The Prelate stepped into the Great Hall, to see Doorkeeper shambling towards the Scholasticate.

"Good morning, Doorkeeper!” he carolled, feeling in good humour.

Doorkeeper spun around like a frightened rabbit fearing that a weasel might be behind him.

"Good morning, yes, a very good morning to you, Lord Prelate!” he twittered. “All is well, as far as I know; still, there may be some naughty Students playing pranks during the holiday! You know what boys are like, Lord Prelate; always seeking some kind of mischief-"

"Thank you, Doorkeeper. Boys will be boys, I suppose."

"My work is never done,” Doorkeeper complained. “I do my best to ensure that proper House protocol is-"

"Doorkeeper,” Thorn said firmly. “Please locate Magemaster Kargan and ask him to visit me at his earliest convenience."

The old mage looked blank for a few moments before his face cleared. “Magemaster Kargan, Lord Prelate?” he said. “Why, it quite slipped my mind! He told me that he was going away for a couple of days for some research. Some kind of-"

Thorn frowned. “Research? Kargan is no Scholar! What would he need to research?"

Doorkeeper seemed to shrink, and his mouth worked like that of a grounded fish gasping for air.

"That was a rhetorical question, Doorkeeper!” Thorn snapped.

"I was asking myself, not you,” he explained with a sigh, as Doorkeeper's eyes widened further in apparent confusion. The addled major-domo nodded, although he still seemed baffled; this was not unusual. Thorn stopped himself from growing angry; he knew it would only confuse Doorkeeper further.

"Where is Magemaster Kargan?” he demanded.

"He is-where is it…? It involved Lord Prelate Algar, I'm sure."

"Lord Algar,” Thorn said softly, as if trying to pacify a fractious child.

"Or Lord Rulec,” Doorkeeper scratched his bushy, grey eyebrows. “Yes, it was definitely Lord Rulec.