“She has a point, Thero,” said Seregil. “For that matter, if the whole point was to terrorize, why not leave Lady Seria alive to tell the tale?”

“We aren’t going to find any answers here.” Klia placed a hand on Sedge’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to say this, Captain, but I need you to accompany me to Menosi today and show us exactly where you saw these things. Once you’ve done that, you are free to go back to your family.”

The captain went a little pale, but he bravely saluted her again. “I serve you and the Queen, Highness. If you judge me fit, I’d prefer to take up my place again.”

“I have plenty of horses to spare,” said Seregil, going to the door. “I don’t know if the house has an armory or not. I’ll go check with Dorin.”

“Where is my baggage?” Thero asked Klia.

“Somewhere in the wagons.”

“I’ll need to find it before we leave.”

“I’m sure the wagoneers can help you,” she replied.

“Good. I’ll go see to that while you make your final preparations.”

Thero went to his room and took the brass container holding the chalk out from behind his pillow, then went downstairs, where he found Mika sitting on a carved bench in the front hall, swinging his legs impatiently. Lady Zella was chatting with the housekeeper.

“Come along, Mika,” Thero said, striding for the door. “I have something new to show you.”

The boy brightened considerably as he trotted along at his side.

Thero found his horse saddled and ready in the courtyard beside Mika’s pony, and together they rode up to where the wagons were drawn up in the nearby pasture.

Thero’s trunks were located and he and Mika climbed up into the wagon to kneel beside a large iron-bound box, which held the equipment Thero had brought. Among the carefully packed instruments and spell ingredients were several crystal boxes of varying sizes. Selecting one of the smaller ones, he took the lump of blue chalk from the jar and placed it inside the crystal box.

“This is a very important spell,” he told the boy. He showed him the painted symbol on the chalk. “A very evil spirit came out of Captain Sedge during a cleansing ritual. That’s what made these marks you see on my hands and face. It struck me all over, in fact, and even though I had taken precautions, it still hurt a lot and was very dangerous. If I hadn’t known how to capture and seal the spirit in this chalk, it would probably have killed me.”

“Master!”