He turned to the wizard. “Why not let the man eat and rest until Klia gets here, so he doesn’t have to go over everything twice?”

Thero began to say something impatient, then stopped. “I suppose another hour or two won’t make any difference.”

Within the hour Vhadä came streaking in with news of a great column of riders and wagons coming their way. Leaving Sedge in Micum’s care, Alec, Seregil, and Thero went out to meet Klia. The sun was shining brightly, glinting off helms and harnesses as Klia and her soldiers came up the road at a canter.

Klia led the column in full uniform; Mika, dressed for riding in a tunic, breeches, and shiny new boots, rode beside her on a pony Klia had given him in Rhíminee. Zella rode just behind, mounted on a spirited Kouros black. As they came to the house, a grizzled woman Alec recognized as Captain Brescia, one of Klia’s most trusted officers, took over the column, leading the riders up into the pasture beyond.

Mika, Klia, and Lady Zella rode up to meet Alec and the others. Mika slid off his pony’s back and ran to Thero. Taking his hand to examine the still-visible stripes of the attack, he exclaimed, “Who hurt you, Master?”

Klia joined them and touched Thero’s cheek in concern. “Yes, what have you been up to?”

“A cleansing of Captain Sedge had a few unexpected turns,” Thero told them. “It’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine, and so is he.”

“The captain is in his right mind again,” Alec added. “We waited for you before we questioned him.”

“Did you get anything else useful out of Karis?” asked Seregil.

Klia shook her head. “No. The poor man hanged himself in his cell that night, with the blanket I insisted he be given. I meant to be kind. Instead I handed him the instrument of his own destruction.”