After taking another sip of coffee, I smiled sweetly at him and said, “Then I hope the spell works. When are you going to try? Tonight again?”
“No,” he replied after a slight pause, as though trying to gauge whether my comment required a pithy response. “I’ll do it at three this afternoon. It’s not as strong a time as three in the morning, but the number has a power of its own, one that should help with the summoning.”
“Okay.” I hesitated for a moment, then asked, “And what am I going to do during all this? Are you going to lock me up in my room to make sure I don’t screw up your summoning again?”
“The thought had crossed my mind, but it’s probably better to keep you where I can see you. That said, I’m going to tie you to a chair so you can’t possibly interfere with what I’m doing.”
“S
