notice to attend a meeting. We’ll want to know exactly how you defeated a six-syllable demon and extracted a handful of ghosts at the same time. I assume you’ll be happy to share your techniques, in the common good.”
“Of course,” Silas promised. In as little detail as possible. He would share the rune structures that proved effective at containment, but the boost he’d got from Darien wasn’t something he’d disclose.
An apprentice who can pull out his own energy and feed it to you at will? Some of the dry-well old bastards would surely want to own him. It wasn’t just ghosts and demons who’d find Darien very appealing, and for a couple of the sorcerers, possibly in more than one way.
Clicks gave a trill that managed to sound skeptical. “Perhaps it would be wise to have an independent observer here. To study Thornwood’s techniques.”
Silas reflected that familiars came to resemble their masters.
Grim said, “Are you volunteering? There’s glorious hunting in this old house. Rats half my size. Spiders twice your size. Good sport, for you and the spiders.”
Then again, some familiars are very much their own selves. “An observer won’t see anything of any use to the Guild,” he said. “I’ll be teaching Darien the most basic of shielding techniques. Quite boring.”
“True, true.” Ferngold picked up his coat. “It’s early days yet. Time enough to figure out what Green’s talents are down the road.” He slid into the sleeves and Clicks clung to his lapel, unblinking eyes fixed on Silas. He wondered what the gecko’s talent actually was. No one he’d ever gossiped with seemed to know. As long as it’s not mind reading.
“Show me out,” Ferngold commanded.
Silas was more than happy to obey. As he pulled open the front door and quelled the wards, a chill breeze drove a few flakes of snow in their faces. Clicks hissed and ran down inside the coat, disappearing into Ferngold’s pocket with a high-pitched mutter about the weather. Ferngold set his cane against the wall to button his coat, and pulled on his gloves methodically. On the threshold he turned to Silas.
“You’re hiding something about that man. What don’t you want the Guild to know about him?”
How well he kisses? Silas forced down the temptation to shake Ferngold with a little show of power. It would be a waste, and only make the old man more suspicious. Luckily, his suspicions seemed to be arcane, not personal. “I assure you, I only see what you see. And those of my techniques which may be useful I will share with the council, when called on to do so.”
Ferngold stepped out and tapped his walking stick on the porch, as if for balance. But Silas had his wards slammed shut before the little ripple of power hit them. Ferngold snorted. “You always were a willful one. And get someone in to curate those books.” He tromped off down the steps toward his waiting car.
Silas shut the door and leaned against it.
“What a charming guy,” Darien said from the hallway.
“He’s far from the best of them, but not the worst.”
“I did meet Crosby.” Darien’s tone was bone-dry.
But Silas heard an undercurrent that made him go over and put a hand on Darien’s shoulder. “No one’s at their best when they’re half-eaten by a demon.”
Darien chuckled. “You should put that on a T-shirt.” He glanced around. “Hey, is there more food?”
Grim said, “Of course. Although I’ve had all the tuna. You should insist on bacon.”
“I know who wants bacon.” Silas knelt to look Grim in the eyes. “Thanks for the moral support. Did you truly have a foresight that Darien and I should work together?”
Grim swatted at his ankle, claws still sheathed. “Yes, I foresaw a lot of sighing and frowning and pining if you didn’t.”
“I don’t pine.”
“Yet.” Grim directed a pointed a look from Silas to Darien. “You would for him.” He turned and trotted toward the kitchen, his tail a quirked summons.
Silas rose and turned, unable to bring his gaze to Darien’s face. “We should probably talk over—”
“I’m sorry!” Darien’s breathless tone shocked Silas. “I’m so, so sorry!”
“For what?” He did meet Darien’s eyes then, surprised to find their ochre depths swimming with tears. “Darien, you saved my life. Twice.”
“After bringing the danger in to you. I heard you say ‘Don’t go outdoors’ and I forgot. I felt something go wrong when I stepped out. I broke your protection spell-thingies, didn’t I? I let Crosby in.”
“Well, yes, but—” He gripped Darien’s arms to keep him