“Because this child was brother to the princess heir, and a wizard, there was concern that he might align himself with the Wizard Council. He might even try to establish a line of blooded wizard kings, and prove a threat to the sitting queens,” Averill said.

“In the end, the elder council chose mercy. The decision was made to allow the boy to live, but to remove him from Hanalea’s care, to bind and control his magical gift so it wasn’t apparent. The boy’s ancestry was hidden from himself and everyone else in order to prevent them from using his line for their own ends. We’ve been watching over the boy’s descendants ever since, ensuring that they pose no threat to the queen.”

Averill shrugged. “Was that a good decision? It’s been a thousand years, but we still don’t know. But recent events have forced us to reconsider it. Given the threat from Arden, a protracted war between wizards and the clan might be the end of the realm.”

“For generations, our council of elders has tracked the descendants of the Demon King,” Elena said. “The magical trait has remained virulent when it manifests, but has appeared less and less often, perhaps moderated by those who married in. Right now, we know of only one living gifted descendant. A male child.”

“So…what? You’re going to hunt him down and kill him? Because of who his ancestor was?” Han asked. “Because he might join with the Wizard Council and somehow threaten the queen?”

Was that why they were here? Did they expect him and Dancer to help with that?

The question seemed to startle Averill. “Ah, no.” He looked over at Elena, who always seemed to take the tough questions.

“It occurred to the original council that there might be an advantage to a line of wizards, relations to the queen, who might support the throne in times of conflict. Particularly in a conflict with wizards,” Elena added delicately. “We’ve learned through bitter experience that green magic has its limitations.”

I’ll bet the Demonai warriors love that idea, Han thought.

“Therefore, we have required that each gifted descendant of the Demon King be fostered in the camps,” Elena said, “so that we can teach them about clan ways and, we hope, bind their fortunes and hearts to our own. For generations we have done this. The secret passes through clan elders. We have never had to reveal it until now. That is why we have convened this council.” She gestured at the others in the lodge.

And then Han finally understood: a truth that should have been apparent all along, despite the circuitous ways of clan stories.

The mysterious gifted descendant was Dancer; it had to be. Fire Dancer. It was an apt name for the get of a wizard. Dancer was gifted, and now the magic that had lain hidden so long was pouring out.