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tell which spells were malicious, he could avoid them. He wanted to live long enough to make his own choice.
     
    “ ARABELLA, YOU CANNOT say anything.” Rorik softly closed the door to his workroom and sat across his worktable from her.
    “Of course I can,” she replied. “I want to make certain that no one else helps Timo disobey me.”
    “He won’t ask anyone else,” Rorik replied. “The boy has no friends and now will have few—if any—allies. Humiliating Barra, and particularly Hestor, could have serious consequences.”
    “Like what? Will they make him trip or spill ink? I lived through worse.” Much worse—and it had made her work even harder in order to become someone they wouldn’t dare humiliate. It would do the same for Timo.
    “Do you forget who Barra and Hestor call Master?” Rorik asked. “Inigo will use any means to hurt you, including allowing his Apprentice and Journeyman to harm Timo.”
    “He wouldn’t dare,” Arabella said. “It’s against Guild Law to deliberately hurt a student. He would risk his own position if it was proved.”
    “But it would have to be proved,” Rorik replied. “And Hestor might be willing to take the blame. In the meantime, Timo would be hurt. Or worse.”
    “Rorik, I think you are making far too much of this,” Arabella said. “Timo’s life will not be in danger. He’ll have to deal with a few bruises and some shame, that’s all. Nothing he doesn’t deserve after going against my explicit direction.”
    “I hope you’re right,” Rorik said. “I believe Inigo will do almost anything to get what he wants. He cursed me, after all.”
    “So says the non-Mage I gave birth to.” She didn’t believe any curses were removed from Rorik despite what he thought. Kara Fonti had put on a good show but she hadn’t been fooled.
    “I believe her,” Rorik said. “She made a difference to how I feel and think.”
    “I know you believe that,” Arabella said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s true.”
    “I am worried about Timo,” Rorik continued. “Perhaps I should have accepted another Apprentice or Journeyman. They would have offered the boy some protection.”
    “More likely they would have helped him break more rules,” Arabella said. “It would have been more difficult for me— for us —to manage him.”
    “Making this public will make things even more difficult and dangerous for him.”
    “A few pranks will be played on him and in a few weeks it will be forgotten.” Arabella stood to leave. She had some reports to read before the next council meeting.
    “If you’re wrong?”
    “I am not wrong,” she replied.
    “But if you are?” Rorik paused. “You might want to consider Santos Nimali’s offer to train Timo. He would be safe with them, you know it.”
    “What?” Arabella couldn’t believe it. “Are you suggesting that I send Timo to Old Rillidi? Never! Timo will be my Journeyman, not the mad mage’s. You will not suggest that ever again. Not to me and especially not to my son. Are we clear?”
    She glared at Rorik until he nodded his head and looked away. How dare he make such a suggestion! He knew what she wanted for her son. Had the girl somehow meddled with his mind? Was that what she’d done when she claimed to be helping him?
    She wrenched the door open and strode out into the hallway. Rorik was investing far too much importance into this one small lesson she was giving her son. He would see—Timo would suffer wounded pride along with a few bruises, and in a few weeks all would be forgotten.
     
    “ THEY’VE REFUSED OUR request again, of course,” Santos said.
    Even though she’d expected it, Kara’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. She, Santos, and Reo were in Santos’ study. A mage light hovered overhead, softly lighting the cluttered desk they sat at.
    Reo reached over and grasped her hand, squeezing it gently. Kara closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.
    “Nothing we weren’t expecting,” she said.