“I believe he will leave the decision in Severn’s hands.”
“You are certain?”
“I am never completely confident when it comes to second-guessing the Emperor—but accepting that, yes, I am certain.”
Helmat nodded and relaxed.
“You were worried.”
“I was.”
“And you are not now.”
“If the decision is the private’s, no. This might work to our advantage.”
“You cannot send him out on any mission of any difficulty while simultaneously forcing him to attend the Imperial Mages.”
“No. No,” Helmat said, rising, “I can’t. But it’s been a long time since the Wolves have had a mage—however insignificant he might be—of our own. He can take both our classes and the Imperium’s initial classes; I will keep him off the streets unless a situation arises that demands his presence.”
“He’s a private.”
“Exactly.”
“He was given this case as a private on probation.”
Helmat shrugged.
“You don’t believe he will choose the greater power?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Helmat met Elluvian’s gaze. “Magic is a tool.”
“It is a more significant tool than daggers or swords.”
“To you, yes. Severn Handred is not you.”
“He is not Helmat Marlin, either.”
“No—but closer. I will not give him to the Imperium.”
Elluvian shook his head. “You will give him the choice.”
“Indeed.”
EPILOGUE
For the third time, Severn Handred stood outside of the closedgates that led to—and protected—the Tha’alani quarter. He had made no request to visit; he understood that his part in the events—past and present—in which the Tha’alani were embroiled was done.
His understanding, however, had clearly been imperfect; he’d received an invitation to visit from the Tha’alani castelord. He expected that this time, there would be no attempted murder.
The invitation, delivered by Rosen, had caused minor upset in the office—but not nearly the level of upset his first visit to the High Halls had caused. Rosen looked at him with something close to pity—sympathy was too high a target. She had never asked for permission to visit the Tha’alani quarter, and she had never looked at the post-mission information retrieval with anything other than dread.
Dread and acceptance.
“Helmat isn’t worried,” Rosen had added.