The thought of Gennivel Quent and Merriel Addysen lent Ivy a new strength. They They had not known what they were when the trees called to them, but Ivy did. The voices of the trees, though still a roar in her ears, no longer overwhelmed her own thoughts. had not known what they were when the trees called to them, but Ivy did. The voices of the trees, though still a roar in her ears, no longer overwhelmed her own thoughts.

"Mrs. Quent!" she heard Mr. Rafferdy's voice behind her. "You must come away from there!"

She shook her head. "Not yet," she murmured, and once again she laid her hands upon the tree.

This time, while the sensations were no less powerful than before, she was not subsumed in them, and it was not their will that shaped her thoughts, but rather her own.

There is no peril to the wood. The man who set the fire is gone. The flames cannot reach through the wall. The men beyond are putting out the blaze. You must not harm them. There is no peril to the wood....

Again and again she repeated these thoughts, over and over. She encircled the tree with her arms. She pressed her cheek to the roughness of its bark and felt the violent shudder of its throes. The noise of the trees filled her head, so that she could not hear herself think. All the same, she kept repeating the words in her mind, until at last she fell into a kind of stupor in which she heard nothing, and saw nothing, and thought nothing at all.

"Mrs. Quent?"

"There is no peril to the wood," she murmured through dry lips. "The man who set the fire is gone...."

"Mrs. Quent, can you hear me? Are you harmed?"

With great effort Ivy opened her eyelids a crack. She saw a circle of pale light, and in the midst of it the dark shape of a man, like one of Lady Crayford's silhouettes. of pale light, and in the midst of it the dark shape of a man, like one of Lady Crayford's silhouettes.

"Mrs. Quent?"

She blinked, and the silhouette resolved into the familiar sight of Mr. Rafferdy. He crouched beside her at the base of the tree, where she must have collapsed. On his face was a peculiar expression: wrought at once with concern and, she thought, a keen curiosity.

Ivy craned her neck, looking upward. Above, the boughs of the Old Ash were motionless. The air of the grove was heavy and still.

"They've stopped," Mr. Rafferdy said, looking upward as well. "All of the trees have, as far as I can tell. Yet I do not know why they should have ceased their movements."

"Don't you?" she said, lowering her gaze to look at him.

He met her look, held it, and after a moment she saw understanding blossom in his eyes. And now that he understood, he would recoil from her as if from the most loathsome thing, and she would never in her life see him again, unless it was as her accuser before a magistrate.

Only he didn't do these things. Instead, he took her hands in his own and helped her regain her feet. She was dizzy for a moment, then her head cleared a bit. She could not bear to look at him now, so instead she brushed the leaf litter from her gown.

"You are full of many surprises, Mrs. Quent. Now I wonder what you did that day at your father's house when the magicians saw fit to put me under an enchantment. I had thought the orb itself did them in all of its own, but I suppose that's not the case."

She plucked a small twig from her gown and held it in her fingers. "The stand that held the Eye was made out of Wyrdwood. My father believed that there was some power of the wood of the Old Trees that helped it to resist and contain the influence of the orb. Only, the Wyrdwood the stand was made of had another power as well, one that I was able to awaken."

"Ah," he said. And then, after a moment, "Ah!"

Yes, he understood now. There was no more use in hiding what she was. With a thought she awakened the bit of life that still lingered within the twig, causing it to coil around her finger like a tiny brown serpent. Then she willed herself to look up at him. lingered within the twig, causing it to coil around her finger like a tiny brown serpent. Then she willed herself to look up at him.

"I am sorry, Mr. Rafferdy. I know in the past you have regarded me with affection. For you to now discover such a thing about me-I can only imagine what a horror you must be suffering."

"Why should I suffer a horror? Because you have some peculiar ability that most others do not?" He raised his right hand. The blue gem of his House ring shone dimly in the gloom of the grove. "If that was the case, I should have to be horrified of myself, don't you think? And as I am sure you are aware, Mrs. Quent, I am in fact rather fond of myself."

Ivy could hardly believe this reply. "But in history, witches have always been regarded as the most abhorrent beings!"

He gave a shrug. "You know how little I read, Mrs. Quent, and how ignorant of history I am. I suppose it's true that men have always had a wish to keep women from having any sort of influence over affairs. I am sure this is because, in general, women possess superior sense compared to men. If they were to have greater strength as well, then men would have no advantage over women whatsoever."

His gaze went to the tree behind her. Then he looked at her again, and the hint of a smile curved his mouth. "All the same, I cannot help but think that if anyone in this kingdom should have power, it should be you you, Mrs. Quent. If we were all under your benevolent influence, I have no doubt Altania would be the better for it."

Ivy could form no response to these words. Her heart had swelled, leaving no room in her chest for her to draw in a breath. So she squeezed his hand instead, and only let go when she at last had to wipe a dampness from her cheek.

"Oh, Mr. Rafferdy!" she was able to say at last.

Now he did appear uncomfortable, and he quickly turned away. "We had better go. The others will be concerned for us."

He stooped to retrieve the ivory-handled knife from the ground and put it in his coat pocket. Then he moved back through the pa.s.sage. For a moment Ivy felt a compulsion not to follow and to remain in the grove. She ignored the sensation and moved after him. follow and to remain in the grove. She ignored the sensation and moved after him.

They emerged on the other side of the wall. The smoke was now only a thin blue veil upon the air; the men must have succeeded in putting out the blaze. At once, Mr. Rafferdy began speaking words of magick.

As he did, a coppery glint caught Ivy's eye. She bent down and picked up something from the ground. It was a gilded b.u.t.ton, and by its shiny surface and lack of tarnish it had not lain here long. One of the soldiers must have lost it while running to and fro by the wall. A fear came over her, but when she glanced around she saw no one in sight.

"There, it is shut," Mr. Rafferdy said.

Ivy looked and saw that the red blocks had indeed reappeared in the wall, sealing the opening. The runes flickered crimson for a moment, then they faded and were gone.

"Let us hurry," he said. "I am sure our parties are wondering what has became of us."

This received no argument from Ivy. She took his arm, and they started back through the gra.s.s and poppies. They had gone only a little way when they saw Captain Branfort striding toward them across the field. His short, st.u.r.dy legs moved swiftly, and he was quickly upon them. His blue coat was open, and his face and shirt were smudged with soot.

"By G.o.d, I am glad to find you!" he exclaimed. "We were all of us in a dread when I returned to the carriages and learned you were missing. Where were you?"

"We could not see for all the smoke and got turned around," Mr. Rafferdy said, his tone so easy and convincing that Ivy nearly believed him. "Once it began to clear we discovered we had quite gone the wrong way. Is the fire out?"

"Yes, the men got a train of buckets going from the water tower. It's all extinguished now."

"That must be what calmed the trees in the Evengrove."

Captain Branfort frowned as he regarded him. "Indeed, what else could possibly have done it?"

"Nothing, of course," Mr. Rafferdy replied quickly. "I am very glad a Rising was averted."

"Was it averted? Three men have lost their lives today." The captain shook his head. "Forgive me, now is not the time to discuss such things. Come, Lady Quent-Lady Crayford and the others will be very glad to see you."

He extended his arm. While this was a gallant gesture, it was another's arm Ivy might have preferred to lean upon. Instead, she accepted the one proffered and let Captain Branfort lead her across the field while Mr. Rafferdy walked alongside.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE.

ELDYN PICKED A bit of lint from the sleeve of his gray coat, then looked in the small silver mirror to check the arrangement of his hair. He ought to do his best to make a good impression, for it had been many months since he had last had occasion to see Lady Quent. Indeed, she had not even been a Lady Lady when he saw her last. when he saw her last.

Now she was one, and her husband a Sir Sir, and he had no doubt there would be all manner of fine beings in attendance at the party that night to see the remaining Miss Lockwells introduced. To a degree, he had been astonished when the invitation arrived for him several lumenals ago. If she had not deemed him to be of a station suitable to the affair, he could neither have argued nor taken offense. Yet her note had been written in the warmest fashion; and in it she had expressed a fond hope that he would attend the party, and also that he should bring any guest he liked.

Such a considerate invitation could only be accepted, and he wrote back to express his thanks and a.s.sure her he would indeed attend. Now Eldyn had to hope his gray coat was fashionable enough, and that he would not seem out of place or bring discredit to Lady Quent with his appearance. He saw that a lock of his hair had escaped the ribbon behind his neck, and he started to tuck it back. Then it occurred to him that it was not only Lady Quent he would be seeing for the first time in a long while, but also her sisters-including the youngest one. attend. Now Eldyn had to hope his gray coat was fashionable enough, and that he would not seem out of place or bring discredit to Lady Quent with his appearance. He saw that a lock of his hair had escaped the ribbon behind his neck, and he started to tuck it back. Then it occurred to him that it was not only Lady Quent he would be seeing for the first time in a long while, but also her sisters-including the youngest one.

Perhaps, he thought, it would be good not to look too too well. He left the stray lock as it was, and turned from the mirror. well. He left the stray lock as it was, and turned from the mirror.

"Are you sure you won't change your mind, dearest?" he said. Sashie sat by the window, reading her copy of the Testament in the dwindling light of the brief day. "I'm certain you would have a very good time at the party."

"I am certain I would have no such thing!" she said, not lifting her eyes from the book. "For I have little doubt that there will be young ladies there dressed in all the vile sorts of gowns that are popular these days, and young men begging them to engage in the most lurid dances, such as one can hardly imagine are permitted in public. I know propriety requires you you to attend no matter how shameful it is, dear brother, given your prior a.s.sociation with these people. Yet you must know it would be the most wicked thing for me to attend such an affair." She turned a page of the Testament; the edges of its papers were growing frayed. to attend no matter how shameful it is, dear brother, given your prior a.s.sociation with these people. Yet you must know it would be the most wicked thing for me to attend such an affair." She turned a page of the Testament; the edges of its papers were growing frayed.

Eldyn was vexed with this reply, though far from surprised. She had made her case against attending very strongly the day the invitation arrived. All the same, he had hoped she might reconsider. He thought it would be a great benefit for Sashie to engage in the society of other young ladies. It would give her an opportunity to see that just because they wore pretty dresses and smiled did not mean they were not in every way respectable.

It was difficult to reproach the avidness with which she had engaged in her activities at Graychurch these last months. Then again, a virtue pursued to the exclusion of all else is no such thing, and it was high time for his sister to begin thinking in a practical manner about her future. It had been a while since Mr. Fantharp had inquired about her, and Eldyn feared that, without any reciprocation, the man might give up. Going to the party and seeing other young women vying for the interest of eligible young men, he had hoped, might awaken a similar and natural compulsion in Sashie. the man might give up. Going to the party and seeing other young women vying for the interest of eligible young men, he had hoped, might awaken a similar and natural compulsion in Sashie.

However, there was no use in arguing. She had bent back over the book, her face sharp and colorless in the wan light. Besides, how could he have taken her anyway? Yesterday he had looked inside her wardrobe to see what gown she might wear to the party, only to discover she had thrown away all of the pretty dresses he had bought her. All that remained were those plain, ash-colored garments she wore every day to the church.

Resigned, he went to her and kissed her cheek. "It is probably best if you do not wait up for me, dearest."

"If I am up in the night, it will be only to pray."

"Pray?" he said, startled. "For what?"

She did not answer, and instead turned another page of the Testament. He left the little apartment, shutting the door behind him, and went out into the cooling evening.

It would be best to take a hack cab later tonight, for the affair would no doubt end late. Thus he had decided to save paying a fare twice and walk to the party. The air was gentle, and it was not very far. He made his way past the cathedral and soon turned onto the east end of Durrow Street.

"Penny for a paper!" a boy cried, holding a broadsheet. "Today's copy of The Fox The Fox-only a few left!"

Such was the way the boy waved the newspaper that Eldyn could not help but read the headline. EVENGROVE W WATCH C CONTINUES, claimed the headline, and beneath that in large type, No Persons Allowed Near Madiger's Wall No Persons Allowed Near Madiger's Wall. Taking up much of the rest of the front page was an image of a high stone wall before a ragged line of treetops. Even in the dimming light, the picture was rendered so vividly it seemed to glow with its own light, and Eldyn knew it had to be an impression.

How some illusionists mastered the trick-holding an engraving plate and willing upon it the image of some scene in their mind-was one Eldyn did not comprehend. As far as he knew, only a few Siltheri had the capability to do such a thing. No one at the Theater of the Moon could work such a feat, not even Dercy. However, at tavern one night after a performance, he had met a young illusionist from the Theater of Mirrors who made a good bit of money selling his work to the various broadsheets. only a few Siltheri had the capability to do such a thing. No one at the Theater of the Moon could work such a feat, not even Dercy. However, at tavern one night after a performance, he had met a young illusionist from the Theater of Mirrors who made a good bit of money selling his work to the various broadsheets.

Would that Eldyn could make impressions, for then he would be able to save portions for himself and Sashie all the sooner! But he could not, so instead of making money he would instead save it by forgoing a paper.

Not that there was any need to read more than the words of the headline. The news of the happening at the Evengrove had been shocking. It was one thing to hear of Risings in Torland; it was quite another to have such a thing take place so near the city. However, in the quarter month since then, there had been no more news, nor did he expect any. No doubt the soldiers would keep any other mad individuals from attempting to light fires and provoke the trees.

He waved the boy aside, walked around Beanore's fountain, and continued down the length of Durrow Street-from the direction of the theaters, and past houses that grew larger and more ancient as he went. Many of these edifices were dilapidated shadows of the grand edifices they had been in the days when this was the fashionable part of the city, before the New Quarter was constructed.

Before too long, though, near the end of the street, he approached a dwelling whose windows were ablaze in the gloaming, and which appeared not the worse for its ancientness, but rather all the more handsome and majestic. The house was set off from the street by a wild garden and bordered by hedges and a fence of wrought iron, which lent it almost the appearance of some keep in the moorland. Eldyn gave his coat a tug to straighten it, then started toward the gate in the fence.

His way was blocked as, from out of the dusky air, Dercy manifested with a flourish and a grin.

"I was wondering when you would appear," Eldyn said.

Dercy laughed. "And I was wondering when you were going to notice me. I've been following you for half a mile!"

"Oh?" Eldyn said, affecting a bored tone. "I hadn't bothered to look."

Dercy gave him an affectionate punch in the arm. "Don't pretend you weren't surprised when I showed up just now."

In fact, Eldyn wasn't surprised. The other night he had told Dercy about the party, how he could bring a guest, and how he was disappointed that his sister was refusing to attend. Given this, and what he knew about Dercy, Eldyn would have been more surprised if he hadn't hadn't appeared, his beard trimmed, his blond hair rakishly tousled, and wearing his most dashing coat. appeared, his beard trimmed, his blond hair rakishly tousled, and wearing his most dashing coat.

"Besides, you should look about when you go out walking at twilight," Dercy went on. "There's no telling who might be prowling up behind you with the most awful of intentions. You don't want to be the next to go missing, do you?"

Though the evening was balmy, Eldyn could not help a shudder. Just yesterday there had been whispers on Durrow Street of another illusionist who had not shown up at his theater for a performance and had not been seen since. True, he may have simply left the city to escape a bad debt or return home to the country. Or he might wash up on the sh.o.r.es of the Anbyrn, his eyes gone from his skull.

"You shouldn't make a jest about such things," Eldyn said.

Dercy's grin went dark in the gloom. "You're right. It was a poor joke. Why don't you let me make it up to you by buying you a cup of punch before we go to the party?"

"You can't expect that I'm taking you to Lady Quent's affair!" Eldyn exclaimed. "You will embarra.s.s me, I have no doubt."

"On the contrary, I will save you from embarra.s.sing yourself. Indeed, I already have. You were about to approach the gate, and the sun has only just set. Everyone knows a formal affair starts an hour after sunset."

Eldyn hadn't known that fact, but he did not want to admit it. "I did not wish to be late."

"That's your second error," Dercy said, grinning again. "The most desirable guests to a party always come late. Indeed, the more desirable they are, then the later they come. Therefore, if we wait a good while, everyone will wonder who we are and wish to speak with us when we do arrive, believing us to be very important personages." more desirable they are, then the later they come. Therefore, if we wait a good while, everyone will wonder who we are and wish to speak with us when we do arrive, believing us to be very important personages."

Eldyn looked past Dercy at the house. It was true that he did not yet see any carriages out front or people approaching the gate.

"All right," he said. "You can buy me a punch while I wait. But you are not coming with me to the party!"

"Whatever you say, my lord," Dercy said with a mock bow, then rose and held out his arm.

Eldyn hooked his elbow around his companion's, glad the matter was settled.

"Except I am am coming," Dercy said with a laugh, and he pulled Eldyn down the street in the direction of the nearest tavern. coming," Dercy said with a laugh, and he pulled Eldyn down the street in the direction of the nearest tavern.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO.

IVY COULD NOT be startled when the door of her bedchamber suddenly burst open, for even the most violent and abrupt noise lost its ability to induce alarm if it occurred often enough.

"My new pink ribbon has gone missing!" Lily exclaimed as if Murghese soldiers were storming the walls of the house. "I've looked everywhere and I can't find it."

"Have you looked in Rose's hair?" Ivy said without glancing up from the broadsheet she was looking at as she sat near the window. "That is likely where it is, as you told her this morning at breakfast that she could wear it."

"Nonsense," Lily roared. "Why would I ever have done such a ridiculous thing?"