“Hell, he tracks his rubies from the moment they are mined. No one steals from Vasko. He probably already knows about the fake certificates, but I’d like to send my father a message just in case.”

A reasonable request. “Sure. But before you go, do you think you could access magic from, say, a two-carat-charged diamond encased in glass?”

“I don’t know. We could experiment.”

“You could. I’m not allowed to experiment with glass.”

Understanding lit her face. “Who is going to pay for the diamond?”

“Wait here.” I retreated to my bedroom. Digging through the pockets of my cloak, I felt for an appropriate-size lump. When my fingers touched the smooth gem, an ice-cold pain pierced my hand. An image of Crafty filled my mind.

My arm turned numb as I rejoined Pazia. “Is this big enough?” I dropped the gem into her palm.

She pinched the diamond between her thumb and index finger. Holding it up to the firelight, she examined it. “It’s already charged with magic.” Awe filled her hushed voice. “Who’s magic is this?”

“Doesn’t matter. Keeping this quiet is all that matters right now.”

“Why?”

“Just testing a theory.”

“Opal…”

“It could be nothing. Just trust me on this.”

“You will explain it to me sometime?”

“I promise.”

“All right.” She pocketed the diamond. “I’ll let you know what happens.” She walked to the door and paused. Grinning, she yanked it open. Skippy tumbled into my room, landing in a heap on the floor.

Pazia tsked and stepped over him. “How rude, listening through the keyhole. Have you forgotten already?”

He untangled his legs and stood. “Forgotten what?”

She rapped on the open door. “Thick mahogany wood to protect the students. Almost soundproof. I hope the splinters in your ear don’t get infected.” Pazia turned to go, but glanced over her shoulder. “I take that back. I do hope the splinters get infected.”

I played the good little girl for another two weeks, then stopped making the messengers again. Called into Master Bloodgood’s office, I explained how the constant surveillance of Skippy and his crew had distracted me.

“He listens at my door when I have company,” I said. “I’ve no privacy. I’m sure after demonstrating my willingness to cooperate after a month and a half, the Council can relax. I’m in the Keep after all, surrounded by magicians.”

With an amused half smile, Bain Bloodgood said he would present my…ah…request to the Council.

“Are you making any progress on your assignment?” he asked.

“No. I’ve gone through ten history books and haven’t found anything.” I couldn’t be the only glass magician. Then again, I hadn’t known about my powers until Yelena’s visit, when she saw the inner glow in my sculptures. Perhaps another possessed the same ability, but hadn’t realized the significance. “Master Bloodgood, I need to go to the market.”

He studied my face. “You have an idea. Wonderful. Of course, Hale must accompany you.”

“I’d be lonely without him.”

The next day between my morning workout with the Weapons Master and my afternoon classes, I headed west toward the Citadel’s market. Skippy trailed behind and I ignored his complaints about missing lunch.

Located dead center of the Citadel, the market was open every day until the hot season. Then it only opened one day a week. Many of the inhabitants left when the heat baked the Citadel’s marble walls, turning the whole place into a giant oven.

Businesses and factories radiated from the market like rings around a target. The residences of the citizens occupied the northwest and southwest corners.

The buzz of vendors and shoppers reached me first. Turning a corner, I stepped into the energy-filled market. After living a rather quiet existence, the smells and shouts threatened to overwhelm me. I hovered on the edge, watching the flow of commerce.

Soon a member of the Helper’s Guild appeared at my elbow. “Lovely lady, can I assist you today?” The young girl wore an eager expression. Her bright green sundress matched the color of her eyes.

“Yes. Can you please tell Fisk that Opal Cowan would like to speak to him?” I slipped her a copper.

Her demeanor stayed the same. “Master Fisk has trained me and I can help you as well as he can.”

“I know, but I’m a friend of…Master Fisk’s and I would like to talk with him.” I stifled a giggle over calling Fisk master. At fifteen, he was five years younger than me, but he founded the Helper’s Guild, creating jobs and income for poor and abandoned children. I reconsidered. The title of master suited him.

She told me to wait before disappearing into the crowd.

Skippy’s loud sigh and tapping foot grated on my nerves. “You know she’s not coming back. I’m sure Fisk has better things to do than chat with you.”

His sneering tone almost caused me to kick him. Almost. I jabbed a finger at a smoking market stand. “Why don’t you get a beef pie for lunch? My treat.”

“No, thank you.”

He reminded me of Pazia before she lost her powers. Cocky, snobbish and entitled. He hadn’t experienced the ugly side of life where people deceive you and hurt you and lie to you. He would probably soil himself if threatened.

Fisk arrived and wrapped me in a bear hug. “Lovely Opal. It’s been years!”