"Greetings, Doorkeeper, it's good to be back."

A House servant appeared, and Doorkeeper instructed him to stable the mage's horse, and to take the luggage to Grimm's room. "So, Questor Grimm, did you have a good retreat at Crar? I've heard the weather can be quite bad down there, quite horrible at times, I've heard, I think."

"I had a marvellous time, thank you, Doorkeeper."

"I'm afraid I can't spare you much time, Questor Grimm." Doorkeeper's wizened face bore an apologetic expression. "I have some important things to do for tonight, some very important business. Adept Numal's staff rebounded three times from the Stone this morning, and he is now a full Mage Necromancer. His Acclamation feast will be held this evening, and, as usual, I will be required to arrange it all. So much work; you'd think they'd take pity on my poor old bones…"

Grimm's brow furrowed. The name Numal seemed somehow familiar to him, but he could not quite place it. When the major-domo finished his wordy, babbling lament, he said so.

"You met him at least once," replied Doorkeeper. "I introduced him to you in the Refectory on your first day here, all those years ago."

With a sudden rush, recollection flooded into Grimm's mind. Numal was the strange, sepulchral figure who had told the seven-year-old Student of his hidden desire to be an entertainer. Numal's words, spoken so long before, flew into his brain: In my youth, I was told that my imitation of Daffo the Clown was very amusing.

So the would-be entertainer had mastered his craft at last, exchanging song and dance for the ability to communicate with the dead and to augur the future from chicken entrails. Part of Grimm's psyche rejoiced at the pale, sad-looking man's success after years of unremitting effort, while another mourned the death of the would-be comedian and dancer. The stage's loss had been the House's gain.