A few days later Seth was walking across the courtyard to the Fire Tower for a meeting with Professor Rebecca about his probation. Seth was a little worried how it would go. The Menagerie was a mess and the deer familiar was still missing.

  That kid Michael tried to blame Mau. Initially Seth thought that was bullshit, that it was Michael's fault the deer ran away, that he should have treated it better. But then Seth realized that the deer might not have run away. It might have been stolen. There could be more going on than he could see.

  Seth was concerned for the small deer. Mau kept telling him it was fine, but wouldn't answer any questions about what had happened to it. Seth didn't believe Mau had eaten the little deer, no matter what Michael said. Sure, she was a leopard cub, a cat, and all cats hunted little animals. But he'd never seen Mau kill anything, not even one of the rabbits.

  She was currently draped over his shoulder and trying to nap. She'd been sleeping all day. Again. Well, maybe it wasn't strange for a cub to sleep so much. At least she wasn't up at night keeping him awake.

  He raised a hand and scratched her head, and she leaned into the scritches.

  Outside of the Celestial Tower, Seth paused, studying the tower. It was made of dark stone, and most closely resembled the Fire Tower. This stone wasn't obsidian though, it was something else. It was translucent, and absorbed light like it was shining through to somewhere dark and distant, a window into deep secrets.

  "I've been thinking about the professors here at school, Mau," Seth said very quietly. "He–you know who–said that it's fine for me to just stay at school and not try to do anything."

  Mau raised her head to look at him.

  "There has to be a reason for that. A reason that me just existing here helps his plans. The only one I can figure is that he thinks the killer is already here. If that's the case, my guess would be one of the professors. Nearly all of them are the right age. They would have been adults ten years ago, some much longer than that."

  If one of these people had killed his mom, he wanted to find them. The possibility that one of these people could look directly at him and smile, teach him magic, and be the person who murdered his mother, was unforgivable.

  Mau's heavy tail swished, thumping him in the back.

  "So many of them have other things that they're doing, too. Professor Kaban was at the Palace, and is some kind of knight." Seth nodded at the Celestial Tower before looking over at the Rainbow Tower. "I think Professor Laur was there, too." Seth took a few steps to the side to bring the Wind Tower into view. "Professor Armand was one of the lead investigators when Blaise was taken." Seth studied the courtyard with all the elemental towers in front of him, then turned and looked at the library and classroom buildings behind him. "Professor Isolde has a familiar and black market ritual business."

  Mau followed his gaze and then nodded at the Circle Tower.

  "Yeah. That one. I don't know what to do about that. He said to leave that one alone, so that means it has the most interesting or dangerous things going on in there."

  For some reason, Mau shuddered.

  "Did you see something in there? I know you saw Jay doing the sabotage. We hadn't worked out how to talk to each other then, at least, not well."

  Mau nodded, and slid a paw across her neck.

  "You saw someone killed? No, dead? Yes, dead, but no? Not dead. Yes they were dead, but something else? Here, get down so you can tell me properly."

  Mau resisted being put down, but didn't try too hard to cling to his clothes. Once on the ground she signed, 'Scary', and then spun in her 'no vocabulary' circle.

  "So scary you have no words? What was it?"

  'No vocabulary.'

  "That usually doesn't stop you. You just make up new signs without telling me."

  Mau rolled her eyes and collapsed dramatically on the ground. Then she stood slowly and shambled around. After a moment she looked back at Seth and waved a paw, 'Well?'

  "Yeah, I have no idea. I didn't realize you were trying to tell me something for most of that."

  Mau collapsed again, even more dramatically. She rolled on her back and stuck her paws in the air. Then she twitched and slowly got up in awkward, hitching movements. She walked in a lurching shuffle, like she was badly injured, stiffly dragging one paw.

  "Nope. I got nothing. I have no idea what you're trying to tell me." Seth looked past her at the Circle Tower. The carved bone of the tower gleamed in the afternoon sun. Beautiful, shining, and macabre all at once.

  He wondered what spells he should know before he tried to learn what secrets were hiding there. Probably more than a few that he didn't know the names of yet.

  As he stared at the tower, Arnold and Isaac stepped out of it. The way their heads were tilted together made Seth think they were whispering.

  Mau noticed them, too. She abruptly stopped her awkward shambling and pointed both ears at the two older boys.

  "Go on, I'll catch up," Seth said and waved Mau forward.

  Mau bounded away, and darted behind one of the benches outside the tower. She quickly crept up behind the two.

  Seth followed more slowly. Maybe Mau would hear something interesting or maybe they were just making lunch plans. He'd give her a chance to find out.

  That ended up not working out. Within a few moments Arnold glanced behind him and saw Seth, then scanned around looking for Mau. She was out of sight, and stayed that way, but the conversation between Arnold and Isaac did not continue.

  Seth pretended not to see the glare Arnold sent his way. It was irritating how Seth's very existence seemed to set Arnold off. Seth would never admit it with Isaac around, but Arnold had been right about everything so far.

  Seth was dangerous to the other students here.

  Benjamin wanted all the student records on talents. Seth glanced back at the Administration building. Yeah, he had no plans to deliver on that any time soon. He was also certain he would be manipulated into doing it eventually. He might even come to believe it was the right thing to do.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Maybe Benjamin had good reasons. Maybe what he did could be justified.

  Seth felt a stab of guilt. Maybe Benjamin was right when he said he saved Saben's life. But that didn't change the fact that Saben lost something precious, and Seth was the tool Benjamin used to do it.

  He was more than a little apprehensive of what things Benjamin might do to coerce him.

  Seth picked up his pace. He didn't want to think about this anymore. Dealing with whatever Professor Rebecca had in mind for the remainder of his probation was preferable.

  Mau jumped up on his shoulder just as he entered the Fire Tower behind Arnold. Isaac stared at Seth for a moment before walking away.

  Seth watched Isaac leave. When Seth had first met him, he'd thought Isaac was friendly and easy going. Then when Isaac's friendship with Arnold became apparent, Seth felt Isaac was a bit two faced, at least to Seth. He was friendly in front of everyone else, but abrupt or standoffish to Seth. Lately though, he'd been distinctly hostile.

  "What's his problem?" Seth asked Arnold.

  "You."

  Of course. Seth suppressed a frustrated sigh. He glanced back at Arnold, who was studying him like a hawk hunting a snake. In that moment Seth realized the hostility was intentional. They wanted him upset.

  Seth took a deep, calming breath. He wouldn't give them power over him. "I'd ask what I did this time, but I don't think it matters anymore."

  Seth glanced around the common area just past the Fire Tower foyer. The braziers had big fires blazing away, and several of the clusters of red velvet chairs were occupied. It was busy enough that Arnold wouldn't start anything.

  "You set us up," Arnold said quietly.

  Or maybe he would. "What?" Seth said, and stopped.

  "You heard me. What happened to Hugh, Seth?" Arnold stepped close and loomed over Seth.

  "I don't know what you're talking about." Not interested in an altercation moments before his probation hearing, Seth ducked past Arnold and knocked on the office door for Professor Rebecca.

  At her word, he opened the door. "Oh," she said, lifting her quill off the page and frowning at him. "I was hoping it was Professor Isolde. She's clearly running late, why don't you two take a seat until she arrives." Professor Rebecca waved Seth and Arnold away.

  "Of course, Professor," Seth said. He closed the door, and headed straight to the only single chair in the common room.

  Arnold was quicker and pulled the chair away before Seth could reach it.

  "Hugh never came back to school," Arnold said quietly. "He went out to Laureli after you tipped me off about Thurstan. He never came back. What did your 'benefactor' do to him?"

  Seth met Arnold's hawklike glare. Seth remembered seeing Hugh and being glad Arnold took his warning seriously. "I saw him there. He was staying at the same inn the rest of us were."

  "You were there?" Arnold hissed, and pointed a finger at Seth. "Where is he? What did you do?" His finger would have stabbed into Seth's chest if Mau hadn't growled. Arnold's eyes flicked up to the silver leopard perched on Seth's shoulder. Her ears were fully back and her teeth were bared.

  "Mau, stop," Seth said and laid a hand on her head. "I'm here right now because you over reacted. Please don't escalate," he said to the cat. To Arnold he said, "I didn't do anything. I was there with Blaise, Duvessa, Booth, and Owen. We found a dungeon in the inn we were staying at and a secret passage into tunnels beneath the town."

  Arnold scoffed. "You think I'm going to believe anything out of your mouth?"

  "You don't have to. Ask Blaise. She won't lie to you. Ask Booth or Duvessa. Duvessa had guards there. Ask them. I will say this though. The artifact you're looking for was always in Thurstan's hands. Benjamin never had it."

  "Now I know you're lying. There was something on that caravan and you know what it was."

  "Yes, I do. It was an egg. An egg that smashed when the wagon went over the cliff. I don't know who it was supposed to go to, but I'm betting Thurstan. I don't know any more than that."

  Seth stepped past Arnold and flopped down in one of the plump chairs. Mau dropped into his lap. "I don't know what happened to Hugh. Things were really tense when we left. An illusionary ogre attacked the town and we got on Duvessa's carriage and fled. Hugh was still there."

  Arnold stared at him. "An illusionary ogre attacked the town. Do you think I'm stupid? You're so full of shit."

  "Whatever." Seth leaned back and closed his eyes.

  If Arnold had been less of an asshole, Seth would have been happy to compare notes and try to solve the theft problem with him. As it was, Seth had given Arnold way more information than Arnold had ever given him. He was done talking.

  "I know you're lying and you need to tell me what happened to my friend," Arnold insisted.

  Seth ignored him and scratched Mau's ears. He was hoping she'd relax, but she didn't. Her ears stayed flat and her eyes stayed riveted on Arnold.

  Arnold pushed the chair, spinning it a couple of inches. "My friend is missing, and you know what happened to him. Don't think I'm going to let this go. Last I heard from Laureli, half the town burned to the ground. There's nothing 'illusionary' about that."

  Seth hadn't heard about that, at least, not yet. Blaise or Duvessa would probably hear about it soon if they didn't know already. "I told you to talk to Blaise. I've done nothing but give you information about all of this. I told you about tree images being swapped. I told you about Hellena and Laureli. I told you about the egg. I told you about the artifact. You've given me nothing. You're not worth talking to anymore, Arnold. Go away and leave me alone. I have nothing more to give you."

  Seth leaned back and closed his eyes again. Mau continued to growl softly.

  "Fine," Arnold said, and sighed. "A week ago a body was found on campus and turned in to the Circle Tower."

  Seth opened his eyes and looked up at Arnold. Arnold's lips twisted and he stared at the floor.

  "The cause of death was determined to be a type of severe mana burn. Like a magical disruption had ruptured his soul." Arnold met Seth's gaze. "This person was a late developing talent. He was in his mid twenties and had started attending school this semester."

  "That's really late for a talent," Seth said, surprised.

  "It is, unless the talent was stolen."

  "You think he had a stolen talent, and the talent caused the disruption that killed him?" Seth asked. The implications were horrifying.

  "I do. His talent 'manifested' about six months ago. It checks out. My talent was gone about half that long, but mine was a stronger talent than his." Arnold chuckled darkly. "On one hand, they're thieves. I don't have a lot of sympathy. On the other, someone is murdering people by selling them stolen talents."

  Suddenly Seth really missed his bracelet.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting," Professor Rebecca announced, and gestured to the boys. "Come with me, and let's get this settled." She turned back to her office, her red scarf trailing behind her.

  Seth got up to follow her immediately, with Mau tucked under his arm, eager to escape the conversation with Arnold.

  "Right. Sit, both of you," Professor Rebecca said as she sat at her desk. It was the same office they'd had their first meeting in.

  "Isn't there supposed to be a second professor here, Professor Rebecca?" Arnold asked as he pulled up his chair.

  "There is. Unfortunately Professor Isolde is late. If she is going to–Well, never mind. I'm going to change the terms." Professor Rebecca watched the two boys. "You are both on probation due to the actions of your familiars, for casting hostile magic, and harming another student. As you both know, the Menagerie is closed. So re-educating your familiars there is no longer viable."

  "Was the small deer found, Professor?" Seth asked.

  "It was not. A member of the royal family has decided to take the Menagerie in hand. There will be new staff and a new director soon, I imagine. Regardless, that won't happen in time to resolve this situation. So. After discussion with Professors Isolde, Hayden, and Laur, we were going to have your probation moved to Professor Isolde's care. At the moment, I don't think that is workable either, if she isn't able to attend disciplinary meetings, among other things, I'm concerned about her schedule being untenable for you as well. Therefore, I've decided to let your probation rest. I won't cancel it, and it will continue to the end of the semester, but so long as you both stay out of trouble, I won't require any more of either of you."

  Seth was relieved. He'd have more time to study spells. Staying out of trouble shouldn't be too hard, so long as Mau cooperated. Since he'd worked out how to talk to her, she'd become so much better behaved. And probation would be ending in about two months.

  "There is a caveat," Professor Rebecca added. "You were both at the Menagerie when the deer familiar was lost. If it comes to light that either of you were involved, you can expect consequences."

  "Of course, Professor," Seth said. "Thank you for being so understanding."

  "Yes, thanks," Arnold said.

  "Right. Stay out of trouble, keep your familiars in hand, and I don't want to see either of you in my office again. Dismissed."