"Rule One: you can cast no magic without express permission. Rule Two: you will obey Sister Weranda in all things, at all times. Rule Three: you cannot cast mind-changing, offensive or incapacitating magic on either of us. This final condition overrides the other two."

Grimm felt an upsurge of hope; his mind seemed unimpaired. He remembered the euphoric sense of intoxication he had felt while under Madeleine's spell at High Lodge, and he felt no such disorientation now.

If Lizaveta felt that confident, he thought, she'd have ordered Drex to make me obey her, instead. Still, I'd better play along with her.

"So what happens now?” he croaked through dry, cracked lips, putting as much resigned despair as he could into his voice. “Why don't you just kill me?"

"I may do so in time, Questor Grimm, but I have a job for you first. You're going to kill Lord Horin for me.” She smiled, revealing a set of small, yellowed teeth.

She's insane, Grimm thought. I know a little of how Geomantic magic works, and I know it can't force someone to do something he hasn't at least half a mind to do. She can't make me kill Horin-she can't!

"He doesn't believe you, Reverend Mother,” Drex said. “May I give Grimm a demonstration?"

Lizaveta nodded. “Of course, Sister Weranda, please continue."

Drex leaned towards Grimm with her face inches away from his. “How pathetic you look, Grimm.” She laughed, but the sound was a harsh, hollow imitation of her normal laugh.

"I want you to cast a spell of light,” she said, “just a harmless little glowing ball, nothing more. I've seen you do that a few times now."

Grimm nodded. They'll never know if I cast a Light spell or not, he thought. Still, perhaps I'll play along a little longer, to make them think they really have me cowed.

He had no need of his personal spell-language for such a basic spell; all he needed was a simple effort of will.