Divinis Wenrick's old eyes gazed at me, his silvery brown hair falling across his eyebrows, his mouth in a line. Silence coursed between us and my shaking hands struggled with undoing the knot I'd tied in the showy red sash. He wasn't scared or angry. He was disgusted and weary all at once, like he'd come across a rotting carcass in the middle of a road he needed to pass that had to be moved.

"Emerge from beneath, hands bound by thine own wreath—" A deafening crash came as the door slammed open. I was being yanked toward the edge of the bed, my scrambling feet not gaining purchase on the floor. My sash had twisted, knotting around my wrists. Divinis Wenrick's face was gone. Yet I was still drifting roughly to the edge of my cover.

A thud of the door, heavy footsteps.

"Sir Osoro?" Divinis Wenrick asked, sounding confused.

Relief mingled with the unease of my drifting body.

"Why is it so bright... never mind. I heard what happened," Osoro said. "Winsor's not in any state for casting, but he's stable. You didn't, I mean, you wouldn't dare with so many witnesses and Arcana Enforcement right under your nose, it would have been unwise—"

The light faded. It went dark again, Divinis Wenrick dropping the spell.

"Arcana Enforcement has agreed to keep their beaks out of my business, so they are not a concern even if I had. But, no, I didn't. There was no need to." Divinis Wenrick cut Osoro off. "He didn't die this time. He was exhausted and injured from battling. Azeria's kiss and a warm bed was all he needed. My servants are keeping piping tea next to his bedside, closely watching to ensure there are no attempts to poison him."

"How did he reach the point of frost shock? He's usually so cautious with those mittens and those heavy cloaks..."

My head was forcefully dragged from under the bed in time to see Sir Osoro tug thoughtlessly at his pony tail, tightening it with both hands. It had been loose, and stray hairs still fell around his face and framed it. He wasn't in his armor, just a finely made tunic he was wearing earlier at the cabaret, and despite the embroidery of golden thread, he was smaller and less powerful than he ever had been before. His smooth face was ashen.

Wenrick shook his head.

"It's unclear. He was exhausted and untalkative but I was able to gather that he was out exploring the disturbance at the old Reglarun ancestor ruins." He glowered at Osoro. "Something I thought the Avalons would have attended to already, considering all the people that have gone missing."

"There are only the four of us and the Age Day festival has been keeping us quite busy," Osoro said, his face churlish but his tone respectful. "In my defense, I've a habit of looking the other way in cases similar to this one on your behalf, Enchanted One."

The Divinis reached out and slapped Osoro. Osoro didn't stagger, though he winced. He stared at the Divinis. The soft, red spot on his cheek feathered at the edge, before quickly fading into the tan skin. The perfect image of controlled obedience.

"Enchanted One?" he asked belligerently, although his face had already resumed its usual magic perfection. "On what account do you assault me?"

Wenrick stood still, uncertain of what to do. I realized that he was trying to avoid looking at me, but in so intentionally avoiding it, he did. I was now emerged from the bed fully. I moved my arms and legs freely. I stood. For some reason, I was why he slapped Sir Osoro. But why...? What had he said to warrant such a response?

Wenrick jerked his arm, pointing at me.

"Winsor was brought back to the manor with that man over there carrying him."

"I shall heal him and thank the gentlemen that saved his life." Osoro eyes went wide as our gazes locked. "You? That makes sense. You were with him at the cabaret, though..." Osoro said. "You're also the friend of the Giant."

Wenrick turned. I shrunk, then cleared my throat and straightened my back. Sir Osoro was here. Whatever designs Wenrick's mind had on me were now moot. Sir Osoro would hear the truth and enforce it to save me. Yet his voice was distant. Unconcerned.

"That's right. My business partner, Mallow. She's gone missing and Winsor and I were out searching for her. We heard that there was some disturbances down at the ruins, so we decided to check there for a lack of any better leads."

"Isn't that ironic." His hand covered his mouth as he tried to hide a laugh. The Divinis shot a sideways glare of contempt at him.

"Ironic?" I asked. "Why?"

Divinis Wenrick waved a hand at Osoro. "Leave."

"Why do you want Osoro to leave?" I asked with alarm. "I'm not done telling him what happened."

"Yes, we have much to discuss. I don't think I'll be leaving you alone with him, Divinis," Osoro said. He gestured for me to move behind him, and I took a quick step in that direction. He was muscular, and it was easy for me to hide behind him if I crouched a little.

"Sir Osoro, this is my city and you will listen to my orders while you are in it. Stop obstructing me."

"It's one thing to do what you like with a non-human, or to do it to keep your son alive, but this man is innocent... Well... Not innocent." Osoro frowned, annoyed. "He has a criminal record as a confidence trickster. But innocent of attempting murder at any case. Which is the only crime I suspect you are concerned with."

"If he's innocent, why does he hide? What danger is he in from discussing things with me? You obey, he stays, and this is all resolved neatly. You may even go back to your dance. Go on, enjoy yourself this evening. I won't hurt him unjustly." The Divinis's voice was silken. In the window formed between his sleeve and his doublet, I saw the door, open a few inches.

"There's no other reason for you to request privacy. I must at least hear the charges before I condemn this man by my mere absence."

"As if you care for him."

"He's a nuisance and a criminal," Osoro said. He laughed once, a flat 'hah.' "But Avalons care for all citizens, even those that are wicked. We care about the greatest good and I do not think anymore good will enter the world from me leaving him in your care, quite the opposite." He shifted, stepping sideways and crossing his arms over his chest. The Divinis was hidden from my view as Sir Osoro stared at him.

"Is this your way of asking me to finally write that recommendation to the Academy that you should be reassigned to some outlying village, futilely fighting back waves of plague? Armor covered in leprosied flesh, blood, and mucus is more honorable than any jewel. You could do more good there than a luxurious city like Blythe. Yes, I think that's exactly how I'll start the letter to the Academy if you insist on disobeying me," the Divinis threatened.

His feet shuffled as he tried to see over Osoro, but Osoro, taller and more muscular, moved with ease to block him. I grinned. Sir Osoro may have left me, like he did in the alley, if it had only been about my safety. But the Divinis had attacked the pride of a vain peacock like Sir Osoro; now Osoro had to defy him out of spite. My safety was now his honor.

"You're not uttering a syllable against this man until I understand what he's done that it so deserving of punishment. Being inconvenient is not a crime."

I spied around the room, realizing that Osoro was buying me time. I would need a distraction to get out, the mere sound of a door opening was impossible to miss, giving Wenrick a chance to chase me and cast.

"Fine time for you to grow concern with harm to innocence," Divinis Wenrick said.

"This isn't in service of the greater good," Osoro said, his voice edged with guilt even as he accused. "You're being irrationally sadistic, why?"

"He's the one who hurt Winsor! This isn't for my pleasure; this is punishment."

"You sound ridiculous! He's nothing more than a two bit con man. He might try to swindle Winsor out of some gold, but his record is clean; he's never hurt anyone like this." His tone was pleading as he gestured with his hands for emphasis. "In fact, only earlier this evening in the cabaret he helped endear Winsor to the locals. Even more, the fish girl they rescued from the tower is telling everyone how Winsor is a hero. Tonight, I can feel it spreading, a hesitant excitement. Because of Azark, for the first time in years, the people in this town are speaking well of your heir. You should be thanking Azark. In spite everything, he is the closest thing the pathetic creature that passes for your son has to a friend—"

"Quiet!" the Divinis roared. "How dare you speak of Winsor in such a way on his Age Day!"

"How dare you attempt to take the life of a man from whom you've already taken so much? Have the years truly withered away your conscience so much that you cannot comprehend how abominable you are being?"

"You know in this matter I have no choice! To pretend Azark has no motive is to be childishly naive."

Osoro's muscles relaxed. I needed to get out of here. Divinis Wenrick was working Osoro over to his way of thinking. I felt it in the air. Like when I wore someone down on an unreasonable, irrational sale of a potion. They didn't need it. Their instincts told them it wouldn't work. And yet, if I said the right words...

Osoro's tone was more gentle as he continued.

"You think he found out?"

"Of course he found out! There would be no other reason to bother with earning Winsor's trust and luring him into isolation, besides revenge!"

"Even if he knew the story, he wouldn't act like this. It makes no sense..." Osoro said, his hands now patting the air to calm the Divinis. "If this was revenge, it's because he misunderstood."

Misunderstood what? The Divinis caught me, jolting me to the side. He started to chant.

"Lanky man of blonde hair, of you I—"

Osoro strode forward and shoved Divinis Wenrick into the open wardrobe. Wenrick hit the hanging clothes harmlessly, the wooden hangers clattering as a few fell. Divinis Wenrick didn't even lose his footing, but Osoro shouted, hands on either side of the Divinis, inevitably filling his vision of nothing but the angered Avalon.

"And if he misunderstood and Winsor got hurt as a result, well, it's your fault! Just like last time." Osoro's words made me shake, and he wasn't even yelling at me. The Divinis tried to stand up, but Osoro slammed a hand into his chest, pushing him deeper into the folds of the clothes. "I told you the least destructive, most egalitarian way to go about this scheme of yours, and you ignored me!" The tone bordered on shrill. Now Osoro was angry, emotional, irrational-seeming. "You cannot stand before me and try to cast a man into death and think I will do nothing. I am not your Assistant. I am not your servant. I am not yours. I am an Avalon."

I grabbed another candle holder, this one off a small mirrored vanity, and edged toward the door. I wanted to ask questions. I needed to ask questions. But there was a flow going, a leaking of information that neither man could stop with their passions ignited so. If I spoke up, I'd risk plugging that leak, restoring their inhibitions. Also, if the Divinis was found dead, I didn't want Osoro pinning the blame on me. He'd have nothing to lose by lying if he'd already lost his magic.

"See what he did to my boy!"

"We only need to wait for Winsor to wake up; he'll tell us what happened! You are so eager for blood you cannot wait a few simple hours?"

"I needn't Winsor to tell me; I know." The Divinis sounded humbled. He was no longer shouting, throwing spit into the air. He talked into his own chest. "A parent knows. That man is not his friend. No one is Winsor's friend; he can only be his enemy. Wish as I might that this is not the case, you and I both know it is true."

"The only truth I am certain of at this moment is that I should have reported you to Arcana Enforcement the first time you decided to meddle in Azark's life. Now you are leaving me with little choice. Relent, or else..."

"Then I'd report you too!" the Divinis said. His words were heavy. He didn't need to shout. Osoro's elbows relaxed. He took a step back. He reacted more strongly to these words than to the slap. "And we'd both be in trouble, wouldn't we?"

I felt the handle of the door in my free hand.

"Think you could stand the idea of facing justice anymore then I could?" the Divinis continued. "Sir Osoro?"

"I have always done what is right. Even if your sorcerer courts find me in fault, the Academy will understand." He lowered his voice. "The same cannot be said of you."

"If you had a family, you'd understand, Osoro. If you had a family, you'd do anything..." He saw me open the door. Our eyes met. They weren't angry. "...to protect them."

I dodged behind the door and slammed it shut. I ran, my mind racing. Through the servant's hall, past the kitchen, out the small door with the tiny rectangular window. In the garden, I stood. I rolled behind some bushes, beside the bed of tulips I'd crushed. I darted to one of the side gates. It was locked, but the wrought iron bars were easy to grip with their decorative leaf patterning. The garden party was gone. It was quiet. I hoisted myself up then slipped. I fell down to the ground. The smell of the trees overwhelmed me. It made me sick. It was only a matter of moments until the Divinis got here. Until he killed me. Until Osoro let him.

"Help," I pleaded. "Help!"