Crow conjured a chair and flopped into it. “What I do remember is that the curses were lethal and as complicated as could be. I was a young wizard showing off.” A large tin cup materialized in his hand, and he raised it in a toast. “If you want to remember everything you do as a young man, stay away from blue ruin.” He took a long swallow. “If I could just see the layout, it might jog my memory.”

“Come with me, then,” Han said.

“What do you mean?” Crow cradled the cup between his hands.

“Like when you undid the charm on Lucas. Sharing. Not possession. So you could look through my eyes and see what I see, and give me directions.”

“Are you sure?” Crow said. “Even that’s risky.”

“What’s riskier—traveling through on my own, or with your help?” Han paused. “I’m saying I trust you.”

“Ah, Alister,” Crow said, his blue eyes swimming with unexpected tears. “There’s no help for it. You get that trusting nature from me.” He blotted at his eyes with the back of his hand and nodded. “All right. I would feel more confident if I could be present with you.”

Han cleared his throat, which was suspiciously scratchy. “So. Do we need to get back to Gray Lady?” That would be difficult and dangerous, he knew.

“Actually, there are two entrances to the tunnels,” Crow said. “I always like to have a back door.”

Han’s head came up. Gooseflesh prickled the back of his neck as he stared at his ancestor. We’re more alike than you know, he thought.

“We can enter from Gray Lady, or from Mount Marisa,” Crow said. “I suggest the Marisa route, since we are less likely to be intercepted that way.”

“Mount Marisa?” Han stared at Crow, his heart sinking. What if Crow referenced a landmark that no longer existed? “I never heard of that.”

“You must have heard of it,” Crow said. “It’s the tallest peak in the area, not far from the capital.” He extended his hand peremptorily. “Where’s the map?”

Han unfolded it and handed it over.

Crow studied it, his brow furrowed. “Right here,” he said, his forefinger stabbing down.

Han looked over his shoulder. “You mean Hanalea? That’s the biggest peak around.”

“Ah,” Crow said, nodding. “I knew it as Marisa. When…when Hanalea was still alive.” Pain creased his face and was gone.

“So you’re saying there’s an entrance to the armory on Hanalea?” Han shook his head. “That’s ironic. Wizards are forbidden to go there, these days.”

“In my day, wizards could go wherever they liked,” Crow said.

“In your day, wizards nearly destroyed the world,” Han said.