Of all of them, Nightwalker seemed the only one happy to be making the trip. As they climbed higher into the mountains, he offered Raisa drinks from his water skin and tried to engage her in conversation. Her mind was elsewhere, however, and he finally gave up.

They arrived at the meeting place in late afternoon, to find that the Demonai had laid down deerskins and blankets, creating a small pavilion under the trees. Up here, the aspens glittered yellow when the breeze came down from Hanalea—a sign of autumn to come.

Averill and Elena embraced Raisa, offered Nightwalker a greeting just as warm, and welcomed Amon and the others courteously. The Wolves withdrew a little way off, while Amon, Raisa, and the Demonai sat in a circle on the blankets. Elena passed around steaming cups of upland tea.

“I wish you would travel on with us to Demonai Camp, granddaughter,” Elena said. “It’s been a long time since you’ve visited our hearth. We hope that you still see it as your second home.”

“And that your children will foster there, as you did,” Averill said, looking from Raisa to Nightwalker.

Raisa was in no mood for double-edged clan courtesies. “Thank you for coming, Father, Grandmother,” Raisa said. “I asked to meet with you because I’ve come to question your arrangement with Han Alister. Or Hunts Alone, as you call him.”

Averill and Elena exchanged glances. “Granddaughter,” Elena said gravely. “We, too, have concerns about him.”

Trader face, Raisa told herself. I’ll learn more if I listen more than speak—isn’t that what Father taught me?

“Concerns?” Raisa said. “Such as?”

“It was never our intention that Hunts Alone move in next door to you and serve as your bodyguard,” Averill said. “It was our intention to recruit a wizard who could use high magic against the Bayars, and so protect the Fells.”

“But now we agree—that was a mistake,” Nightwalker put in. He’d thought it was a mistake from the start.

“And so you plan to relieve Alister of his obligation to the clans?” Raisa said, knowing what the answer would be.

“Hunts Alone made a bargain with us,” Elena said. She’d always been more of a trader than her trader son. “We will hold him to those terms, but we intend to keep him on a tighter lead.”

“As it stands, Hunts Alone is a danger to you, daughter,” Averill said. “And he may be a danger to everyone. We have been following his activities. Did you know that he’s been elected High Wizard?”

“I do,” Raisa said. “I asked him to seek the post. I need a High Wizard I can trust.”

“And you chose him?” Nightwalker tightened his fists, the muscles standing out along his arms. “He’s supposed to oppose the Wizard Council, not direct it.”