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doing here?”
    â€œComing to see how you were, of course,” Derk replied. “I thought I’d give you a week to settle down first. How are things?”
    â€œWonderful!” Elda said rapturously. “I’m learning so many things! I mean, the food’s awful, and one of the main teachers is vile, but they gave me a whole concert hall to sleep in because the other rooms are too small, and I’ve got friends , Dad! Come and meet my friends.”
    She disentangled herself from Derk and dragged him by one arm across to the statue of Wizard Policant. Derk smiled and let himself be dragged. Filbert, who was a colt of boundless curiosity, clopped across after them and peered around the plinth as Elda introduced the others.
    Derk shook hands with Olga and then with Lukin, whom he knew well. “Hallo, Your Highness. Does this mean your father’s allowed you to leave home after all?”
    â€œNo, not really,” Lukin admitted, rather flushed. “I’m financing myself, though. How are your flying pigs these days, sir?”
    â€œMaking a great nuisance of themselves,” said Derk, “as always.” He shook hands with Felim. “How do you do? Haven’t I met you before somewhere?”
    â€œNo, sir,” Felim said with great firmness.
    â€œThen you must look like someone else I’ve met.” Derk apologized. He turned to Claudia. “Claudia? Good gods! You were a little shrimp of a girl when I saw you last! Living in the Marshes with your mother. Do you remember me at all?”
    Claudia’s face lit with her happiest and most deeply dimpled smile. “I do indeed. You landed outside our dwelling on a beautiful black horse with wings.”
    â€œBeauty. My grandmother,” Filbert put in, with his chin on Wizard Policant’s pointed shoes.
    â€œI hope she’s still alive,” said Claudia.
    â€œFine, for a twelve-year-old,” Filbert told her. “She doesn’t speak as well as me. Mara mostly rides her these days.”
    â€œNo, I remember I could hardly understand her,” said Claudia. “She looked tired. So did you,” she said to Derk. “Tired and worried.”
    â€œWell, I was trying to be Dark Lord in those days,” Derk said, “and your mother’s people weren’t being very helpful.” He turned to Ruskin. “A dwarf, eh? Training to be a wizard. That has to be a first. I don’t think there’s been a dwarf wizard ever .”
    Ruskin gave a little bow from where he sat. “That is correct. I intend to be the first one. Nothing less than a wizard’s powers will break the stranglehold the forgemasters have on Central Peaks society.”
    Derk looked thoughtful. “I’ve been trying to do something about that. The way things are run there now is a shocking waste of dwarf talents. But those forgemasters of yours are some of the most stiff-necked, flinty-hearted, obstinate fellows I know. I tell you what—you come to me when you’re qualified and we’ll try to work something out.”
    â€œReally?” Ruskin’s round face beamed. “You mean that?”
    â€œOf course, or I wouldn’t have said it,” said Derk. “One thing Querida taught me is that revolutions need a bit of planning. And that reminds me—”
    Elda had been towering behind her father, delighted to see him getting on so well with her friends. Now she flung both feathered forelegs around his shoulders, causing him to sag a bit. “You really don’t mind me being here? You’re going to let me stay?”
    â€œWell.” Derk disengaged himself and sat on the plinth beside Filbert’s interested nose. “Well, I can’t deny that Mara and I had a bit of a set-to over it, Elda. It went on some days, in fact. Your mother pointed out that you had the talent and were at an age when everyone needs a life of her own. She also said you were big