Five just stared at him, looking upset.
“Curse me to the seven hells.” Tarquin smacked his hand over his eyes. “You can’t speak or write and you can barely remember anything and I just asked you someone’s name. I’m an idiot.” He dropped his hand. “It doesn’t matter. I was just thinking we could use as many magicians as we could get right now, so if you knew where they were…”
Five shook his head again.
“Never mind. It’s not important,” Tarquin said quickly. He stretched out his hand to Five. “Please come back and let me finish.”
Five climbed onto the bed and gave Tarquin his hand.
Tarquin started cutting again. “It must be so hard, not being able to speak,” he said after a long moment. He smirked humorlessly. “I think I’d go crazy.”
Five didn’t respond for long enough that Tarquin sta
