“If we heat an empty azhock,” Qown continued, “then we might be safe enough here, at least until the storm clears.” He didn’t mention food. They didn’t have enough.

No one said a word, not even Sir Baramon. They all held their breath. The count’s affinity with flame proved to be one of those terrible truths everyone accepted, as long as no one ever acknowledged it aloud.

Brother Qown wondered if he could take credit for the fire, claim the spell work as his own. Dorna’s reminder that Qown was a “Blood of Joras” (whatever that meant) seemed to have given the priest immunity from the crime of practicing magic. As such, Sir Baramon would have an easier time accepting Qown as the flames’ source, rather than his count.

Janel wiped her eyes with her hands. “I can’t control it,” she whispered.

“You can learn,” Brother Qown suggested. “You’re not a witch.”

She flinched. “You mean the way Tamin isn’t a witch?”

“What does it mean, to be Blood of Joras?” he asked. He’d been willing to let the question slide before. Not now.

She sighed.

Dorna answered in her stead. “When Emperor Kandor freed us from the horse god, Khorsal, he asked for all our mage folk in return—because our mages were the strongest in the whole world. Mostly that meant the great wizard Joras, who had led the rebellion against Khorsal. Important man, that Joras—Kandor named our dominion after him, you know. Anyway—Joras gathered up his family and all his blood kin. He took his whole clan, and they all went back west to teach and intermarry among all you Quuros—”

“Jorat is part of the Quuros Empire. We’re all Quuros.”

“No,” Dorna corrected. “You’re Quuros. We’re Joratese. Anyhow, his kin went back there so you folks would have powerful mages too. And that’s why you all know magic so good. Blood of Joras means Joras’s blood runs in your veins, giving you his powers. Anyone else who can do magic must have made deals with demons or been tainted by Marakori blood. And they sure make deals with demons, don’t they?”

Brother Qown blinked. “Are you … are you saying using magic is okay if you’re descended from a particular lineage?” He looked to the other two, but neither one seemed to think anything Dorna said was shocking or a surprise.

She humphed. “I didn’t say I believed it. I think it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, but you asked.”