The walk through the streets was quick, quiet, and marked by the slow tolling of midnight from a clock tower in the distance.

Killian instructed Gray to stay silent and keep his head down.

A warm, salty breeze was rolling off the ocean, and it curled up the streets, making Gray's hair whip over his eyes.

The storm had run riot through the city, and the clean up would take some time. It had closed roads, felled old trees and spires, and flooded the low-lying buildings. A bridge arched over a canal blocked by sodden Conor Griffin posters.

After about ten minutes of brisk and silent walking, Killian unlocked the door to a non-descript townhouse.

Gray felt his jaw slack. This place had some serious enchantments on it. They were different from the enchantments running through the mage guild.

More intricately layered.

Stronger.

Gray loitered just inside the threshold, clutching his rucksack. Killian strode across the entry and started lighting lamps. The place was small and well kept. Stuffed with books and paintings.

Killian glanced back at Gray. 'Well, come in, kid.'

Edging further into the house, Gray felt like he was trespassing on enemy territory.

Killian waved him in further, shooting Gray a watchful look, and then led the way up a polished timber staircase and through a dark landing.

'Here,' said Killian. 'First door's yours.'

Killian lit a lamp, and the room was cast in a warm glow.

It was a small room mostly filled by a large but bare bed - bare save for a knitted throw, slightly frayed at the edges, draped across the foot. Gray stared at it. The throw looked like something made by a grandmother who cared. Handed down. A thick, woven rug covered nearly all the wooden floor. Trinkets crowded the one bedside table, a wooden model ship, a jar of colourful seashells, candles that smelt of vanilla.

By the window, thick curtains and enchantments muffled the sounds of the outside world.

Killian bustled, gathering sheets and making up the bed. Gray slowly placed his rucksack down on the floor, hovered by the door, and then started helping with the pillowcases.

'Who put the protections on your home?' said Gray.

'Hm?' said Killian. 'Speak up.'

'The enchantments on your home,' said Gray, clearing his throat. 'They're good.'

'Yeah,' said Killian. 'It was a favour from a friend. It's probably the safest place in the kingdom.'

Gray nodded, glancing around and fidgeting with the knitted throw.

'Bathroom's across the landing,' said Killian. 'You'll need …' he left, and returned seconds later, handing Gray a large towel. 'I'll duck out and get some food. The night market'll be open. What do you eat? You eat meat?'

Gray nodded.

'Oats?' said Killian.

Gray looked at him.

'Too soon?' said Killian.

—

Gray could tell by the still silence of the house that Killian hadn't returned from the night market by the time Gray finished in the shower.

Climbing into a set of sleeping shorts and shirt, Gray was too tired to question how the clothes had gotten there, laid out neatly on his bed.

He layered his dragon-scaled vest over the top, even though it felt unnecessary now, to sleep in the thing. He barely had the energy to keep standing upright, let alone lose control of his magic.

Carefully placing the wand - Ryan Griffin's wand, and his great-great grandfather's before that - on the bedside table, next to the model ship, Gray caught himself staring at it, completely numb.

I'll just close my eyes for a second, Gray told himself firmly. Until I hear Killian return.

Gray sunk into the soft bed.

—-

Alistair leant against the school gates as piles of parents strolled in. His arms were crossed, and covered in smeared ink from drawing a bunch of northern swirls on there during study.

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'All right,' he said, 'what do we say if anyone asks?'

Gray really didn't think it was good for them to be loitering right outside the scene of the crime. 'We had nothing to do with it.'

'And if someone asks why you have singed eyebrows?'

'I say,' said Gray, nervously eyeing Longwark's study door across the courtyard, 'kitchen accident.'

'And,' said Alistair, lifting his hands, 'the fact that my hands are stained this very distinct purple colour?'

'Uh,' said Gray, swallowing, because, really, they were beyond screwed, 'fashion statement?'

'This purple is stink bomb purple,' said Alistair. 'No doubt about it.'

'Why'd you have to get it all over your hands, Ali-'

'I didn't do it on purpose.'

'Gods.'

'You dared me,' said Alistair. 'Plant a stink bomb under Longwark's demonstration for parents' night, you said.'

Alistair had. He'd planted it right near where Longwark would light the flame for his demonstration, so that the heat would set the bomb off.

'I didn't think you'd do it,' said Gray.

'Please. You helped make it. Hence the eyebrows.'

'I was interested in the theory,' Gray hissed. 'I wanted to see if we could really make a stink bomb from scratch in under an hour.' He paced, fast. 'I think we have to come clean. This could go badly.'

'No way.'

'People have asthma, Ali. People have allergies. We don't know who's got what, and who's going to inhale the crap we put in that thing.'

'Wow,' said Alistair, 'dial it down a notch, no-eyebrows.'

'Can we get arrested for something like this?' said Gray, gripping his hand in his hair. Longwark was already in a bad mood from their lesson earlier that day. The star pebbles he'd been creating had exploded into bright light, and half the students still couldn't see right.

On the day before parents' night, too.

Longwark had been in a raging bad mood.

Honestly, Gray was still seeing stars whenever he closed his eyes. Getting star pebbles wrong was no joke.

Alistair snorted. 'OK, new plan. We blame it on Rowan.'

'Rowan wasn't even here. He's off sick today.'

'Exactly,' said Alistair. 'No alibi. Suspicious.'

Gray broke out into a reluctant laugh. 'You're actually the worst.'

'Yet, here you are, in cahoots with me.'

Parents were crawling all through the school. There was no way to get the stink bomb out without being seen.

Alistair slapped Gray on the back. 'Relax. They -'

There was a loud boom from the alchemy lab. A wave of putrid, purple smoke seeped out under the door, followed by the distinct sound of Longwark yelling.

Parents spilled out of the alchemy lab, gagging and hacking.

Alistair grimaced. 'We should leave.'

They started sprinting.

—

Dawn light crept through the crack in the curtains.

Gray stretched underneath layers of blankets, the dream fading. His body ached. His muscles protested even slow, warm movement.

He needed to shower, get dressed, get ready for his instructors. But, he only had the one set of fighting blacks from yesterday, and those weren't clean-

Gray's thoughts cut off as he smelt fresh pancakes wafting in through the bedroom door.

There was a banging from the floor underneath him.

Gray made himself push off the blankets, and he hopped across the woven rug, soft underfoot. Creeping down the stairs, Gray peered around the corner of the banister into the small kitchen.

Yep, Killian was making pancakes.

Honestly, he looked kind of stressed.

He was dressed in his grey uniform. He looked exactly like how he'd looked in Krydon.

Gray withdrew, pushing dark hair out of his face, and started silently back up the stairs.

'Kid?'

Killian stuck his head around the banister.

'You all right?' said Killian, raising an eyebrow.

Gray cleared his throat. 'I, uh,' he said, 'good morning.'

Killian surveyed him. 'You coming down?'

'Er, I just realised I forgot to wash my clothes last night, and I need to do that first, and I haven't made my bed yet-'

'I had your clothes laundered,' said Killian. 'They'll be delivered any minute now. Breakfast? It's ready.'

'All right,' said Gray awkwardly.

A large serving of pancakes and fruit sat on the table, along with a steaming cup of tea.

'Eat,' said Killian, nudging Gray towards the round dining table. 'And I need you to eat all of it. There's about a pound of avie powder in there, which is supposed to be good for mages. Take your time if you need to.'

Gray perched on the chair, watching Killian pile dishes into the sink.

'Er,' said Gray. 'You're not eating?'

'I have to go,' said Killian. 'Now.'

'Go?'

'I have a meeting with my men, and then I have to be back in time to take you to your training in one hour.' He hesitated, glancing at Gray, and then shoved open a door off the kitchen. 'You like reading, don't you? There's books in here. And,' he strode to a cupboard in the living room, flinging open the doors, 'I don't know if you like puzzles? There's games in here. They're probably a bit young for you, but-'

'Killian, I'll be fine. Go.'

'Pantry's empty, but there's a market on the corner if you get hungry.' Killian dropped a silver coin and a spare key on the kitchen counter.

'I think this giant serving of pancakes will be just fine,' said Gray.

'This street is safe,' said Killian, 'but don't go beyond it, and if you see a Dierne guard - you've seen them yet? Red uniform - I want you back here immediately, understood? If I get slapped with a fine because you're caught out alone, it's going on your tab.'

'Uh,' said Gray, unsure what to say, because he was allowed to go out?

'Mage apprentices can't go out without guardians or guards, and I'm pretty sure Baldwin's going to be classing you under mage apprentice right now, and he's coming down hard-'

'Got it,' said Gray, walking to the front door and opening it for Killian to leave.

'It's probably not a good idea to leave at all, what with Longwark, but I messed him up pretty badly, I doubt he'll be an issue for at least a few days, and the enchantments on the house extend to the end of the street, to the house with the green front door-'

'You messed up Longwark?' said Gray.

'Yeah,' said Killian, grabbing up his soldier's cap. 'Baldwin didn't tell you? He was supposed to tell you everything.'

'No. I - he told me a lot, but not what happened in the storm.'

'Er,' said Killian. 'I fought Longwark. But he's got silver weapons now. So he escaped.' Killian fired off words like a barrage of arrows. 'Look, I can tell you more, kid, not that there's much to tell, but I've really got to go.'

'Right,' said Gray. 'Go.'

Killian stalled on the threshold. 'Be here, dressed and ready, in one hour for me to walk you to the palace. Don't run away. Don't get kidnapped. Don't - talk to strangers.'

'OK.'

'Don't blow up the place.'

'I make no promises,' said Gray, closing the door in Killian's face.

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