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Icewegian.”
    â€œYou understood me,” said Enopp. “Because we gatemages are very good with languages.”
    â€œI only have a few minutes here,” said Wad. “And if Danny North shows up, I’ll leave immediately, because the Belmage has possession of him.”
    â€œIs Danny the enemy now?” asked Enopp.
    â€œThe being who’s controlling him is the enemy. If Danny somehow gets free of him, he’ll be a good friend to you again. But for now, he can’t be trusted.”
    â€œBummer,” said Enopp.
    â€œI came to tell you that something very bad has happened on Westil. Your mother was surprised by Queen Bexoi.”
    Enopp immediately grew very serious. “Why didn’t you gate her away?”
    â€œShe knew I was busy. I warned her that I couldn’t watch over her, but she insisted on going anyway. She was sure she’d be safe. By the time I knew she was in trouble, it was too late.”
    â€œWhat does ‘too late’ mean?” asked Enopp.
    â€œQueen Bexoi is a firemage,” said Wad. “Your mother was consumed by fire.”
    Enopp regarded him steadily. “You’re telling me the truth,” he said.
    â€œYes,” said Wad. “I would never tell you something like that if it wasn’t true.”
    â€œYou think that Mother is dead,” said Enopp.
    â€œI know she is,” said Wad. “Her friend Keel saw her die. There’s no mistake.”
    â€œEluik says that she’s alive,” said Enopp.
    â€œEluik isn’t part of this conversation unless he talks to me himself,” said Wad.
    â€œThat’s a poor excuse for not listening to someone who knows things that you don’t know.”
    â€œI have no evidence that Eluik knows anything. How can she be alive? Keel saw her body consumed in a flash of fire. I saw the ashes. Boys, your mother is truly dead. I’m deeply sorry and I would have prevented it if I could. But that’s the truth.”
    â€œNo, it isn’t,” said Enopp. “Mother is alive.”
    â€œThere’s no way you or Eluik could know one way or the other,” said Wad.
    â€œJust because you don’t know of such a way doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” said Enopp. “When we were in the cave, Eluik came to me. Came into me. He helped me calm down and not scream or cry. He also helped Mother.”
    â€œSo even though the three of you were in separate caves, Eluik made contact with you and Anonoei?”
    â€œHe had to stay with me all the time at first, and then he just got used to it. But he could feel Mother the whole time. He made it so I could feel her, too, and she could feel us.”
    â€œShe never told me that.”
    â€œSo what?” asked Enopp. “Why should she tell you anything? You were the one who imprisoned us.”
    â€œYou’re saying that Eluik can feel her now ?” asked Wad.
    â€œYes,” said Enopp. “If she were dead, he’d know it because he wouldn’t be able to find her.”
    â€œHe can’t even find his own body,” said Wad. “I’m not going to believe anything he says unless he says it with his own mouth.”
    â€œWhy do you get to make the rules?” asked Enopp.
    â€œBecause I’m the most powerful mage in either world,” said Wad.
    â€œI thought you were down to your last few gates because Danny North is stronger,” said Enopp.
    â€œThe Belmage got him but Danny gave all my gates back to me and gave me all of his, too.”
    â€œHe really trusts you,” said Enopp.
    â€œYes, I guess he does,” said Wad.
    â€œWhy can’t you trust me and Eluik?” asked Enopp.
    â€œBecause I’m not as trusting as Danny North,” said Wad. “He’s a kid, and I’m more than a thousand years old.”
    â€œA thousand years inside a tree,” said Enopp. “That made you so much wiser, I