He shrugs. “Some tricks may be lost to time. But I grant that mortal food does possess a great deal of substance.”
The waitress comes back with hot coffees, and I warm my hands on the cup while the Barn orders fried pickles and buffalo wings, a burger, and a milkshake. I order an omelet with mushrooms and something called pepper jack cheese.
“So,” says the Barn. “When will you tell the king about his mother?”
“She doesn’t want me to,” I say.
The Barn frowns. “You’ve made improvements in the Court of Shadows. You’re young, but you’re ambitious in the way that perhaps only the young can be. I judge you by three things and three things only—how square you are with us, how capable, and what you want for the world.”
“Where does Lady Asha come into any of that?” I ask, just as the waitress
