I cleared my throat. At the sound Jasra let her arms fall and turned toward me. She was smiling faintly.

“Is he alive or dead?” I asked, and then added, “Academic curiosity.”

“I’m not really certain,” she responded. “But a little of both, I think. Like the rest of us.”

“‘Guardian of the Fount,’” I reflected. “Interesting existence.”

“Beats being a coatrack,” she observed. “I daresay.”

“I suppose you feel I owe you some gratitude now, for — my restoration,” she stated.

I shrugged.

“To tell you the truth, I’ve other things to think about,” I said.

“You wanted an end to the feud,” she said, “and I wanted this place back. I still have no kind thoughts toward Amber, but I am willing to say we’re even.”

“I’ll settle for that,” I told her. “And there is a small loyalty I may share with you.”

She studied me through narrowed eyes for a moment, then smiled.

“Don’t worry about Luke,” she said.

“But I must. That son of a bitch Dalt — ”

She continued to smile.

“Do you know something I don’t?” I asked.

“Many things,” she replied.

“Anything you’d care to share?”

“Knowledge is a marketable commodity,” she observed, as the ground shook slightly and the fiery tower swayed.

“I’m offering to help your son and you’re offering to sell me the information on how to go about it?” I inquired.

She laughed.

“If I thought Rinaldo needed help,” she said, “I’d be at his side this moment. I suppose it makes it easier to hate me if you feel I lack even maternal virtues.”

“Hey, I thought we were calling things even,” I said.

“That doesn’t preclude hating each other,” she replied.

“Come on, lady! Outside of the fact that you tried to kill me year after year, I’ve got nothing against you. You happen to be the mother of someone I like and respect. If he’s in trouble, I want to help him, and I’d as soon be on good terms with you.”