pinpoint with the mages where those spells came from.”
Right, Lisette had said she was trying her own method of tracking down Cameron’s attackers. Hence not having a lesson today. “Then maybe I shouldn’t interrupt them?”
“I think an hour of not looking at the problem would do him good. He’s been staring at it too long at this point.” Baldewin indicated where to go, using one of the many side doors from the courtyard into the castle.
Cameron by no means had the castle layout down. But he was beginning to learn it—how the major hallways connected to each other, at least. This was one he’d used before, but Baldewin went right instead of left, and entered a whole new section Cameron hadn’t ventured into. It really made him wonder. Just how long would he need to stay here before he was as familiar with it as Baldewin? And could it be that his poor brain just had too many things to learn? Here he was trying to learn magic, a complicated castle layout, a new culture, and a new language to boot. His head spun most days and felt like mush by the end of it.
They descended two levels, and Cameron began to wonder if they had a dungeon in this castle. Because this very much felt like a dungeon. The coolness of the stones on either side of the stairs chilled his exposed skin. Cameron really had to invest in a hoodie or something. He’d be a human popsicle for the rest of his life at this rate.
Fortunately, the stairs ended at a door and, apparently, Gunter’s work room. Baldewin didn’t even knock, just barged in and called out, “Gunter!”
“Don’t interrupt me,” Gunter groaned in response. “I was on the verge of a thought.”
“You’re always on the verge of a thought. Pull your mind into the present and come meet Cameron.”
Cameron cleared the door and looked around with interest. It was sort of like Lisette’s work room, but not. More books, for one. Less magical ingredients. There was a collection of chalkboards that dominated an entire wall with writing covering every inch of it. To Cameron’s eye, it looked mostly mathematical with some chemical formulas popping up here and there. Just what was Gunter doing, again?
From behind a massive stack of books—seriously, it was book Jenga—a head popped into view. Ice blond hair, crystal blue eyes set in a square face with a very strong bone structure. He looked like some conquering Viking hero from a story. Cameron blinked, not expecting the dungeon dweller to be handsome.
It took a second, probably because Gunter was switching mental tracks, then he lit up. “Right! Our new mage. Hello, Cameron Park.”
Baldewin completed the introduction with a wave of the hand. “Cameron, Gunter. He’s our researcher. He collaborates with the mages to help them study magical elements and trace mage bloodlines. He also spends far too much time in this room.”
With a sniff and a pointed look, Gunter ignored him. “Welcome, Cameron. I’ve meant to go up and meet you, ask if I could take some blood samples.”
Baldewin sighed. “Will you please act like a normal person for once?”
Cameron was a little alarmed with a person demanding blood samples on first acquaintanceship, but he had to admit he was curious as to why. “For what?”
“My purpose is two-fold.” Gunter came around his desk, revealing comfortable, worn-in jeans and a hoodie that had seen better days. An ink-splattered hoodie, no less. Had he strangled a pen to death? “One, if we have a blood sample on file for you, our mages can do spells targeted at you. Like seeking spells. Even if you’re taken, we can track you.”
Considering what had almost happened, that seemed a very reasonable precaution. “Okay, so what’s the second reason?”
“I’m still attempting to divine what it is about the mage bloodlines that is so predominantly female. Did anyone tell you that most mages are women? Yes? Oh good, that simplifies matters. We truly do not know why. It’s not a bad thing, we dragons don’t care as much about gender, but it’s a fascinating question, don’t you think? I really want to understand if there’s a genetic factor we’re possibly overlooking. The trouble is, I only know of two or three living male mages. I don’t have enough data to go off of.”
Cameron felt himself warming a little to Gunter. He, too, liked a good intellectual puzzle to sink his teeth into. “I actually came down here to ask you about