Taking advantage of the boy’s fear for him, Thero continued. “You know how I’m always telling you not to attempt to do things you haven’t been fully instructed in? It’s because of this very sort of thing. I’m not an expert in demon binding, and it was only luck that I’d thought to take the particular precautions that I did. I might just as easily have been killed or possessed, and our friends with me. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

“I have to be careful because what I think I’m doing right might not be?”

“That’s right. We walk a thin line between bravery and death, we wizards. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t, Master Thero.”

“Now, watch what I do, for this is a very important and useful spell.” Thero placed the lid on the crystal box and ran his finger around the circle where lid and box met. “Arturvia descorim. That means ‘seal forever’ in our language and seals the box completely. See how it’s become one solid piece? This is what you do with dangerous objects. The vaults under the Orëska House have shelves and shelves of these, containing all sorts of dreadful things.”

“Can it be opened again?”

“Oh, yes, but that’s a different spell and you’ll seldom want to use it.” He took out a tiny crystal box and handed it to Mika. “You try. The spell words are arturvia descorim, and while you say them you must concentrate your power through your fingertip and picture that it’s a stick of melted sealing wax that you’re using to seal the box.”

As he’d expected, Mika managed it on the first try, just as Thero had when Nysander taught him that spell.

Chapter 11: Menosi

ZELLA and Seregil were waiting for them in the great hall when Alec and the others came down with Sedge.

Seregil handed Sedge a sheathed long sword and belt that Dorin had found in a closet. “There you are, my friend. Let’s just hope you have no need of it.”

“Are you pleased with your estate, my lords?” Zella asked as they walked out to where the grooms held their horses.

“Very pleased, my lady,” Alec replied, taking Windrunner’s reins from a groom.

“Yes,” Seregil agreed. “The house is remarkable, and the herds superb!”

Zella glanced curiously at the bows Alec and Micum carried. “Are you intending to hunt along the way?”

“You never know,” Alec replied, mounting and laying the Black Radly across his saddlebow. The fact was, he felt safer with it, not knowing what they were facing. “Is there much game?”

“Oh, yes! The island swine are a great delicacy, and there are wild goats, if you care for the taste. Lots of game birds, too, and deer up on Mount Erali.”