Page 39 (1/2)

"I see"

Seph needed to find a way to talk to the wizard, to ask questions in private This was likely to be so to be staying in Trinity long, Mr Hastings?" Seph asked, hoping for a yes

Hastings shook his head "Only a few days, I’h" He paused "Where do you come from, Seph?" The wizard had a trace of accent, as if he were British, or had learned English overseas

"I was born in Canada," Seph replied "But I moved around a lot"

Becka looked at her watch "Oh my, I’m sorry, Leander I need to be down at school in half an hour Jack should be hoh, and I hope you’ll stay for supper Will you and Seph be okay for a little while?" She seemed flustered, her face rosier than could be accounted for by the heat

"I’m fine onin I’ll stay for supper, if you’ll have s to do besides entertaining " He rested his hand on a stack of books on the table

"Oh, it’s no probleathered up her laptop and papers, kissed Seph on top of his head, and then she was gone, banging the screen door behind her

Hastings looked after her for a moment and then turned his attention to Seph He looked like so to remember

"So you came here with Linda?"

Seph set his tea on the table and settled into the chair across fros He decided to answer the next three questions all at once, before they were asked "She’s uardian I’m told my parents are dead And I don’t knohere I’s looked surprised "Linda never--"

"I know, she never o But she’s been … great So’s everyone else here in Trinity"

"Who were your parents?" Hastings asked, leaning back in his chair An unusual ring on his right hand caught the light as he did so

Seph hesitated, unsure whether to pass along the lie "I never really knew much about them I was raised by a foster mother A sorcerer," he added

"Perhaps your fosterwas clear No sorcerer could resist a wizard asking questions

"She’s gone now, too," he said There is soht In the world of wizards, it was souys from the bad

Seph decided it was time to ask a few questions before they were interrupted He leaned forward "Jack told s nodded "I did"

"Can you teach ift You’re a wizard You’re not allowed to fight under the rules"

"But not everybody plays by the rules, do they?" Seph said quietly

Hastings picked up his beer and drained it "Why do you want to learn to fight?" he asked, rolling the bottle between his hands

"I have ene Hastings for any reaction to the nah the wizard paused a ory Leicester?" he asked, as if they were talking about the weather

"He s didn’t seem surprised by this news "I’m sorry to hear that," he said "Were they wizards?"

"One was a wizard One was Anaweir"

"Can you prove that he killed thehed and ran a hand through his hair, leaving it unning for hih there was no trace of hus’s voice or manner "I told his shook his head and leaned forward "Let ive you some advice, Seph If you really want to kill a man, don’t tell him what you’re about And don’t tell everyone else, either It sounds tooto convince yourself" He sory Leicester and I are old friends," he said