“It’snot that—”
“Isaac,”Zaria said.“That’s what happened, isn’t it?”
Hegazed into the mouth of a skull, thinking.
“Now,”the hyena said, “you’ve told me that some other sorcerer arrived here beforeyou did.Using spells to turn people into puppets.Wielding illegal magic, tobe specific-like.”
“Yes.”
“Right.Now, you’re a smart lad.These corpses we’ve been seeing in the tomb—how oldwere they?”
“Abouta day or so.”
Shenodded, like the final piece had slid together.“Final question.Did your unclesend you off on your journey?Hug you tightly, wish you luck?”
“No.He—” Isaac shook his head.“He had some urgent business come up before I left.Something about taming loose thralls that were attacking a village.”
“Bespecific, now.When was the last time you saw him?”
Heblinked.The air of the dead city seemed to rub against him.
“Abouta day before you left, wasn’t it?”
“No,”Isaac said.“No, no, he wouldn’t—”
“Isaac—”
“No!Parasite magic was not his specialty!It’s a different sorcerer!”
“Aha,”Zaria said, like she’d caught him in a blunder, “but as I recall you sayin’,magical talent is all passed by blood.Your father knew two types.So do you.It’s all in the family.”
Shelooked at him, expectantly.He did not answer.
“Doesyour uncle know two types?”Zaria asked.
“No,”Isaac replied.“He only ...studied necromancy.He did not divest histraining.”
“Couldhe, though?”
“Isuppose.”
“Wouldhe?”
“Idon’t know!Look, he—he left the tower frequently.Itwas not unusual for him to be called away.He—he wouldn’t—”
“Calledaway for what?”Zaria asked.“Training?In some different blood magic, likehe’s already got?He’s a student of the dark arts, like you said.How hardcould it be to learn another?”
“Thatis an outrageous accusation.”
“Listen,love—”
“No!”His shout echoed down the empty streets.“My uncle would not do such things!Hewouldn’t try to kill me!He wouldn’t—there’s no way he could’ve gone ahead ofme.He wouldn’t do that.He cared about me.I know he did!It wasn’t constant—”Isaac forced himself to breathe.“He would chat with me, tell jokes, give mebooks, he tried very hard to play the stern instructor, but I could always tellhe cared, he wouldn’t have bothered with me if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t havespent so many years giving me mnemonics training, he wouldn’t—”
Herhand squeezed his shoulder.Isaac fell silent, expecting an instructive lesson,a reprimand for raising his voice.
“Listen,”Zaria said, softly.
Helooked up at her.
