Unlike Mei, Magdala was familiar with fuchsia vervain. It was an herb that eschewed scents to draw in flies and bees and instead used shifting colors to hypnotize them. Since harvesting the wild plant was difficult, one usually grew it, carefully and under shrouds. Mesmer, the canister that Mei had just fired, used a powdered form of the plant’s nectar, which caused one’s mind to fill with magenta patterns when thrown in the air.

  Since her back was to the effect, Magdala’s mind stayed clear, making it easy for her to knock out the dazed cenobite with a sleep vial before going over to rouse Francesca. Next time, she’d bring more sleep vials.

  “What…” Delma blinked, then glared at Magdala. “What did you do?”

  Seeing Mei on this side of the wall meant that the cenobites she and Saundra had been fighting had to have been dealt with, and since Talbot and the fourth cenobite were sleeping, and the others were lost in the woods, there was only one answer Magdala could give: “Win.”

  Delma flinched but didn’t argue.

  “So,” Magdala saw Mei reload, “It’s time you answered some questions. Where are you holding Dwayne Kalan?”

  “Mags…” said Francesca.

  “They have Dwayne?”

  Magdala winced. Right, Mei didn’t know because they hadn’t wanted to guilt her into coming with them. “Yes, they do.”

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  Mei nodded, her expression unreadable. “I see.” Then she started to search the ground.

  Delma shrugged. “I have no idea where he is.”

  “Meaning,” Francesca rose to her feet, “that the good Dean Bruce doesn’t trust you enough to tell you, right?”

  Delma’s face twisted. “She trusts me.”

  “That’s why she sent another mage with you?” Francesca’s nose wrinkled as she shook mud off her clothes. “Because she trusts you?”

  “Talbot was here to assist me,” snarled Delma.

  Oh, that’s what Francesca was up to.

  Magdala leaned against the wall. “Was he? You’ve failed Bruce two, no three, times now? Surely, she’s looking at other options.”

  “Like that cute girl who took the Qe master examination?” asked Francesca.

  “Exactly.”

  Delma’s face flushed. “Shut up!”

  “Doesn’t Werner have far more in common with Dean Bruce than Delma?” asked Magdala.

  “She is nQe like the dean,” said Francesca.

  “And Bruce College like the dean.”

  “Not to mention she looks great in green.”

  “Shut up!” Delma raised her arm. “‘otlo!” Nothing happened. She stared at her hand. “What? What- ah!”

  Delma’s legs were kicked out from under her by Mei and then a set of orange beads were dropped onto her head.

  Mei placed her ax blade at Delma’s throat.

  “Don’t move. Just speak.” Mei leaned close. “Where is he?”

  Delma forced a laugh. “You’ll never find him in time. The Day of Cleansing is the day after tomorrow so he’ll be dead before- Oh…”

  “Quiet.” Mei’s ax blade had drawn blood. “Maggie, bury them please.”

  Magdala’s eyes widened. “Alive?”

  “No, like they did you.” Mei glanced at Maggie, her expression bleak. “The lake people can deal with them. Then we will go find Dwayne.”

  It was painful seeing Mei like that, so close to killing. Had Magdala done the right thing by coming here? Asking that question hurt, but Dwayne needed saving.

  Magdala stepped forward. “I’ll bury them.”