Keke’s voice read by Anya Eleni.

Reggia looked him in the eye. “The truth of what I see is this: for as long as you live, and you may live long, you’ll never love a mortal maid of Ulm.”

Keke’s voice read by Anya Eleni.

Keke's voice read by Anya Eleni.

Keke's voice read by Anya Eleni.  Gom lifted her between his hands. She felt limp and heavy as death. “Keke?” On her right leg something glistened. . . . It was a band, a silver band, and on it was inscribed a human skull.

Keke’s voice read by Anya Eleni. “Take my advice, Gom, and keep your own counsel. Stop making it look so easy, or you’ve an enemy there.”

“Because,” Folgan frowned, “while a wizard makes magic with things, he works it with his mind. A strong mind. You don’t climb stairs with flabby legs, do you?”

Folgan turned the pipe about, examining it minutely. “Your father was a woodcutter, you said. Good trade that, for a young man.”

In his mind’s eye, he saw Ulm, itself a small, bright star in the sky. And he saw himself racing to catch it before it fell into the reach of Katak’s grasp.

Gom stared in disbelief. “Where’s Maister Riffik? I can explain.”