What most agreed on, however, was this. Both he and his sister had already stepped into a realm far beyond ordinary mages, and no one could clearly see how far they would go in the future.
***
Dispatching the Left Guardian meant something had happened that required that specific quality of power deployed at speed.
"Did the letter indicate the nature of the mission," Aldric said.
"No," the Duke said. "The advisor's language is intentionally vague. An unexpected development requiring immediate response. Nothing more."
He looked at the letter on his desk without picking it up.
"Which tells me either the situation is sensitive enough that it cannot be committed to paper, or the advisor himself does not fully know."
Aldric absorbed this in silence.
"My lord. This is trouble for us. Serious trouble."
The Duke slowly clenched his fist on the desk. His jaw grew tight, the muscles along it hardening as he held himself still.
