“Wow. I didn’t think there was anyone more organized than you. But you can’t go by me. I thought the woman we hired before was a perfect candidate.”
“We all did.” She shooed my comment away. “Leia didn’t have time to do any damage, and now we have Captain Alden and Zebb in charge of personnel.”
“Zebb?”
“Tama has come a long way,” Faith said. Her gaze slid past my shoulder.
I turned in time to see the Councilor and Zebb enter the room. Tama carried the glass paperweight I had made for her. I had forgotten about it. Zebb sat in the chair next to mine, but she set the paperweight on the table before me.
Tama remained standing and peered at me as if I had played a nasty trick on her. The desire to slouch down and avert my gaze flared. I felt like a kid caught sneaking out.
Not bothering with the niceties, she asked, “Did you know what this could do when you gave it to me?” She jabbed her finger at the glass.
“No.”
She softened a bit. “It scared the hell out of me the first time it exploded with light.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She perched on the end of the couch, tucking her long white skirt under her knees. “Once Zebb and I figured it out… It’s a wonderful tool, but I wasn’t sure what I should do about it.”
I glanced at Zebb. Surely he had reported it to Bain by now.
He pressed his lips together before saying, “Too many variables. We needed additional information. Can you make more?”
Pulling the dolphin from my pocket, I placed it next to the paperweight. With a quick strike, Zebb’s magic touched the dolphin. It glowed red-hot.
“That’s a yes,” he said.
“Opal, what do you want us to do?” Tama asked.
My thoughts scattered as shock slammed into me.
Faith smiled at my reaction. “You’ve done so much for us. Did you really think we would do anything without consulting you first?”
I tried to collect my wits, but they slipped away. “I didn’t…I just found out.”
“How?” Zebb asked.
“Two kids.” I told them about Teegan’s discovery.
“I’ve heard of him,” Tama said. “Master Jewelrose was very excited. She thinks he may have master-level powers.”
Not a surprise.
“Is he the one who almost flamed out?” Zebb asked.
“Yes,” I said, but regretted it as three people turned to stare at me.
“You saved him, didn’t you?” Tama asked. “Master Bloodgood said the boy was stopped, but not by who. The Councilors assumed it was one of the Masters.”
Faith added, “That means the Masters know about your immunity. Do they know about the detectors?”
“Not yet.”
“I understand about the detectors. You just found out, but why would you keep your immunity a secret now?” Tama asked.
“Bain advised against it.” When spoken out loud, it sounded lame.
Zebb nodded. “She’s a magician…or rather a… In any case, Master Bloodgood is her boss. He makes the decisions regarding all the magicians in Sitia.”
“He also said my immunity would scare the Council.”
Tama agreed. “The Council has a love-hate feeling toward magic. On one hand, they’re skittish and on the other they’re all protected by it. To know you could walk through their magical defenses would be scary.” She picked up the paperweight. “But this could cancel it out.”
“You lost me,” I said.
“The Council wouldn’t be afraid of you if you provide them with these detectors.” Tama brandished the glass in the air.
“But it doesn’t protect them from me.”
“They’d be grateful for the peace of mind. With so many magicians around, who knows what they’re doing. No offense, Zebb.” She shot him a tender smile. “But any one of them could be influencing our Council decisions. We could have sessions where no magic is allowed and your detector will ensure it.” Tama’s eyes blazed with her conviction.
Before, I would have attributed Tama’s antimagicians rant to paranoia, but I remembered Leif’s comment about Bain’s magical bodyguards. And perhaps it wasn’t all Tama’s idea. Her complete relaxation around Zebb was unexpected. However, the paperweight didn’t flash, so she wasn’t under his magical influence.
My head spun with all the potential complications and possibilities. “I need to sort it out.” I stood. “I’m going to Ognap for Irys.” Yet another secret. I would soon need a chart to list who knew what. Would this be my life if I worked for Valek? Keeping secrets, telling lies and half-truths. “Can we decide what to do with these detectors when I return?” No sense getting everyone excited and then not be able to make them. It would be just like the crisis with my glass messengers.
They agreed.
Tama walked me to the door. “Is this…mission for Irys dangerous?”
“It shouldn’t be.”
“Shouldn’t?”
“I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.”
“Does it work?”
“No.” Although it wasn’t funny, I laughed at the sad truth.
“Is there anything I can do?”
I opened my mouth to decline her offer, but I realized she had become a trustworthy friend. “Actually, there are two things you can help me with.”