The council members shifted in their seats, looking everywhere but at the powerful High Wizard and the stubborn young queen. Han crossed his arms, affecting nonchalance, looking frankly back at anyone bold enough to meet his eyes.

“Princess Raisa, I beg you to reconsider,” said the red-haired woman. “There is some question as to whether Alister is truly gifted. He’s come out of nowhere, we know nothing about his family, and it seems his power has manifested only recently.”

“Lady Gryphon is right,” Bayar said. “There is talk that his so-called gifts are not gifts at all, but a manifestation of demonic possession, fueled by blood sacrifice.”

Takes a demon to know one, Han thought.

“I’m from Ragmarket, Lord Bayar,” he said, pulling away from the wall and standing, feet slightly apart. “And I came by my gifts in the usual way. As to why they didn’t surface earlier, well, there are reasons.”

Han’s gaze flicked to Lord Averill, who wore his trader face, then back to Bayar.

“As for my family, my father was Danel; he died as a mercenary in the southern wars,” Han went on. “My mother’s name was Sarah, called Sali, and my sister was Mari. They died last summer. But then you already knew that. Every time you forget, I’ll remind you. That’s the blood sacrifice I made to be here, and that’s enough.”

His words sent ripples through the council like a stone dropped into a pool. Han looked from face to face, and the only friendly one was Jemson’s. And Jemson looked worried.

Lady Gryphon cleared her throat. “That’s exactly my point, Your Highness. My son Adam was recently named to the council. When you compare his pedigree to that of a street thief, I think you’ll find that—”

“Lady Gryphon, your son was my teacher at Mystwerk House,” Han said. “If you have any questions about my credentials as a wizard, I suggest you send a note to Dean Abelard.”

“As it happens, Dean Abelard is on her way back to the Fells,” Lady Gryphon said. “We shall certainly ask her opinion; though, realistically, as a first-year student, you’d have had limited contact with the dean of Mystwerk House.”

“Actually, I saw quite a lot of Dean Abelard,” Han said, straightening his stoles. “She was…she was sort of a mentor to me.” He hadn’t intended on playing the Abelard card so soon, but just now it was a useful distraction.

Bayar’s eyes narrowed. Micah and Fiona would have already put a word in his ear about Abelard and Alister.

“Whatever Abelard says, Your Highness, you must weigh the risk in having such a person close to you,” Bayar began.