Thom, coming out of a meeting with Alanna, Numair, Keladry, and Raoul, was startled to see that Allyanna was in the dining hall, serving the wine for the next meeting. He had expected her not to be up and about. Then he remembered that she had to be up. Slaves had no choice.

When Allyanna came to him, she showed no recognition to him, but offered him the tray as she always had these past weeks. He took a cup, thanking her softly as she backed up. She bowed slightly to Maggur and moved away.

Thom, looking down, saw a slip of white paper on his lap. Picking it up, he read

Thank you.

He read it twice, then looked up at her. After a moment he bowed his head slightly. She barely glanced at him, but he knew she'd seen.

That night, George and Thom both went down towards the slave rooms. They were surprised to hear music, the soft tunes of a flute and other instruments playing harmoniously. They paused, caught by the music. Then they heard someone's voice join in. Although they didn't know the language, they could tell it was a prayer at the same time as a song, and a tale.

Although they didn't know how long they were there, they knew all to well when the music stopped. They stared at each other, then George said softly,

"Now we know where that power came from."

Thom nodded and the two made their way back up the stairs, intending to wait a while. First, though, they talked to Numair.

"It was magic, pure and simple. I've never heard music so enchanting. And the first night I went in, and all nights after, I couldn't come close to touching the slaves." After a moment, George said softly "I think it's that Allyanna girl who starts the power flow. She has to be. But I've never seen magic like it."

Numair frowned, then said "If you'll let me, I'd like to look into your mind and memory, see if I can find what it is."

George nodded, and Numair placed his hand on his friend's forehead. He saw exactly what had happened, but noticed more than the thief. And he heard the communication between the girls, and was surprised. When he pulled his hand back, he drew a deep, sharp breath.

"I've never seen anything like it," he said softly. "In all my years, I've never seen four like that."

"Four? I though we were dealing with one here," George said. Numair explained what he'd seen and heard, surprising his friends.

"Those two have almost as much power as me. Combined..." He sighed then and turned away. "It will be hard, but we must get them on our side. If Maggur was to learn about our friends..." He shook his head. "They're frightened. They think, from what I gathered, that what people say, that we don't have slaves, they think it a lie or a rumor. Either is bad. But for them to trust us, we must find out how to overcome their fear. Maybe if we could buy them, then free them..."

Thom spoke up. "I can help. Allyanna already trusts me, at least a bit. I can try to talk to her, see if I can help with this." He looked at his father. "What do you think, Da?"

"I think that I want to just get them to see the truth, no matter what. As long as we can make them see that no Tortallans have slaves, at least where our Majesties are concerned, I'll be happy."

Numair nodded. "Then we'd best tell Alanna."

Allyanna sighed softly as she prepared for bed and the guards came. "At least the young ones will sleep well," she said softly to Janien, who smiled and nodded.

Shasha smiled. "I'm glad that we are still together, though we are in slavery."

Drelasy nodded. "We've been friends for years, but they had a chance to break it. I wonder why they did not?"

Allyanna shook her head. "I thought we learned this early. Don't question things like that. It just gives you headaches."

They all laughed softly, then bid the others good night. The four mages, however, were wide awake.

There it was, the soft rasp of the opening door.

They're late tonight, Janien said to Allyanna.

We should be happy for that. Some of them are mages, remember? They would have heard our song earlier, and that would give us all away.

Oh well, time to go to work! Drelasy said softly, smiling into her pillow.

Wait! Don't put up the shield, not yet. It's not the other two. This is the black-robe, Numair. Don't do anything until the last moment. It was Allyanna, who'd sensed the difference in presence.

Instead of looking around, Numair went towards the bed. Just as his hand went down, a small bolt of light hit his hand, shooting him backwards a foot. A shield came up, stronger than the one he'd seen in George's memory. Shaking his head, he stood.

"You needn't fear me. I only came to talk," he said softly.

Janien snorted in her friends' minds. He just wants to talk? Oh, that's a new one.

Shasha suddenly sat up slowly. Allyanna shifted slightly to see her friend. What are you doing!

If I get a good look at him, I can see into his mind. Perhaps I can learn more than you did.

She's right. It could be that we need to know more. Just be careful, Shasha, said Janien.

Shasha looked straight at Numair, flinching only slightly when he came closer. Then she stared into his eyes, her gaze searching.

Numair stopped where he was, held by the gaze of this new girl. He saw the changing colors of her eyes. He didn't know how long it was until she looked away and laid back down, but he sensed her confusion. Turning, he left them to their thoughts, hoping that he'd helped more than hurt.

What'd you see? Allyanna asked, sitting up.

They don't keep slaves. He is the strongest of the Tortallan mages. He knows of us, and our fears. Let us hope he knows no more.

Janien stood and walked to the slave counter to grab their drinks. It strained her chain to do so, but she knew they'd need it. Then all four sat down and compared options, and made their last decisions.