Richard saw them first. “Ah, Captain Thomas! Have you completed your mission, then?”
“We have,” said Thomas, looking to Henry. “It’s done.”
“I’m glad,” said Richard. “Though I am curious as to who that prisoner is you’ve brought.”
“A magician,” said Thomas. “He was making the fire rods.”
“I see.”
“There were two of them, you know,” said Thomas. “One who drained the magic out of people, the other who put it into the fire rods.”
“And how do you know this?” asked Richard.
“Because they drained the magic out of me,” said Thomas. “Repeatedly.”
“And you didn’t fight them?” asked Richard.
“I was about to try,” said Thomas. “It was fortunate Henry and the others came to my rescue. I don’t think I would have survived the attempt.”
Richard smiled. “But you would have tried anyway?”
“They
