“I hope you are right—that Adam Gryphon will vote for you,” Abelard continued. “It’s one thing if I stand for High Wizard and lose. Bayar and I have been rivals for years. He expects it, and I am powerful enough to protect myself. I have allies. You, on the other hand—if you try to humiliate the Bayars, if you stand for High Wizard and lose—you will have no friends at all. I won’t be able to protect you. Gavan Bayar will shred you, and incinerate anything that remains.”

C H A P T E R  S E V E N T E E N

FROM THE
SNAKE PIT INTO
THE FLAMES

It was easier getting into Gray Lady a second time. This time, instead of a rote list of barriers and keys to memorize, Crow had taught Han how to detect a trap, determine its nature, and choose a charm to disable it. He’d given him a permanent key that allowed Han to bring Willo and Dancer into Gray Lady with him.

Han had left them just inside the Council House, in the cellar storeroom area, aware that he might be leading his friends right into a trap.

“It’s going to be tricky,” he said, draping his wizard stoles over his fine jacket. “Timing is important. If you come in before the vote for High Wizard is taken, it will scrap everything.”

“I’ll give you half an hour, and then wait for you in Aediion,” Dancer said. “When the vote’s done, give me the signal. We will come right away.”

“Any questions about how to disable the locks on the council chambers?” Han asked, stuffing his travel clothes into his carry bag. When Dancer shook his head, he added, “And, remember—make sure you glamour up before you get into the main hallways.”

Dancer put his hand on Han’s arm. “I won’t forget,” he said.

“If I don’t come to Aediion, the whole thing’s off,” Han said. “Don’t wait for me. Go back the way you came and get off the mountain as quickly as you can.”

“Don’t worry,” Willo said. “All will be well, Hunts Alone, you’ll see.” Both she and Dancer seemed confident, serene, determined.

Only one way it can go right, Han thought as he snaked his way through the basement corridors. A thousand ways it can go wrong. Worries niggled at the back of his mind. He’d not heard back from Fiona. Had she succeeded in getting to Gryphon? Or was she crewing for her father? Maybe all the Bayars were having a chuckle over Han’s pathetic schemes.

He tried to put Abelard’s warning out of his mind.

Gavan Bayar will shred you, and incinerate anything that remains.