“If you need a ride back to your shop,” Brahm said, “I’ll have one of my men bring the carriage for you.”

“Niffin,” she said, “did you manage to find the things you needed to make your special medicine?” Cringing, she pressed her fingers to her forehead.

He slid down from the saddle and reached into his bag. “I did.” He withdrew what looked like a cigarette tin and popped it open. Snugged together inside were several long cylinders of paper that, indeed, appeared to be cigarettes. He selected one, tucked the tin into his coat pocket, and presented it to Brigette. “Djageesh, my lady.”

She arched a black eyebrow. “More smoke?”

“This is nothing like mordid.” He stepped to the gaslight and opened one glass pane. He touched his cigarette tip to the flame then offered it to Brigette. “Draw deeply. The first breath will burn. The second not so much. By the third, your pain should ease.”

Brigette pursed her lips around the djageesh. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and coughed harshly and sharply as she exhaled a cloud of smoke that smelled of pine and sour cabbage.

“Ugh.” Wrinkling my nose, I waved the smoke away. “Anything that smells that bad must be good for you.”

Niffin waved at Brigette. “Another.”

She complied, sucking down another huge lungful that she exhaled with less trouble.

“Once more.” Niffin waggled a finger at her.

After her third dose, the pinched look on her face relaxed. Her eyes drooped and she gave us a lazy smile. “Oh... my....”

“See?” Niffin grinned. “What did I tell you?”

“I apologize for ever doubting.”

“It is not a cure.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I’m afraid a cure might mean giving up my Magic.”

“You wouldn’t be willing to trade Magic for a life free from pain?” I asked.

She gave me a hard look, eyes glinting. “If I did, then how could I ever be the court Magician for the Lady of Thunder?”

Flinching, I gasped.

“What are you saying?” Brahm asked the question I was too stunned to voice.

Ignoring him, Brigette looked at me. “I’m coming with you, Evie.”

I scrubbed my face, wiping away my surprise. “You know what I’m going to be asking you to do. Are you sure you want to put yourself through it?”

“Contrary to your first impression of me, I’m not interested in spending the rest of my days wasting away.” Her good humor faded. “I’m not actually doing this for you, though. I hope you understand that. I’m doing this for me. I have to get out of Steinerland now, before it’s too late. Before I die in a godsforsaken back room of some dusty old medicine shop.”

“What about your shop?” Brahm asked. “You’re just going to walk away?”

“Wasn’t my shop. Just worked there when I could manage to stand up and see straight.” She shrugged. “The owner will find someone better to take my place. Herbs were never my strongest suit, anyway.”

“What is your strongest suit?” I asked.

Her smile was like a jackal’s, and I realized that, all evening, I had been surrounded by a pack of predators. She waggled her fingers, and all the gaslights turned violet then proceeded through the rainbow’s entire spectrum before flaming bright and brilliant white. Then all went dark.

The horses neighed in harmony.

Owl hoots joined in, punctuating the equine song with a soft, ghostly tempo.

Tree branches swayed, winds danced, and stars swirled overhead in brilliant sparks of light.

Brigette swept her arm wide and dipped into a deep, deep bow. “It’s whatever you need it to be, my lady. I’m at your service.”

Our priority was to get as far away from the Schulze estate as fast as possible. Travelling on a main roadway was chancy, but it allowed us to ride hard and fast. Although with two of our horses carrying extra riders, we ran only as fast as Khosha and Adaleiz allowed. When we reached the southern outskirts of Steinerland, Brahm left the road and led us into the forest’s absolute darkness.

“Brigette,” he said, “I hate to ask you, especially since you don’t work for me or owe me a thing, but could you give us a bit of light? Something not too obvious from the road.”

Brigette, riding pillion behind me, shifted. A moment later a small globe of red light popped into existence, floating above the ground at the horses’ shoulders.

“Why are we stopping here?” I asked.

Brahm reached into an interior cloak pocket, withdrew a large leather pouch, and tossed it at me. I caught it with an oomph.

“That’s not enough money to buy you a navy or an army,” he said, “but it should be plenty to keep you comfortable on your journey back to Inselgrau and anywhere else you may need to go along the way.”

Such as wherever the Council of Magic was located. My heart sank. When Brahm had said he was coming with me, I hadn’t questioned his intent. Apparently, he’d meant he was coming to see me safely out of Steinerland but no farther, and I couldn’t ask him for more. He’d given me so much already. I swallowed thickly, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat. “I’ll miss you, Brahm.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Evie.”

I swatted his shoulder. “I’m not lying. Those knuckles of yours could come in handy.”

He chuckled. “I can’t promise you my knuckles, but if you run into any more trouble and need my help, send me a note. I’ll do my best to come through for you.”

I hefted up the huge bag of coins. How had such a thing ever fit in his pocket? “I think you’ve done enough.”

“Good luck, Lady Thunder. Claim your throne. You deserve it.”

“I’m not sure I do, but I’ll try every day to be worthy. And despite what your sister may think, I’ll keep my word. My fight with Daeg wasn’t meant to happen tonight, but I haven’t forgotten our agreement. I will honor it.”

Brahm held out his big hand to me. I took it, and he squeezed my fingers gently.

“When the time is right.” His gaze flickered to Niffin and Malita. “It was a pleasure to meet you both. No one will believe I hosted a Fantazike in my home.”

Niffin bowed his head. “Thank you for having us, although I would prefer that no one else knew I had been there.”

Brahm gave Niffin an uncharacteristically sweet smile. “Then it shall be my secret.” Pressing his heel against his horse, he clicked his tongue and shifted his weight. The huge stallion trotted forward, carrying Brahm out of the woods. “Safe travels,” he called as he left.

“The gods’ blessings be with you,” I replied.

We watched him ride away until his shadow faded into the night. I glanced over my shoulder at Brigette. “So where do we go next?”

“Why are you asking me?”