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“They would only move on to another spring and grow more ruthless. They tried already. They were almost able to overtake Kythshire’s Wellspring, thanks to your sister. They were stopped. Thwarted, by the knight Azaeli.”
    “Azaeli,” I remember the short knight in the procession leading the prince out of the city. Meyvn’s voice in my mind, telling me to take note of her.
    “They will go on, the Sorcerers of Zhaghen, until they are defeated once and for all.”
    “Weren’t they? I thought I heard…”
    “Not all. Even with the towers burnt, they survive. They spread out over the land like a sickness, leaving our oasis wasted. Ready to reap and drain and gain more. Stepstone and Elespen and Haigh. Hywilkin and Tunvidel. All of these places are threatened. War, Tib. War and death will follow in their wake, and only you and I know. Only you and I can stop them.” I stare at him, wide-eyed. Terrified.
    “What can we do?” I ask. I’m only a boy. I couldn’t fight Sorcerers. Hide from them, maybe, but not fight them.
    “We must go to Kythshire and petition for their help in restoring Sunteri’s Wellspring. Together with them, we can determine a way to stop the spread of Sorcery. You and I cannot do it alone, Tib. We need allies.”
    “Allies,” I say, nodding.
    “Now, as I hate to do, but as I always do with your permission, I will clear this moment from your memory. For my protection and for yours. Do you understand why?”
    I frown and stare down at the rushing water below. How many of these conversations have we had? How many times has he wiped them away? Why me, I wonder. But then, who else could he have trusted? Not a man, a grown man. No, he needed someone unremarkable. Someone who could slip in and out of situations unnoticed. He’s right. We’re the last. We’re in this together. The last of our families.
    “I understand,” I say. “But wait, when will we go? Do we have to go alone?” I think of Saesa. She’s always talking about adventures. She’s good with her sword, surprisingly good. I’ve watched her training these two days. I don’t see why Raefe has discouraged her. She beats any opponent they put her against.
    “We shall go when the time presents itself.” Meyvn says. “Who would you bring? For what purpose?”
    “Saesa. She can fight. She’s my friend. I don’t want to leave her.”
    “Perhaps.”
    Yes, perhaps. The word echoes in my mind as I look up at the stars. My thoughts wander to the manse and to Nessa and Saesa who care about me. They’re probably sleeping soundly in their beds. I wonder how long I’ve been sitting here. Quiet. Thinking. It feels like hours. It’s so peaceful and open here that I doze off, and when I wake it’s not yet dawn. Something is closed in my fist. I move my fingers and feel the coins slide together inside them. I look. Gold. Two gold. My heart races as I immediately think of Saesa. Bren. Feat. One gold thirty-two. That was the last tally.
    I scramble down the wall and race through the streets, faster than a city boy could. Quieter, too. Unheard. Unseen. No one is up, anyway. It’s too early. Even the sea market is deserted. My heart is pumping, maybe from the run, maybe from my excitement. Saesa will finally buy Feat. Then she can come with me when I go. Where, I don’t remember. But I know what’s meant to happen.
    My shutters are still open. I climb up the trellis and slip into my room. Inside it’s silent. I creep through the hallway and stop at Saesa’s door. Listen. Breathing. She’s asleep. Cautiously I tiptoe to her bed. Push the coins under her pillow. Go back to my room. Doze off again.
    Saesa’s squeal wakes me. I roll out of bed and rub my eyes as I go to the door. She’s in the hallway, rushing toward me. Her eyes are bright. She casts a glance over her shoulder before she skips into my room and closes the door.
    “Tib!” she whispers excitedly. “I don’t know how, but look!” She opens her hand to show me the