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D’Orsay kept Devereaux close by his side, as if JasonJason s way

They arranged themselves around a redwood picnic table

"So," Nick said, steepling his gnarled fingers on the tabletop "What’s this all about?"

Longbranch brushed a redwood splinter from her palm "The wizard world is in chaos Assassinations, robberies, pitched battles Some of the hoards have been broken into and weapons stolen It’s every wizard for herself The rule of law has been forgotten Yet e come to the sanctuary, we find it closed to us"

Seph cleared his throat, the corners of hisyou’re here as … refugees?"

"We’re saying we all need to work together to restore order to the guilds," Wylie put in sht for toward Wylie and Longbranch "We are hoping that you will agree to join with us, also"

Next thing you know, they’ll break into a chorus of "Kuers on the table

"And then what happens?" Jason asked

Wylie straightened his sleeves, playing for tie?"

"I’overnance arrange her dark brows

"Did you have soether?" Nick asked

The three wizards looked at each other Of course they did

D’Orsay spoke for the first time "We know that Haley broke into Raven’s Ghyll and stole soical artifacts--sefas that have been in our faenerations" D’Orsay looked at Jason as if he hts belong to all of us," Wylie put in "We have reason to believe that they are here in the sanctuary"

"So what’s the point?" Nick asked, his legendary patience dwindling "What do you want?"

"We as taken froonheart"

It was like she’d dropped a bo each other

"The Dragonheart," Seph said, slowly and deliberately "And that is …"

"It’s the weapon of the age," Wylie snapped "Incredibly powerful"

"Really?" Jason leaned forward "Who told you that?"

"We have the book that you dropped in the ghyll when you attackedlittle Devereaux on the shoulder

"It was more like he ju" Devereaux half rose from his seat "You’re a thief, is what you are"

"Devereaux, now is not the ti his son down into his chair Devereaux jerked his ar

D’Orsay pretended not to notice "The journal very clearly says that anyone who controls the Dragonheart will rule the guilds Or destroy thebranch said "And ensure a lasting peace"

"Restore order," Nick said thoughtfully "A tricky business, to be sure"

"Don’t try to deny that it’s here," Longbranch said, cheeks flushed, as if she were overheated "We can feel its presence Surely you realize that things can’t go on as they have And, once things are stabilized, everyone at this table will have a role to play" Her gaze swept over the the cadaver One a many

"If we had a weapon," Seph said, "ould we share it with you?"

Wylie smiled "Powerful sefas must be handled with delicacy and skill Otherwise it is riskier to use the to take that risk for you"

"Generous," Nick onheart? Or will it be a stab in the dark?"