The young Wardens got up and dispersed-except for McKenzie and Ilyana. The two came down to stand beside me.

“Commander,” McKenzie said. “This girl, Kat. Most of the talented mortals only demonstrate a single talent. She demonstrated at least two.”

“I’m aware,” I said.

“This girl,” Ilyana said. “Her talents were born in trauma and fear. This is one of the warning signs of a potential warlock.”

“Yeah,” I said. My talents had started in a similar fashion. “I heard that once.”

“So… she is under surveillance?” Ilyana asked.

“I drop in on her once in a while,” I said.

“That poor kid,” McKenzie said. “What do we do?”

I spread my hands. “It’s an imperfect world, Wardens. We do what we always do.” I smiled at them lopsidedly. “Whatever we can.”

They both looked down, frowning, concerned-concerned for a little girl who had no idea of what might be waiting for her.

Excellent.

The lesson hadn’t been wasted.

“Okay, guys,” I said. “Burger King?”

That perked them both up, though Ilyana, benighted soul that she was, didn’t react with joy at the utterance of the holy name of the Mount Olympus of fast food. We left together.

You do whatever you can.

BOGGARTS: These things flee when confronted unless they’re trapped. They’re Spirit Form creatures, with Incite emotion, Feeding Dependency on fear, a constant high quality veil that adults can’t see through but kids can, and a Physical Immunity. Not much of a Catch on that either-you have to confront them psychically, using Conviction or Discipline to attack. But once they’re seen, they’re vulnerable to those attacks from nearly anyone.

EVEN HAND

This story occurs between AAAA Wizardry and Changes A successful murder is like a successful restaurant: ninety percent of it is about location, location, location.