Kall had seen wizards cast spells in battle, and he'd even seen magical fire burn men alive. He'd once accompanied Cesira to the site of a massive spell duel between rival wizards. They'd watched from a protected distance, but after a time Kall's eyes could no longer separate one spell from another amid the devastation.

He'd never seen a fireball form in a wizard's hands at such close range—shaped from nothing, a great ember falling from a god's furnace—never had he seen one directed at himself.

The flames filled his vision as the deadly orb flew toward him. He felt the heat sear his face. Instinctively, he threw up his hands and covered his father's body with his own.

He heard the explosion, but the pain didn't follow. Kall lifted his head and saw the twin, scorching trails marking the path the fireballs had made across the garden. They formed a perfect arc around his and his father's bodies.

"You split them," Kall said, standing. His legs felt shaky. "Why?"

"Curiosity." She dismissed it with a shrug. "Or a test of your convictions. Call it whatever you like, I—"

She tried to dodge, but Kall had her again. He pinned her arms down to her sides. "I appreciate the reprieve. This is just in case you have another of those fire spells ready," he said.

She smiled thinly. "What makes you think I need another?"

Kall felt his skin grow warm. Sweat broke out on his neck, and alarm rose in his chest. He looked down at the Harper. Her skin, pressed against his, was painfully hot.

"Let me go, Morel, or I will burn you," she said, her voice echoing with deadly power. "All I want is your father."

Gazing into her eyes, Kall saw she told the truth. Slowly, he slid his other arm around her waist, steeling himself against the intense pain. "If you're willing to kill me for him, get it over with," he rasped.

For a breath, the heat wavered. Kall waited, but then, as suddenly as it had started, the burning sensation ebbed. The Harper stiffened, her eyes going wide.

Kall looked up and realized immediately what had cooled the fire. He nodded a stiff greeting to Morgan. The rogue had a stiletto point pressed against the back of Meisha's neck. "I seem to remember telling you I'd handle this on my own," he said, not bothering to hide his irritation.

"Doing a fine job of it too," Morgan snorted. " 'Sides, it was his idea."

Kall released Meisha and stepped back. He looked over Morgan's shoulder, expecting to see Laerin. His mouth fell open when Garavin entered the garden, flanked by Cesira and the half-elf. "You all followed me?"

"Not at first," Laerin said. He handed Kall back his blade as Garavin patted Meisha down for weapons.

Cesira knelt next to his fathe r's unconscious body. We followed your sword, she said.

Laerin tossed an emerald to Kall, pretending to look abashed.

Kall sheathed his weapon, amazed but still angry at the deception. "You shouldn't have taken it. . . again."

"I shouldn't have," Laerin agreed. "But it was our only link to you. Morgan was distraught at the thought you might get into trouble without him."

"How fares yer father?" Garavin asked, speaking for the first time. He nodded at Meisha. "And what have we here?"

"Garavin Fallstone, meet Meisha Saira," Kall said. "She just tried to kill me."

"Probably won't be the last time," Morgan predicted.

The Harper remained silent, her eyes darting among the new arrivals. Kall went down on one knee next to the druid, who was examining his father. "Can you break the enchantment?" he asked, addressing both Cesira and the dwarf.

Cesira shook her head. There's magic about him, but whatever the source, it's long spent. The marks it left on him can't be erased with more magic.

Garavin nodded agreement. "Take him back with us. We'll make him comfortable, and ye can stay with him, Kall."

Kall wiped the fever sweat from his father's brow. "No. I can't be there when he wakes up. Seeing me put him in this state. He believed I was trying to kill him."

You can't mean to leave him here, said Cesira. You've been waiting three years to save him.