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out on me!" Idresia pounced with a mock frown so fierce that the rest of them chuckled. "Well, come on, out with it."
    "You'd better brace yourself," Driff warned Idresia, only partially joking. "While you were getting your report on outside doings, those of us in here learned that Edmin can … shield his working with talent in some way. He's going to try to remember what he did to gain the shield, and then he's going to tell us how to do it."
    "That sounds like a very useful thing to know," Idresia said, her brows still high even though she had stopped staring at Edmin with her mouth open. "Can we do anything to help you remember faster, Edmin?"
    "I think I'll need a time of undisturbed quiet," Edmin answered, his amusement tinged with very faint embarrassment. "I considered asking for the help of another Spirit magic user, but I think we must first decide whether or not we want word of a shield to get out. Until things settle down and we have the High talents back again…"
    "Until then we'll need all the help - and secret weapons - we can get," Driff agreed with a sigh. "I think your caution isn't overdone, Edmin, so let's - "
    A knock came at the door to interrupt Driff, and Idresia rose to go and answer it. Driff quickly finished the last of the food on his plate, and only just in time.
    "Our two newly arrived nobles weren't far from here when my people went to get them," Idresia said, still standing by the open door. "They'll be here in another moment, so let's get all meager talents ready, shall we?"
    Driff joined the others in nodding agreement, even Issini losing her usual friendly and easy-going manner. Edmin was the only one among them who hadn't been to a training class, but he had had training in life when it came to dealing with the nobility. Now it was time to see if any of their training had been wasted.
    In no more than the specified moment, two people were escorted into the room. They both looked dirty and very tired, but the man looked considerably more worried than the woman did. The woman held a large bundle close against her body, and the man's arm circled her protectively. The man took a quick look around, and then he glared at Idresia and Driff and the others.
    "What's the meaning of this?" the man demanded, his voice harsh with fear-tinged outrage. "You people aren't the authorities, so I demand that you release us immediately."
    Yes , Driff thought with a sigh. Definitely members of the old nobility. Just what we needed…

Chapter Two
     
    Kail Engreath looked around at the outskirts of Gan Garee as he and Asri rode into the city. It was the same city he remembered so well - along with its bad memories - and he couldn't decide how he felt about returning to it. He wasn't the same man who had left this city, and hopefully that would produce more pleasant events to have memory of in the future.
    "I suddenly feel very odd, Kail," Asri said from where she rode to his left, her infant son Dereth held close against her right side. "As soon as you suggested that we return here to Gan Garee, I somehow felt that that was what we had to do. Now the feeling has intensified in some way, as if something very important to us is about to happen."
    "I hope the something turns out to be a place where we can live our lives in peace," Kail told her with a smile, reaching out to touch her arm. Day by day during their trip from Astinda, Asri had begun to share more and more of her thoughts and feelings with him. From time to time her "feelings" had kept them from running into people who might ask the wrong questions, so Kail had come to rely on her opinion.
    "Now that you mention it, I have the strangest feeling that something is going to happen that will affect our lives," Asri told him, her gaze a bit unfocussed the way it became from time to time. "Whatever it is might not be pleasant at first, but it's definitely necessary."
    Kail made a sound of agreement and interest, the only thing he could do when Asri made