“Shhh! Don’t say that name. Not even here,” Count Drake said. “One of the Nine, Dabin Vosha, the man in charge of the Sa’kagé’s smuggling, heard about your master’s threat to the king. He decided it would be a good time to make his own play for power and sent a wetboy after Durzo, thinking Durzo would either be killed or would kill the king in retaliation. Durzo found out and killed both the wetboy and Vosha.”

“You mean all this has been happening while I’ve been lying in bed.”

“There was no way you could help,” Count Drake said.

“But what did Dabin Vosha have against Master—my master?” Kylar had never even heard the name.

“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. That’s the way the Sa’kagé works, Kylar. There are plots within plots, and most of them go nowhere. Most of them take one step and then die, like this one. If you worry about what everyone is trying to do, you become a spectator and not a player.

“Anyway, the king’s learned of the last attempt on your master’s life and has become very frightened. Usually, this would be good news, but he’s rather clumsily consolidating his power. Logan is going to have to spend a while out of the city.”

“He was just starting to be my friend,” Kylar said.

“Believe me, son, a man like Logan Gyre will be your friend for life.”

Chapter 23

23

S omeone slapped Kylar. Not gently.

“Wake up, boy.”

Kylar clawed his way out of a nightmare and saw the face of Master Blint, a foot away, about to slap him again. “Master—” he stopped. “Master Tulii?”

“Good to see you remember me, Kylar,” Master Blint said.

Master Blint got up and shut the door. “I don’t have much time. Are you well yet? Don’t lie to please me.”

“I’m still a little weak, sir, but I’m getting better.” Kylar’s heart was pounding. He’d been desperate to see Master Blint for weeks, but now that he was here, Kylar was inexplicably angry.

“You’ll probably feel terrible for a few more weeks. Either the kinderperil and avorida paste interacted in a way I didn’t expect, or it might have something to do with your Talent.”

“What’s that mean? The Talent?” Kylar asked. His words were sharper than he’d intended, but Blint didn’t seem to notice.

“Well, if it was that.” Master Blint shrugged. “Sometimes a body doesn’t react well to magic at first.”

“I mean, what does it mean? Will I be able to—”

“Fly? Become invisible? Scale walls? Throw fire? Walk as a god among mortals?” Blint smirked. “Doubtful.”

“I was going to ask if I’ll be able to move as fast as you do.” Again, that edge came into his voice.