“A good thing, I suspect.”
“It was,” Merek stated emphatically. “Without him we might well be dead bodies strewn across the roadway, either because we had no knowledge of how to survive in the mountains or because of the brigands we ran into not too long before we arrived here.”
“Did you, now.”
“Yes,” Renard replied. “If it weren’t for Mercurius, things might have turned out quite differently, even though I’m proficient at what I do.”
“He’s more than proficient,” Niall said. “He’s fantastic.”
Symounde chuckled. “Do I sense there is more to your words than just admiration for his skills?”
“Umm…” Niall ducked his head to hide a blush.
“Never mind, lad. I was but teasing you.” Symounde patted Niall’s arm. “From what you have told me, I gather you hope I have the power to control the we
