“So he said, and I don’t think he could lie.”
“But he didn’t tell you what.”
“He couldn’t. There must be… some kind of oath, perhaps. A magician’s oath.”
“An exchange of promises among mages. Something that binds them all.” He poured tea, looked out at the cool winter night. “There is a conclave, I think. A gathering of mages from across the country. Not all go. Perhaps not all are required.”
“And yet he answered my other questions.”
“It can’t all be secret. We all know,” he smiled bleakly. “We all know that magicians bind promises. And we all know that they twist them when they can.” His eyes grew hard. “I more than most.”
“Did you… Did you make one? A promise?” Or did a lover? she wondered, and wondered why she should care.
“Not me.” His shoulders slumped. “My brother. When we wer
