Tobias dropped the heavy pack on the table before Kierda. She stepped back, eyes widening at the girth of it. Tobias suppressed his grin with practice. He wondered what she would think if she tried lifting it.

Melori grimaced as he passed the barrier enclosing the feedlot. Stench washed over him which, while foul, didn’t surprise him. The barrier had gleamed a sullen brown when he’d left the barracks this morning. Not the normal, vibrant red.

“You must be joking.” Darman rounded on Jadeen.

She stepped back, blinking at him. “Joking? About what?”

Darman gestured to the ridged case at her feet. “You cannot bring your pet along.”

“The bakery is that way.” The boy didn’t bother to look up from the shoes he polished, merely gestured up the street before I finished the shop’s name. I followed his directions, and, rounding the last corner, I whistled softly. Samina hadn’t even tried for plausible deniability.

“What can I say? He likes to play with words.” I brushed my hand over the harsh metal of the table, not raising my gaze to meet the inspectors. There was no good in doing that.

Water wrapped around Riz, flowing and sending him tumbling. His arms failed until one hand broke the surface. A hand which swiftly dropped again to strike the sea with the glove he still wore.

Riz stared at the gloves. That the casters had trapped magician them he didn’t doubt. Casters too precious to leave the shores instead sent those they had trained with artifacts bearing their powers. The sent the Magikers.

The gloves lay draped over the quarter deck’s rail. Work gloves, though none the crew would use. Riz didn’t know why his mind focused on them. Better than the cries of rage or pain, or the smoke.

Moonglow lit the courtyard. Tarinne lifted her gaze as heavy bootfalls echoed off the stone walls. Pavel, back again. Back as he had returned every night for seasons. Back to ask the same question again.