After the conclusion of the Mage’s Appeal, Dwayne spent the rest of the Autumn Session wrestling with a single thought: Lord Kalan had abandoned him. While his master’s shortcomings - laziness, shamelessness, an allergy to task management, and a fondness for dull exposition that made him incapable of writing a coherent paper - had been obvious the moment Na’cch had fallen into Dwayne’s hands, the thought that Lord Kalan would just put him aside had never occurred to Dwayne. They were a team. They were the two mages who were going to unite all of magic. There was no way either of them could do it alone.

It wasn’t until most of the way through the long Merchant’s Appeal did a question break Dwayne’s thought spiral. If Lord Kalan had been preparing to do this the whole time, why had he gone out of his way to make Dwayne his Adjunct Librarian? And why had he bothered to send Dwayne and Rodion to Sanford? Even a warning sent a mere day ago would have given Dwayne time to prepare, maybe even get a few crucial things signed and leave the Tower partway operational.

As the last merchant stepped down, the Queen rose and walked to the front of the dais. “The Autumn Session has come to an end.”

“Our Queen speaks, we hear!”

The Queen turned on her heel and led the procession back the way they’d come. When the doors closed behind them, the crowd stirred as if waking from a long trance and started to trickle out of the room. Dwayne didn’t move, forced the crowd to walk around him as shock twisted into guilt. Three hours ago, when he’d been planning his escape, he hadn’t even considered what it would do to Lord Kalan, and yet here he was, stunned that Lord Kalan had done the same. He supposed he should be relieved that Lady Pol hadn’t revealed that he was Ri, but now he was set adrift. After all if Lord Kalan was no longer the Royal Sorcerer, then Dwayne was no longer Head Clerk. He was still heir to Sanford, but now Lord Gallus, glad to have the chance to pull his eldest child away from her lord uncle’s influence, would keep Magdala from offering any support. While he still had the resources to continue to employ Rodion, Huan, and Mei, he had nothing for them to do. He could make them find Lord Kalan and drag him back here, but the thought of forcing anyone, Lord Kalan or anyone else, to do something against their will made Dwayne sick. He had to get out of here, find Mei, discuss next steps.

“Dwayne Kalan,” a hand took his elbow, “Her Majesty summons you.”

“What?” Dwayne’s struggles knocked his wig to the floor. “No! I, I, can just leave. She doesn’t need to-”

“It’s okay, Kalan.” Dame Sercombe held onto Dwayne as she retrieved his wig from the floor. “You’re fine. Her Majesty knows this isn’t your fault. She has a task for you.”

Dwayne blinked. “What task?”

“Not here,” Sercombe answered through a stiff smile as she guided him through the Entrance Hall. “You’ve been summoned to the Small Audience Chamber.”

“Okay.” Dwayne forced himself to relax. That room wasn’t for official pronouncements, like summary executions. “Okay.”

“Good. Here.” Sercombe handed Dwayne’s wig to him. “Make yourself presentable. Let’s go.” She released Dwayne and marched through the Entrance Hall. When Dwayne had fixed his wig and caught up to her, she hissed. “Did you know?”

Dwayne shook his head as they took a left out of the Entrance Hall. “No.”

“If he’d told you earlier, you would have informed the Crown? The Privy Council?”

Dwayne scowled. “Yes, I would have. I’m new at this, not stupid.” Not telling the Queen or any of her personal advisers about something like this sounded like suicide.

Dame Sercombe’s lips tightened for a moment. “For your sake, I hope your master has good reasons for all this.”

Dwayne didn’t reply. He didn’t want to lie.

After making their way down the corridor, they reached a wooden door with a large cup cut into its center and dozens of lilacs carved into its sides. Seeing them approach, a servant slipped into the room.

Sercombe halted in front of the door. “The last time you were here, Her Majesty told you that she expected great things from you.”

“Yeah…” Dwayne had forgotten that Sercombe had been there when he, Mei, and Magdala had received their royal commendations. “Is she angry?”

“Her Majesty isn’t prone to public displays of anger.” Sercombe sighed. “Her Highness is still working on that.”

“Ah.” It didn’t help that the princess hadn’t liked Dwayne in the first place.

The door opened. “Ma’am, young master,” said the servant. “You may enter.”

Sercombe thanked the servant and then gestured to the open door. “In you go.”

Thus Dwayne entered Her Majesty’s Small Audience Chamber for the second time. In size and shape, the room was the twin of the Privy Council Chamber but was instead decorated in gray and purple, instead of red and black. It also lacked that room’s chairs, stools, and large circular table, replacing them with a trio of couches and a low slung table laden with glasses of water and tiny sandwiches. Behind these, the mantelpiece, which doubled as a bar, was lined with half a dozen varicolored liquors and bottles, and in the far right corner sat a pale wood desk, the only concession to the fact that work was actually performed her.

The Queen lay on the centermost and largest couch with her crown resting on a pillow next to her. Her daughter glowered at Dwayne from the fireplace while the Royal Consort Tor Jensen loitered next to the door to the courtyard, his gray suit blending in with the wall. As Sercombe went to her princess, Dwayne took note of the remaining two people in the room, the servant who’d opened the door and a scarred royal guard with one hand on a curved sword.

As the door clicked close behind him, Dwayne waited for the Queen, who was pressing a glass of ice to her forehead, to address him. Behind her, Princess Anne and Sercombe whispered to each other as Jensen and the guard watched Dwayne with carefully blank faces. This was worse than being late to the Privy Council meeting. Dwayne’s only possible ally here was Jensen, who’d once been rescued by Lord Kalan decades ago, but the last time Dwayne had been in this room the man had stayed silent. With Princess Anne clearly against him, Dwayne would have to rely entirely on the Queen’s grace. He would try to offer excuses, to explain, anything, but that would only annoy the Queen. At least, he’d completed his experiments to prove Resonance Theory. If he was sent away, maybe he could continue his work elsewhere. Maybe someplace in Tuqu. Mei and Huan could guide him to a good place.

Before Dwayne could continue to entertain a life on the other end of the continent, Queen Sophia said, as she put down her glass, “I assume you didn’t know.”

Dwayne swallowed. “No, Your Majesty. I haven’t heard from Lord Kalan in weeks.”

Princess Anne started forward. “That’s a likely-”

The Queen raised her hand, cutting her daughter off. “Before making you his apprentice, Lord Kalan had never been good at regular reports.” She placed her crown on her head. “Has he made you Adjunct Librarian yet?”

He shouldn’t be surprised that she knew about that. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good.” The Queen let out a breath. “He wasn’t completely incompetent.”

“Adjunct Librarian?” Princess Anne grabbed the back of her mother’s couch. “Does that mean this boy is now the Royal Sorcerer?”

“No, of course not,” The Queen assumed a regal pose, “but it does mean that he must choose the next one.”

“Mother, he’s a foreigner who barely knows enough real magic to fill a pamphlet.”

Dwayne’s jaw clenched. His “real” magic would burn that disdain off her face.

“Anne.” Tor Jensen detached from the wall. “Our ancestors put this process in place to safeguard us from ignorance and haste. A current Librarian and the Queen must select the new Royal Sorcerer, the head of the Hidden Library, together.” His brown eyes met Dwayne’s. “You’ve received the License Key?”

Dwayne’s answer, “Yes, Your Royal Consortness,” came automatically as his mind raced to consider the implications. If the License Key was a part of the Hidden Library, then Lord Kalan would have had to have done something back at Walcrest. That action implied planning, and planning implied an opportunity to send a message to Dwayne well before Lady Pol’s arrival. So what had happened?

It took him a moment to note the tightening of the princess’s lips and the amused look on her father’s face. He’d done something wrong.

The servant leaned in. “The proper address is ‘Your Royal Highness.’”

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Dwayne grimaced. “Thanks, I’ll try to remember that.”

“Young Dwayne Kalan.” The Queen rose to her feet. “As our Hidden Library’s only Adjunct Librarian and the Scaled Tower’s only clerk, you are charged with finding Lord Kalan’s replacement. Here are my requirements: they must be a mage in good standing; they must have more than fifteen years experience as a licensed mage; if they lack a title, they must have a Sage’s recommendation; finally,” her eyes glinted, “they must be Souran. You have until the end of the Harvest Ball to present your candidate.”

“Wait.” Dwayne backed away. “I have to do this alone?”

“Sophia,” Jensen said, “maybe we could lend the boy some staff?”

“Or just do it ourselves.” Princess Anne crossed her arms. “Just order him to hand over the License Key to someone who meets your requirements.”

“No, we must not.” The Queen looked back at her family. “We must not squander the one good decision that Lord Kalan made in making Dwayne his apprentice and his heir. Young Kalan’s Ri heritage presents our queendom with a unique opportunity to access magic long denied to us. And, as a significant bonus,” she turned back to Dwayne, “he’s been proving the Magisterium’s hidebound theories to be unfounded.” Her voice became regal again. “Dwayne Kalan, heir to Walcrest, heir to Sanford, Head Clerk of the Scaled Tower, and Adjunct Librarian of the Hidden Library, you are thus charged. The Throne commands it.”

“Our Queen speaks, we hear,” said Dwayne along with everyone else in the room.

Then he fled.

***

As Mei followed Maggie and Fran out of the Palace, she kept her eyes straight ahead and failed to respond to Fran’s attempts to make conversation. Maggie was also silent, apparently lost in her own thoughts. This continued until they reached the valet line, and Fran proclaimed, “That’s enough.”

She stomped out in front of them, her hands on her hips. “We have to talk.”

Maggie winced. “Fran…”

“No, I don’t want to hear it.” Fran took her friends by the shoulders. “Magdala, I know you just love to disappear into your own thoughts, and Mei, I know that you’re a master stoic, but I refuse to allow either of you to steam in your own misery.” She smirked. “It’s terrible for the complexion.”

Mei frowned. “Complexion?”

“It’s just…” Maggie smiled weakly. “I really thought he’d changed, you know? That my screwup lord uncle had finally stepped up to his responsibilities as a mage and as a noble.” She sniffed. “Before my mother made me go to him, before actually meeting him, this wouldn’t have been surprising, but now…”

“It galls you.” Fran patted Maggie’s shoulder. “His bad choices don’t reflect back on you. You know that.”

“I do.” Maggie sniffed as they moved forward in the line. “It’s just hard to accept.”

Mei’s jaw clenched. The idea that your relatives’ bad choices don’t reflect back on you may apply to the children of merchants and nobles, but it didn’t apply to her. It was her parents’ bad choices that had made her and Huan outcasts, and Huan’s that had made them flee their country, and now it was Lord Kalan’s that had put her, Huan, and Dwayne at risk.

“Well, going to class tomorrow will be a nightmare.” Maggie forced a chuckle. “How easily has my lord uncle made the Galluses the laughingstock of the queendom.”

“Anyone who laughs at Lady Iona Gallus or Lord Gerald Gallus laughs alone.” Fran’s dark eyes glinted. “And anyone who laughs at you, either of you, answers to me.”

Mei felt goosebumps at hearing those serious and sincere words, which promised that Fran would absolutely destroy anyone who mocked her friends.

Maggie’s eyes glistened. “You don’t have to defend me.”

“It’s in our friend contract. I defend you. You defend me.” Fran pulled them forward in the line. “Within reason of course, if they make fun of your snoring, I’ll join in.”

“Oh?” Maggie raised her chin. “Well, if they make fun of your frankly ridiculous number of ‘girl of the day’ sketches, I’ll join in.”

“Humph.” Fran crossed her arms and turned around. “I don’t do that anymore.”

Maggie leaned in. “You still have them though.”

“Because they’re my best work!”

Despite her gnawing concerns, Mei smiled at her friends’ obvious good regard for each other.

“Finally, a smile.” Fran put an arm around Mei’s shoulders. “Your turn, Mei. What wouldn’t you defend dear Magdala from?”

Mei thought about it a moment. She grinned. “The horrors of walking.”

“Oh, no.” Maggie’s hand came to her forehead. “Don’t start.”

Fran’s eyes glittered. “Oh, please do.”

Mei said, “We were going to Yumma-”

“It was really really hot, okay?” Maggie glared at Mei. “I’m not a cups-blessed gamul like you or Dwayne, somehow able to live on next to no water in the desert.”

Mei raised an eyebrow. “Dwayne offered you his water.”

“And, let me guess,” said Fran, “her pride didn’t let her take it? Or…” She waggled her eyebrows. “Did she just stare at him?”

Mei stared. “How’d you know?”

“Nevermind how she knows.” Maggie’s ears now matched her hair. “It’s Fran’s turn, Mei. What wouldn’t you defend Fran from?”

“Houses, ladies?”

They’d reached the head of the line where a valet stood ready to assist.

“Oh, look, time to go.” After a quick hug, Fran stepped away from her friends. “We’ll talk more later.” She turned to the valet. “Lucchesi. The Seaborne Apartments.”

“Very good, ma’am.” The valet gestured to another servant, who flew off.

Mei followed their flight with her eyes. “They have mages as servants here?”

Maggie glared at Fran. “You’re not getting away from this.”

Fran smiled. “An engaging conversationalist always has an exit plan. And,” she said to Mei, “Her Highness has just started recruiting wind Qe into the service of the Royal Secretary’s Office.”

“Really?” Maggie asked. “How are they getting licensed with my lord uncle gone?”

Fran shrugged. “Does it matter? And here’s my carriage.” She caught the look on Maggie’s face. “It is not my fault you don’t know how to control the flow of conversation.”

After four horses pulled a gold and green carriage up to them, its door opened to reveal an older version of Fran, her dark hair just a few shades lighter, already waving. “Franny!”

“I told her to stop calling me that,” muttered Fran.

Maggie grinned. “Oh, another thing to add to the list.”

Fran narrowed her eyes. “Well played, my dear roommate, well played. Coming, Auntie!” She started to walk to the carriage. “Next lunch, we’re going to Boscage.”

Mei perked up. “I know a good place.”

Fran beamed. “Splendid. See you there.” She stepped up into the carriage and was away.

Maggie sighed. “I did not miss her ribbing.”

“Ribbing?” Mei frowned. “And what is ‘complexion’?”

“Ribbing means joking and complexion’s how your skin looks.” Maggie addressed the valet, “Gallus. Magisterium Dorms.”

“Ah,” Mei nodded, “steaming in misery would make your skin go bad.”

“It would probably turn it gray,” Maggie grinned, “like those fiends we fought.”

“Your father would have to order Saundra to cut our heads off.”

“Dwayne would insist on incinerating our corpses personally.”

“Then everyone would be sad, and Dwayne would be in trouble. More trouble.”

Maggie smiled. “Then no more misery steam, deal?” She extended a hand.

Mei shook it. “Deal.”

“There you are.” Lady Gallus marched up to her daughter. “We are going home now.”

“Mother, I have school tomorrow, so I should…” She looked around. “Wait, is Father not in an emergency meeting?”

Lady Gallus shook her head. “The Council wasn’t called. Hill mentioned that Dwayne was called into Her Majesty’s presence. Now, we should be on our way. Your father will follow.” She reached for Maggie’s hand.

Maggie pulled away. “I should stay and help Dwayne.”

“Dwayne is on his own.” Lady Gallus sighed. “That loyalty of yours is admirable, but you can’t do anything for him, not today. Since you’ve chosen a college, you should focus on that.”

Maggie’s mouth fell open. “You’re really not fighting me on that.”

“I gave you my advice.” Lady Gallus tried to square her shoulders. “Whether or not you listen is up to you. I-” She cleared her throat. “Right now, we’re going home. The rest of the family needs to know about this.”

Magdala gave her a small nod. “I still need to be in the dorm tonight.”

“We’ll drop you off later.”

“Oh.” Maggie turned to Mei. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Maggie smiled sadly and then followed her mother to a red and white carriage. Soon they were gone.

The valet turned to Mei. “House, ma’am?”

“Not yet.” She couldn’t leave without Dwayne. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Very well.” The valet turned to the next person in line. “House, milord?”

While Mei waited, the cool morning gave way to a warmer noon, and the wind whistling through the trees brought the scent of past and coming rain, both allowing Mei to recenter herself and finally think about what her next steps should be.

By the time Dwayne finally emerged from the Palace, she’d made a decision. She caught Dwayne before he walked out onto the Royal Drive.

“What are- oh, Mei.” Dwayne frowned. “Why haven’t you gone home?”

The valet stepped forward. “House, milord?”

“Kalan. Sanford.” Dwayne pulled Mei aside. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine.” Mei glanced at the wig in Dwayne’s hands. It looked far worse for wear. “Are you?”

“Ha ha, no.” Dwayne groaned. “Apparently, I have to find Lord Kalan’s replacement by the end of the Harvest Ball.”

“That sounds hard.”

“It is a bit.”

The valet waved to them. “Your carriage is here, milord.”

“Thank you.” Dwayne sighed. “Let’s just get out of here.”

Following him into the carriage, Mei took a seat next to Rodion and Dwayne sat across from them.

“I heard.” Rodion tapped the roof of the carriage, causing it to lurch forward. “Are you okay?”

“I,” Dwayne closed his eyes, “I have to find Soura’s next Royal Sorcerer.”

Rodion’s eyes widened. “What?”

Mei leaned against the window. “I have to find out who murdered that windsong.”

Dwayne’s eyes snapped open. “What? Why?”

“Because you know everything about Lord Kalan and what he does.” Mei turned to Dwayne. “What would he do if he made a sudden decision like that? How would he tell you?”

Dwayne rubbed his chin. “He’d write up a quick message and then waste money on a windsong courier to get it to me.”

Rodion shook his head. “My lord is known to procrastinate.”

“Yes, but what does that have…” Dwayne stared at Mei. “The windsong messenger. You think he was murdered in order to intercept Lord Kalan’s message.”

Mei nodded. “Yes.”

“But why you?”

“Because,” Mei hugged herself, “not many people know about Lord Kalan.”

“Okay...”

“I didn’t do it. You wouldn’t do it and neither would Rodion or Maggie. That leaves one person.”

“Huan?” Dwayne’s eyes widened. “You think Huan-”

“He didn’t.” Mei pushed her brother’s discarded uniform out of her mind. “And I can prove it. I have to.”

“Okay.” Dwayne took a deep breath. “Okay. So you’ll investigate that while I find the next Royal Sorcerer.” He quickly explained the Queen’s requirements. “Unfortunately, No one immediately comes to mind.”

At least two did for Mei. “What about Lady Pol?”

Dwayne made a face. “She’s… not the best choice. Not after today.”

Rodion’s fingers danced on his knees. “The deans of the Magisterium colleges already have Sage sanction, my lord.”

“But I don’t know any of them.”

Mei did, but she doubted that Dwayne and Dean Bruce would get along. “And Lady Gallus?”

Dwayne shook his head. “If she wanted to be Royal Sorcerer, she’d be Royal Sorcerer.” He blinked. “Oh, I know. Baron Thadden.”

Rodion grimaced. “Didn’t he goad you at dinner, my lord?”

“Yes, he did, but he also talked to me afterwards and helped me put things in perspective. He meets all of the requirements. Let’s start with him.”

Rodion winced. “My lord, let me investigate other candidates.”

Dwayne sat back. “No, there’s no time. We only have until the Harvest Ball.”

Mei watched Rodion force himself to sit back in his seat, which was odd. “What if Thadden doesn’t want it?” she asked.

Dwayne slumped. “In that case… yeah, we should have other options ready. Fine, Rodion, do your investigation. Meanwhile, I’ll reach out to Thadden.”