the murderer away, but if they decide you’re guilty of Nora’s murder, they’ll instantly conduct a witch trial.”
Nicodemus clenched his hands. To wizards, a “witch” was any spellwright who used prose for unlawful or malicious purposes. One of the duties entrusted to the sentinels was the formation of witch hunts and trials to bring such villains to justice. However, because the sentinels judged their own trials, those accused were often condemned to death whether or not they were guilty.
Shannon spoke again. “It will be hard, but you must appear innocent and calm. The sentinels will always be watching.”
“Magister, you remind me—when you went away, the druid had strange words for me.” He quickly related what Deirdre had told him.
Shannon chewed his lip for a moment. “I can’t say if Deirdre is correct about the curse or the keloid, but now I too suspect that you are tied to prophecy.”
“B-but the Provost himself thought I was branded.”
“We can’t discuss this now. Listen, there’s another reason you need to appear innocent. Magistra Okeke and other Astrophell delegates may belong to the counter-prophecy faction. All members of that faction believe an anti-Halcyon, a champion of chaos, will arise. If they ever decide that you could be this anti-Halcyon, you and I will be dead within an hour. We must convince them that you are a normal cacographer.”
“But how can—”
“Shhhh.” Shannon pretended to shush his familiar. “You mustn’t tell anyone—not another wizard, not John, and especially not Devin.”
Thinking of Devin’s tendency to gossip, Nicodemus agreed.
“Now, when Azure quiets, we must discuss the news from Trillinon; it’s what Amadi expects.”
On cue, the familiar ceased her screeching. Hooking her bill into a fold of Shannon’s robe, the bird hoisted herself onto the old man’s shoulder and began to preen the down on her back. “That’s a good bird,” Shannon announced. “Nicodemus, I’m afraid I have distressing news.”
The younger man glanced over Shannon’s shoulder at the sentinel; she had quit her conversation and now stood studying them.
“It seems a malevolent construct has beset Trillinon,” Shannon said. “Fire and death now reign in the city. Part of Astrophell has burned and many of our Northern wizards have died because of this monstrous spell.”
“What kind of spell?”
“One we do not comprehend.” Shannon frowned. “The reports, theyspeak of—” Azure plucked a feather from her back, a sign of extreme anxiety. “Azure!” the grand wizard scolded even as he cast several soothing sentences to the bird.
“What do the reports speak of, Magister?”
“Of a massive construct that tore into the Neosolar Palace and set the city aflame. They say the spell took the shape…” Shannon shook his head as if already disbelieving the words he was about to utter. “The shape of a red dragon.”
“ARE YOU ALL right?” Shannon asked.
Pressing a hand to his mouth, Nicodemus answered faintly. “Magister, last night I dreamed I was a dragon attacking a city. I didn’t know which city…certainly it was a Northern city…”
Shannon coughed. “Nicodemus, your face is very pale. Have you gotten enough sleep?”
“No, but—”
“I see you’re exhausted, and this news has clearly given you a fright.”
“Magister, I dreamed that I changed into a dra—”
“Nicodemus! It’s understandable that you should find this news like a nightmare. But it was only a bad dream, nothing that should excite serious…”—his voice lowered meaningfully—“…investigation.”
Nicodemus started again as he took the old man’s meaning. A glance down the hall showed him that Amadi Okeke was still watching them. “Magister, I’m sorry. I had a nightmare last night, and I didn’t get enough sleep. And this news…it’s all so confusing.”
“Quite understandable,” Shannon said, resting a hand on his student’s shoulder. Azure let out a low, grating squawk. “Damn it, not again,” Shannon complained loudly. “Nicodemus, help me again with Azure.”
As soon as he began to preen the bird, the old man mumbled, “Tell me briefly.” Nicodemus described his nightmare as quickly as possible. When he had finished, Shannon muttered, “In the dream, were you ever two persons at once?”
“Yes!” he whispered. “Each time, right before the dragon attacked, I was not only the dragon but also an old fisherman or a solder’s wife or a beggar girl watching the dragon. But the beggar girl didn’t see the dragon; she saw a black cube hanging in the sky.”
Shannon grimaced. “You were having quaternary thoughts.”
Nicodemus looked at the old man to see if he was serious. “I thought spellwrights could reach quaternary cognition only with powerful texts cast about their minds.”
“The murderer claimed he could manipulate dreams. I thought it was