“And if you don’t find it—or her?”

“We’ll expand our search as far as necessary.”

“Does your city watch have any seekers?”

“They do.”

“Are they any good?”

If my question offended him, he didn’t show it. “Yes, they are.”

I looked at Mychael; he looked at me. I hadn’t asked whether they were good enough. Mychael knew what I was thinking, and what I wanted to do. I felt directly responsible for that girl’s kidnapping and whatever was happening to her now, and I wanted to be the one to find her. Mychael knew how good a seeker I was. He also knew that my connection to the Saghred made me one of the most dangerous people on the island. As paladin, Mychael wasn’t about to let me loose on his island. He didn’t have to say anything; I could see it in his eyes.

The only sound was the ice clinking in Justinius Valerian’s glass. “Yes, we do think you’re dangerous.”

I could add mind reading to Justinius Valerian’s list of talents.

“What I did with that stage today was all me, no help from the rock,” I told them point-blank. “Just my own skills enhanced by contact with the Saghred. I was completely in control the entire time. Collapsing that stage was more than an assassination attempt for the two of you; it was an audition for me. Someone wanted to see what I could do, and apparently they got what they wanted. Banan said I performed perfectly and that he had a happy client.”

“You’re sure you didn’t use the Saghred?” Justinius asked.

I snorted. “Positive. I didn’t get dizzy, fall down, and throw up. When I chased Banan Ryce into that courtyard, the Saghred offered to help. Insistently. I told it I didn’t want its help.” I looked at Mychael. “The Saghred’s wide-awake. I thought it was bound.”

“It is.” His lips were set in a grim line. “It was as of this morning.”

“Before Miss Benares took on the Nightshades?” Justinius asked him.