By then, Commander Crayn had already rejoined Estie. He looked refreshed in his cleanest garments, with his hair still damp from the bath and a good meal inside him. He even smelled clean. His rifle and satchel of ammunition he had left in his room. But he had kept his orange Amikan headband, his sword, and his dagger. His grin as he bowed to his Queen had a wolfish quality that she found oddly reassuring. She rose to her feet and watched while he unlocked the door to admit the Magister.

“Greetings again, Queen,” said Oblique. Her manner had become more distant, perhaps more careful. “I hope you have rested well. Will you come with me now? The others are gathering. Many of our people are eager to see and hear Amika’s Queen, but of course they will not all be present. Magister Marrow’s workroom is too small to hold them. Still, it may be crowded by the time we arrive.”

“Certainly, Magister,” replied the Queen, assuming a mildness that had served her well as Bifalt’s wife and Amika’s Queen. “Commander Crayn and I are as eager as anyone.”

The sorceress cocked an eyebrow at Crayn. She may have assumed that Estie would accompany her alone. But she did not object. With a nod, she stepped aside to let Estie and the Commander pass. Then she led them down the corridor and back into the complicated passages of the Last Repository.

As they walked, Magister Oblique said cautiously, “I must apologize, Queen. I hope you will forgive me. When you asked what you are that we did not expect, I was taken aback. It is a natural question. More than that, it must be crucial to you. But I was not prepared for it. I had imagined that you would broach it later, perhaps with the librarian.

“Thinking back on my response, I regret it. But truly, Queen—” She spread her hands as if to emphasize their emptiness. “I have nothing better to offer. We do not know you. Oh, I have heard the most holy devotee of Spirit’s tales. She has assured us that you are courageous and resourceful. In addition, you do not compromise the integrity of your rule in Amika. But that is like hearing the contents of a book described. Only reading the book gives it substance.

“We hope to know you better, Queen. Until then, I have said all that I can without compromising my own integrity.”

Magister Oblique sounded sincere. Beyond question, she had a gift for it. But Estie was determined to make her own decisions. Instead of acknowledging Oblique’s apology, she asked her question in a different way.

Still mildly, she said, “Magister Facile assured me that there are theurgists or scholars here who can name my gift.”

Startled, Oblique swallowed a laugh. “That is certainly true.”

“And will I be allowed to speak with one of them?”