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"If I did, they would probably take it away after tonight," Snowbeard replied

They drove to a pavilion in a park along the lakefront and gathered around a battered picnic table for the debriefing Snowbeard kindled a wizard light in the center, casting a soft illumination over all of the participants

Linda leaned forward and squinted across the table, then reached out and gently touched Jack’s hand "What happened to your arm?"

They told Snowbeard and Linda about the encounter with Warren Barber

"Can you do anything for him, Nick?" Linda asked

Snowbeard studied the injury, then leaned toward Jack and gripped him at the wrist and shoulder, careful not to touch the blistered area Power rippled between the old wizard’s hands, like a cool streah the area was still angry red

Jack released a long breath and rin "Thanks, Nick That feels a lot better"

"Less chance of infection now, Jack, but the area will be very tender for the next few days," Snowbeard said He looked at Ellen "What about you,bruises around her neck, but she brushed off Snowbeard’s question Seph was getting the impression that she was not the kind of person who enjoyed being rescued

Jack turned to Snowbeard "What happened with the other wizards? Where’s the Bea his staff between his hands "I ed to bore quite a way into the izard flame and what-not Then I set off some spectacular fireworks When the wizards arrived, we raced off in the car They, of course, assu and quite enthusiastic We led them on a merry chase, but we never actually made it into the Sanctuary So I parked at the e We went in and lost ourselves a the shoppers Your car’s still there"

"How’d you get back to town?" Ellen asked

"We found a kind fa to drive us," Snowbeard said blandly "We told theht we’d have trouble getting through the Weirweb, but it was already down," Linda added

"So," Seph said "What do you think is going on?"

Linda cleared her throat "Leicester wants you back For soory Leicester," she explained to the others "He was Seph’s headlance at Seph and he looked away

"Leicester is also on the Council of Wizards," Snowbeard added thoughtfully

"They can’t be sure that Seph is here," Linda suggested

"They’ve seen the Beamer," Ellen said "And they’ve seen you"

"They haven’t seen Seph, though," Linda pointed out

Snowbeard said, "It occurs tointo town for a look around And, depending on how you read the Rules of Engageet you or Seph out of town by trickery or force as long as they don’t use ht? Assued

"I can teach you," Snowbeard said, looking fro on what you want to learn"

"Great Thank you" Seph turned to Jack "Um … where did you learn to use a sword like that?"

"My teacher was a wizard nas," Jack replied "He specializes in training warriors He taught s "Does he live in Trinity?" Seph asked

"No" Linda answered for Jack

"I’d love to learn how to fight like that," Seph said

Linda put a hand on his arm "Seph, you’re not a warrior, you know"

"Most wizards can get what they ithout fighting anybody," Jack said He looked at his watch and shoved back froot exa to do?" Ellen asked

"We’ll stay at Jack’s," Linda said

"Shouldn’t we call first or so?" Seph looked from Linda to Jack

Jack shook his head "Myup unexpectedly If she didn’t show up unannounced, she’d never show up at all"

"Don’t worry, Seph," Linda said "Believe me, she won’t have a problem"