Theo, as a second son, might have gone. Might’ve joined the war effort. He had been just slightly too young, as well as his brother’s heir, at least the only one they knew of; he’d not be surprised if Clarence had an illegitimate child or two or five.
He did not know whether he would have gone to serve, if asked; he liked to think he would have, but he would never know.
But he could help other magicians. He could help the College. He could help his country in that way: rebuilding, making space for knowledge, for a love of books and learning and the future of magic.
He could help Henry Tourmaline, perhaps, in some small way. He might be young and unremarkable, but research and puzzles: those, he could do.
Theo checked all his wards and locks, one by one; he checked the books, though the
