“That’s because you’re doing it the wrong way.”

“How do you know?”

“Because of what you just said,” Chalice said. “Probability. Diviners always see it like that.”

“Isn’t that’s exactly what chance magic does?”

“Probability is mathematicians’ language, something separate from you. For a chance mage, it’s not separate. Chance is the air you breathe and the ground under your feet. You can’t set yourself apart.”

I thought about it for a second. I didn’t really follow what she was saying . . . but then, I didn’t need to. “Can you teach Luna?”

Chalice nodded. “I think so.”

I looked at her. “So.”

“So?”

“What’s in it for you?”

“There are a few minor things. I’m curious to see how that apprentice of yours develops. Then there’s the chance to study—”

“How about you just skip to the big one?”

“I want an alliance,” Chalice said. She wasn’t smiling anymore. “Which means your help. If I need information, or a favour of some kind, you give it.”

I looked back at her for a second. “That sounds dangerous.”

“Magic is dangerous. Your apprentice is dangerous. You’re dangerous. From what I understand, you’ve dealt with much worse.”

“That doesn’t mean I do it by choice. Isn’t there anything else you want? Money?”

“You couldn’t offer me enough.”

“Items?”

“More tempting, but I’m afraid I’m not bargaining. I told you my price and I meant it.”

I checked to see what Chalice would do if I said no. Sure enough, every future in which I turned her down led to her walking out. She wasn’t bluffing. “Your price isn’t cheap.”

“Don’t act as though you were expecting to get this for free. Did you think the Light chance mages were going to give lessons away?”

“No, but I wouldn’t jump on that kind of offer from a Light mage either.” I thought for a second. “What kind of help?”

“Right now, there’s nothing I need,” Chalice said. “I expect that’ll change, sooner or later. Most likely, I’ll need your help against other Dark mages.”

“Because that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“You’re qualified to deal with it, aren’t you?”

I was silent. “Besides,” Chalice said. “I did say an alliance. You can call on me for help too.”

“Except that you’d expect that to happen less often, since you’re also teaching Luna.”

Chalice shrugged. “It’s only fair.”

“I’m not going to sign any blank cheques,” I said. “There are things—a lot of things—that I won’t do. If you’re expecting me to . . .”

“No blank cheques,” Chalice said. “No oaths of obedience. You can always turn me down. But I want good faith. If I ask you to do something, and it’s something you would be willing to do for an ally, then you should be willing to do it for me. If you say no, and you don’t have a very good reason, then no more lessons.”

We sat in silence for a minute.

“What are you thinking?” Chalice asked.