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“Gyda even knows why they let us visit Timo two months ago.”
    “Because Arabella thought only Santos was coming,” Reo said. “And despite what she would like to think, even she can’t ignore a request from the true Mage Guild Primus indefinitely. My sources are limited but so far there is no indication that our visit has caused either Rorik or Arabella any political problems.” He paused. “At least no more than usual.”
    “Inigo?” Santos asked.
    Reo nodded.
    The Mage pursed his lips. “I barely knew him. He was just an Apprentice when I was Primus, and because he didn’t have an extraordinary talent, he was never brought to my attention.”
    “I’d say his talent is political manipulation,” Reo said. “From what I’ve been able to learn, he controls the council. I wish I knew what was going on inside those doors.”
    “I wish I knew what was going on with Timo,” Kara said. “Although he’s apprenticed to the Primus, he appears to have only minor magical abilities. And he can see spells but tried to conceal it. He didn’t want anyone to know.”
    “I still think Rorik and Arabella are hiding his true abilities, including his ability with unmagic,” Reo said. “Why else would he be the only Apprentice to the Primus and the Secundus has neither Apprentice nor Journeyman? Nothing else makes sense.”
    “No,” Kara shook her head. “If Rorik could have had Timo remove those curses he would have.” She shuddered. “One was almost as bad as the curse Valerio put on Santos—the one that almost killed him when I tried to remove it.”
    “I have to agree with Kara,” Santos said finally. “If Rorik knew Timo could see spells, he would have known he had been cursed, even if the boy couldn’t remove them. Rorik doesn’t know Timo has unmagic. Which means Arabella doesn’t know either.”
    “Why not?” Kara asked. “Timo knows.”
    “Maybe he’s been hiding it,” Reo said. “Or maybe, like you, he didn’t know what he was seeing.”
    “He knows now,” Santos said. “I do think it safer if he keeps it a secret.”
    “I don’t think he’ll tell Arabella,” Kara said. “He didn’t seem very happy with her.”
    “She and Rorik have kept a lot from him,” Santos said. “Maybe Timo’s retaliating by keeping secrets from them?”
    “He is fourteen,” Reo said. “A rebellious age. If no one finds out about his unmagic, he should be safe enough until he turns sixteen.”
    “Yes,” Kara said. She ran a hand through her long dark hair. “I just wish we knew that he was safe.”
     
    DISTRACTED, KARA LET Reo lead her through the manor house to the kitchen to gather their children, Lisha and Nando, before heading home to the cabin.
    Reo teased her about collecting people, surrounding herself with those who felt like family, but when it came down to it she couldn’t protect Timo, her own flesh and blood.
    Reo stopped so abruptly that Kara bumped into him.
    “You can come out now, Mole,” Reo said. “I know you’re there. You’ve been spying on us all evening.”
    Mole stepped out from a shadow and grinned. “What gave me away?”
    “Nothing obvious,” Reo said. “But I am the one who taught you.”
    Mole shook his head and shrugged. “The clammers are here.”
    “How long?” Kara asked. “Have they been here the whole time we were with Santos?”
    “Close,” Mole said. “Pilo sent me to fetch you.”
    “She’ll be furious,” Kara said. Pilo hated the clammers. She made them stay outside rain or sun until Kara dealt with them. She glared at Mole. “You left her alone with them so you could spy on us?”
    “You were having an interesting conversation,” was all Mole said. He shrugged again and headed in the opposite direction.
    Kara paused. Mole wouldn’t tell anyone what he’d heard. As a boy he’d never talked much. Then he’d spent hours following Reo around, soaking up everything he was willing to teach him. But Assassins needed to be able to talk—to