“Houston, in the name of all that is good and holy, don’t speak unless spoken to. Understand?” I say to him as the Archmage prepares the conference call.
“Okay, Boss.”
“I’m serious!”
“Okay! If I have a question or snide comment, I’ll just think it at you.”
“Good boy.” I pat him on the shoulder.
“He’ll be fine,” says Steve. “Not like we’re dealing with The Nine or Advocates.”
“I have had my fill of Advocates to last a lifetime.”
“Yep, seems Houston wasn’t the only one who got thrown into the deep end of the pool recently.”
“I just wanted to run my mom’s shop. Take on an apprentice. Maybe hire a brownie to do light housework.”
“I can recommend an agency.”
“You deal with these people all the time. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Just have to learn how to navigate the bureaucracy and
