Dean Abelard pushed to her feet and followed Bayar, her robes swishing over the marble floor. The door clicked shut behind her. Nobody else moved.

Eager to leave the stifling room behind, Han rose and walked out into the reception area.

“Did you need something, Lord Alister?” Hammersmith asked anxiously. “Is the food and drink not to your liking?”

“How long have we been in session?” Han asked.

“An hour,” Hammersmith said.

“Where is the privy?” Han said. “We’re taking a little break.”

Hammersmith pointed. “Down that corridor. I’ll ring the session bell when the meeting resumes.”

Han hustled down the hallway, wondering what was going on in Bayar’s office, if some kind of deal was being cut to his detriment.

He ducked out the side door into the privy courtyard. He couldn’t afford to spend much time in Aediion, just long enough to alert Dancer. There was always the chance Bayar would send someone to murder him. He was the kind to have an assassin at the ready.

But when Han materialized in the bell tower, Dancer wasn’t there. “Dancer!” he called. “I can’t stay long,” he warned, even though he knew that Dancer was either there or not.

Another minute or two of calling, and Han had to return to his session.

Where was Dancer? Had he given up? It had been a long session, longer than Han expected, due to the debate about Ragmarket.

When Han reentered the building, he heard the session bells echoing down the hallway.

“There you are!” somebody hissed, right by his ear.

He whirled, clutching at his knife. It was Fiona Bayar.

“Where have you been?” she demanded. “I waited for you at the stables, but you never showed.”

“I came a different way,” Han said. “Look, I have to get back.”

“I wanted to tell you that I never talked to Gryphon,” she said. “I tried, multiple times, but he refused to see me.”

“What?” Han stared at her, his last hope shriveling. “This is a fine time to tell me.”

“It’s not my fault,” Fiona flared. “What with his parents dying and all, he was busy. I tried to pull him aside at their memorial service, but he insisted on staying with his family.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s been closeted up, so I couldn’t even intercept him in the garden. There’s no use opposing Micah for High Wizard since there’s no way you’ll win.”

“Too late for that,” Han said. “I’ve accepted the nomination.”

“Well, that’s a very bad idea,” Fiona said, her fingers digging into his arm. “My father will kill you, and all for nothing.”

“I have to go. We’ll talk later.” Han pulled free, leaving Fiona standing alone.

How many times can Lord Bayar kill me, anyway? he thought.