Perenelle twisted to look at the curling square glyph she had painted onto the head of the nearest spear. “I did not. I know they kept Areop-Enap trapped in here, but she seemed otherwise unharmed.”

“Areop-Enap is an Elder. I am Next Generation. How did you discover the Symbols?” the Morrigan asked, and gave a deep hacking cough. “Many of the Elders and most of the Next Generation believe that the Symbols of Binding and the Words of Power are nothing more than legend.”

“I did not discover them. It was your friend Dee who used them to trap Areop-Enap in this same cell,” the Sorceress said.

The Morrigan’s dark lips twisted in disgust. “Dee? Dee knew those ancient Words?” She fell silent and then slowly shook her head.

“You do not believe me?” Perenelle asked.

“Oh no, on the contrary. I do believe you. I think I know the English Magician better than anyone else alive, yet the more I discover, the less I realize I know. He never gave me any indication that he had this ancient knowledge,” she finished.

“And now you’re wondering who taught him,” Perenelle said shrewdly. “Areop-Enap said that there was someone with Dee-an Elder, she thought, but so powerful that even the Old Spider could not see them. They must have been protected by an intricate spell of concealment. No doubt it was Dee’s masters.”

“No one knows Dee’s Elder master.”

Perenelle blinked in surprise. “Not even you?”

The Morrigan’s long white teeth pressed against her black lips. “Not me. No one knows, and those who are curious-Elder, Next Generation or humani-disappear. It is one of the great secrets… though the bigger secret is why his masters continue to protect him and keep him alive, despite his many disasters. For centuries he has failed to capture you and your husband.” She coughed a quick gurgling laugh. “The Elders are neither kind nor generous, and certainly not forgiving. I’ve known humani to be reduced to dust for failing to bow deeply enough to them.”

“Do you know what Dee intends to do with all the creatures on this island?”

The Morrigan regarded her silently.

Perenelle smiled. “Does it matter if I know… especially if we are both to die soon?”

The Crow Goddess tried to nod, but her head was stuck fast. “Dee was instructed to collect the creatures, but I am sure he does not know what the Elders intend to do with them.”

“But you do,” Perenelle guessed.

“I have seen something like this happen before, a long time ago even as you humani measure time. It is an army of sorts,” the Crow Goddess said tiredly. “When the time is right, it will be loosed upon the city.”