Do you really think she can find anything? Lina asked.

Almost certainly, Besis said as he took a bite out of a crust of bread. Ive known her for four decades, and Ive only known her to fail at finding information three times. Shes had some confounding mysteries, believe me.

The sleeping sickness? Jez asked.

Besis nodded. Both times. The third was the onset of beast mind that we had six months ago.

Sharim was involved in both of those, Jez pointed out.

He wasnt stuck in the abyss last time. Are you feeling any stronger?

Jez took a drink of spiced cider and nodded. My headache is almost gone.

Osmund grinned. Thatll teach you to not go without eating for four days.

Jez raised an eyebrow. Says the person who knocked me out.

You told me to.

Im sorry, Master Besis. Linas voice was exaggerated. Sometimes, they revert to being children.

Besis chuckled. A year ago, I wouldve never thought that between the three of you, Lina would be the most mature. All three of the students glared at him, but he buried his face in his cup. Once he was done drinking, he placed a thick gold coin on the table, easily five times the value of the food and drink theyd had. Its been over an hour. Linala should have learned at least a little by now. If the three of you are ready?

They nodded. Lufka hustled over and tried to convince Besis to take his coin, but the protection master would have none of it. He handled the argument much better than Jez ever had, and in short order, they started their walk back toward the Academy.

Jez had thought the area around the summoning house had been packed before, but that was nothing compared to this. People crowded around the building, trying to get a glimpse inside, and it didnt look like Jez and his friends would be able to get in without shoving their way through. Periodically, yellow lights flashed from the windows, though they were all too high for anyone to see through. That didnt stop a couple of crows, who Jez suspected were transformed students, from peering in. Besis walked right up to the gathered people and cleared his throat. As soon as enough people noticed, the crowd parted for him, and the protection master led Jez and his friends into the building.

Linala stood at the edge of a ma.s.sive circle that encompa.s.sed the entire main chamber of the summoning house. Jez could see something inside of the circle, but whatever it was, his mind couldnt comprehend it. His head screamed in pain. The second he looked away, all memory of it was burned from his thoughts. It focused its attention on him, and he heard a roar in his mind. The circle blazed so brightly Jez could see the bones in his hands. Then, it faded, and the presence was gone. Jez realized he was on his knees. So were the rest of the people with him.

By the seven, Besis said as he rose. Was that a void beast?

No, Linala said through heavy breaths. It was... She shook her head. Theres not a word for it in human languages. Think of it as a void beasts nightmare. I just wish it had done any good.

Whats a void beast? Jez asked.

Something that humanity wouldve best left undiscovered, Besis said before returning his attention to Linala. You cant possibly have exhausted enough of your sources to have to resort to that. Not in a single hour.

She sighed. Its more complicated than that. You dont have to read every book in a library to know that the information you seek isnt there. What we are looking for is very specific, and I dont have to summon every being I know.

But surely you didnt have to resort to that.

I have other sources, but some of them wouldnt come. Ill admit I didnt expect to go so far afield. I took more risks that I wouldve liked. You should prepare yourself to deal with the aftereffects of summoning so many powerful beings so quickly, Besis, Linala said.

Ill do that.

What aftereffects? Jez asked.

So many summonings weaken the boundary between worlds, Besis said. Itll be easier for spirits to enter for a little while.

A chill ran through Jez. Sharim?

Besis shook his head. Sharims challenge was never to get into this world, but rather to get out of the abyss. No, we may have to deal with imps or other minor spirits, but it shouldnt be anything major. He turned back to Linala. Did you find anything?

She shook her head. Only that Between is denied to most beings, and even those that can go there fear to tread on Gayels territory. Im sorry. I dont know what else to do.

One by one, they all looked at Jez. He shivered under the weight of their gazes. Hed thought theyd been getting close, but that had been an illusion. Their best efforts had failed completely. Jez could only shrug. He had no ideas left.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

What do we do now? Osmund asked. He and Lina had joined Jez in his room.

Jez let out a breath and shook his head. Im open to suggestions.

Lina furled her brow. Her lips parted a little, but she closed them.

What is it? Jez asked.

Your first term here, you made a painting.

Jez nodded. It had been one of the first signs that he was something other than human. My memories were leaking through, but even then, I couldnt access them consciously. They just came out.

Have you tried again?

Jez nodded. In Rumar last year. It didnt work. Sariel locked away Luntayarys memories.

What about the information Enki gave you? Maybe if you paint, the knowledge will show itself.

Jez and Osmund exchanged glances. Its worth a try, Osmund said.

Jez nodded and went to his cabinet. He pulled out an easel and canvas along with several brushes and corked bottles. He hadnt had much time for art in the past six months, and he found some of his paints had dried out, but it was a simple matter to pull water out of the air and bring them back to their proper consistency. For a second, he stared at them. Then, he chuckled.

What is it? Osmund asked.

I was just wondering when using aqua magic to restore dried up paints became something I didnt even find remarkable. He grinned at Lina. I guess Im more than just a fishermans son.

She made an effort of hiding her smile, and her cheeks reddened slightly, but she tried to keep her voice serious. Maybe. A little.

He set up the easel and sat before it. For several seconds, he just stared at the canvas. He looked over his shoulder at his friends.

Well?

Well, what? Osmund asked.

Jez rolled his eyes. Talk to me. You have to distract me. Lina, why did you come to the Academy?

She blinked at him. Why?

Jez let out a breath. Its something to talk about.

She looked away. Can we talk about something else?

Why? Osmund asked. Whats wrong?

Its nothing. Its just that I have two older brothers and one older sister.

She went silent, and Jez looked over his shoulder at her. She was staring at the ground and refused to raise her eyes. And?

And I had nothing.

Are you serious? Jez asked. Youre a lords daughter. Youve had everything provided for you since the day you were born.

You wouldnt understand. You went from being a fishermans son to the baron over an eighth of the kingdom. My fathers lands are only twenty miles. Im the fourth child. Thane is the heir. He gets all of it as well as the t.i.tle. Heelia has already been married off. I know the person my family wanted for me. Lord Ordon is twice my age and has had three wives. My father hoped Id give him a son to strengthen his position. When I told my father I wanted to study here, he was happy. He thought that would only make me more attractive to Ordon. She snorted, though Jez could see unshed tears in her eyes. Thats not why I wanted to come, though. A full mage can decide her own future, regardless of what he said. She glanced at Osmund but looked away quickly. When I withdrew from the Academy after Ziary attacked, I thought Id be forced to marry. Thats part of the reason I went with him to court last year. He wanted me to get more seasoned at court politics. She gave Osmund a half smile. I never thanked you for that. You threw everything into chaos when you got arrested.

Youre welcome, I guess, Osmund said, but he didnt meet her eyes. Though if you remember, that wasnt exactly my choice.

His eyes wandered to the unhealable scar that ran from just beneath her right eye to the bottom of her chin. Jez could tell when she realized what Osmund was looking at, but she no longer flinched when reminded of the scar.

Lina, I had no idea, Jez said.

She gave him a forced smile. Most people dont. They think the life of the n.o.bility is so easy. What is that?

What? Jez asked.

She pointed at the canvas, and he gaped at it. A woman in a bright yellow robe faced away from them. Her steel gray hair reached halfway down her back. Her robes were ripped in several places, and she was covered in dust, as if she had just fallen and picked herself up. Immediately before her was a wide swath of blackened earth and beyond stretched a pristine meadow, shrouded in fog. Jez didnt know what gave him the impression, but he thought she was sad. His paintbrush still dripped with blue paint intended to color the sky.

Shes the afur I saw in my vision, Jez said. I think this is from when she was cast from the Keep of the Hosts.

Okay, Osmund said. How does this help us?

Im not sure it does, except maybe by telling us that we need to find her.

Do you have any idea where?

Jez shook his head. He was about to suggest trying again when the canvas tipped over onto him. The paint was still wet, and it got on his hands as he raised them to catch it. There was a high pitched growl, and Lina yelped. He threw the canvas aside and saw a creature two feet tall with long pointed ears. Its arms looked too long for its body and it waved them as it jumped up and down. Red, blue, and green scales covered its body, though the colors seemed to be scattered at random and gave the creatures hide an eye-jarring pattern. It leaped at Lina, but before it covered half the distance, Osmund threw his right hand forward, and a fist-sized ball of red flame rushed at the creature. It squealed and went up in a puff of smoke, leaving behind an acrid scent that faded after a second.

What was that? Osmund asked.

An imp, Jez said as he got to his feet. I should go down. You too, Osmund.

Why? Osmund asked.

This has to be those aftereffects Linala talked about. The spire is protected, so if an imp appeared up here, there are probably dozens of them around the Academy, and Besis will need all the help he can get.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

Dozens had been an understatement. They could barely walk ten feet without running into one of the creatures. An individual imp was a minor irritation, only slightly more dangerous than a house cat, but hundreds of them were another matter. Imps had a tendency to tinker with magical and mechanical constructs, and there were permanent workings aplenty around the Academy for them to meddle with. If the imps werent dealt with quickly, they could wreak havoc.

Everyone, aside from summoners, who had even the slightest ability with battle magic was recruited to help. Students shifted into the forms of lions or bears and prowled the streets, hunting down the spirits as if they were mice. Baluds adepts, those who had more apt.i.tude with plants than healing, worked alongside sapphire-robed students who fought with earth and water. Students of destruction flung air and fire, though those who had greater apt.i.tude with conventional weapons dispatched their fair share with steel alone.

Jez and Osmund, along with some of the more advanced students, stayed near the summoners practice house. Though the two of them held the lowest ranks of those stationed there, they had had more practical experience battling demons than almost anyone alive. Since the summoning house was the site of all the workings that had made the weakening of the boundary possible, it was the most likely location where greater threats would manifest themselves.

The pair talked idly while banishing any imps that got close enough. The rest of the students, who kept their attention focused outward toward any possible threat, constantly threw them uneasy glances, and Jez almost laughed. He and Osmund had waded through an army of deadly demons in the capital city of Rumar when the demon general Maries had been unleashed. Compared to that, this was nothing special.

Do you ever wonder why you havent been promoted to adjutant yet?

Not really, Jez said as he hurled a minor binding that banished four imps that had leaped off a nearby roof. I thought Besis would promote me when I was ready.

Osmund gaped at him. Are you serious? Jez, youre probably the most capable binder at the Academy. Some of the blue-robed students glared at him, but he huffed. Oh please. Which of you thinks youre better than he is?

Almost as one, the students of protection looked away, and Jezs face flushed. He coughed. Its not just about binding. There are three other schools of magic not to mention the conventional subjects.

I still think you shouldve been promoted. You were already at an adjutants skill when Besis made you an adept.

Jez laughed. You didnt see how close I came to failing my trial. Believe me, I wasnt ready then, and I dont think I am now.

But youre a... Osmund glanced at the other students.

Jez shook his head. Not anymore.

The ground rumbled, and the obsidian covered ground churned as if it were water. A pair of sharp horns rose out of the stone. Before the bull-shaped head had fully revealed itself, Jez idly flicked a hand. What appeared to be a ball of electric blue string shot forward and wound around the horns. The partially formed demon bellowed in pain and faded. Osmund c.o.c.ked his head.

Are you sure youre not?

Jez realized everyone was staring at him. Others had been closer to where the demon had appeared. Hed just realized what kind of binding was needed first. He waved at where the demon had been appearing. It was a minos demon. Someone who Jez couldnt see let out a laugh. You could tell by the shape of the horns. Several shook their heads and started walking away, and Jez called after them. Its not like any other kind has horns like that and manifests by coming out of the ground.

You could really tell the kind of demon just by looking at the horns? Osmund asked.

Jez looked around to make sure no one could overhear. Then, he stepped in close and spoke softly. Ive been studying what kind of demons Sharim might use.

Speaking of which, Osmund said, have you figured out what kind of demon he is?

Jez shook his head. Theres no way to be sure. I even sent back to Korand and had most of Dusans library brought here, but if he did leave a record, I couldnt find it.