“That’ll do for now,” he said. “You’ve improved. But you still have a long way to go. Clean your tack and give her a good rubdown.”

I muffled a groan when my feet hit the ground. Grooming Quartz was enjoyable, but cleaning the stiff leather tack with a rag and saddle soap was a nightmare.

By the time I finished my chores, the stables were empty of students. I led Quartz into her stall, checked her water bucket and fed her the promised milk oats.

Ulrick arrived to escort me to my rooms. My annoyance over his wrong assumption that he could defend against a magician better than me faded when he smiled. His concern was unexpected and nice. No one else in the Keep had worried about me before. I enjoyed his company. And there remained the chance he might link his arm in mine again.

My thoughts flicked to Kade. I had shared his mind. The Stormdancer saved my life twice; I still owed him one. But he was wrapped in his own stormy world. A world where I didn’t belong. While I fit right into Ulrick’s world.

In a bold move, I linked my arm in his. He pulled me close and I could have happily walked for days with him by my side.

Too soon, we stopped at the bathhouse so I could wash off the grimy horsehair clinging to my sweaty skin. He escorted me to my quarters and even checked inside for intruders.

“See you tomorrow,” he said. “Lock your door.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted.

“Opal, this is serious. You could be hurt or worse.”

“I know that. It’s just easier sometimes not to think too much about it, or I’ll never leave my rooms.”

“Good plan. Never leave your rooms without me.”

“Now who’s joking?” I teased, but his seriousness failed to diminish.

“I’ll wait outside until I hear your lock click. Good night.” He left, but, as promised, he stood with his arms crossed just past the threshold.

I closed the door. As I turned the bolt on the lock, I couldn’t suppress a slice of worry. His overprotectiveness might infringe on my freedom to come and go as I pleased—one of the best perks in being an apprentice. But my emotions flipped. It could also be a sign of his wanting to become more than friends—an appealing prospect.

Three solid days were spent assisting Aydan and teaching his new assistant, Leda, how to handle the hot glass in the mornings. Once I’d let Fisk know Aydan sought a helper, Leda had arrived the next day.

Quick to learn, the young woman, much to Aydan’s annoyance, beamed as she worked. Her demeanor remained placid despite his bursts of ill humor. Calluses lined her fingers and palms. Leda was no stranger to physical labor. I should have talked to Fisk sooner.

I suppressed a grin. Aydan would have a difficult time chasing Leda away, and he might even enjoy her company in time. When we were confident she could handle the glassmaker’s demands, Ulrick and I left the workshop to spend the afternoon talking with suppliers.

Ulrick and I had ordered all the glass equipment we could from the Citadel’s craftsmen. The next step would require a trip to Booruby to purchase a kiln.

Ulrick had been my constant companion these past days. I already missed him and I hadn’t even finished packing. My saddlebags bulged with supplies and with the small orb I had taken from Sir and his group. I wanted to show my father the glass spiders. Zitora had been too busy for us to discuss the strange magical incident further, and I wanted to wait until the glass shop at the Keep was finished to experiment with magic. It seemed safer.

I packed the spiders in a leather bag and left the orb empty just in case I was ambushed on my way home, hoping I would be able to defend myself.

Zitora promised to assign an escort for me, but couldn’t say who it would be. At dawn the next morning, I arrived at the stables. Unease over the trip rippled in my stomach until I spotted my companion. Leif.

He adjusted the straps on Rusalka’s saddle. “How’s my favorite glass wizard this morning?” he asked.

I laughed. He said the same thing to me every time I saw him. Quartz poked her head out of her stall and I hurried to get her ready for travel.

“What did Zitora bribe you with to babysit me?” I asked.

It was his turn to chuckle. “I volunteered once I heard where you’re going.”

“You’re just using me to get to my sister.”

“Of course. Otherwise I would hate you—you get way too much attention around here. And you know me, I…”

“Like to be in the middle of things, getting in the way,” I teased.

He pretended to be hurt. “Perhaps I should let one of those boring guards accompany you.”

“As long as he is handsome. I hear Mara is rather lonely.”

He gave me a rueful grin. “Touché.”

I threaded my new sheath through Quartz’s saddle. While traveling on horseback, I would save time by having my sais on each side of the saddle instead of fumbling for them through my cloak. The need for the weapons dampened my playful mood.

“Did Zitora tell you why I needed a companion?” I asked Leif.

He mounted Rusalka and nodded.

“There could be five of them trying to get to me.”

“I hope I’ll sense them before we stumble into an ambush, and I’ve learned a few things from Valek.” His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. A machete also hung from his belt. “And a few magical defenses from Yelena.”

Yelena’s name reminded me of the discussion the Masters had about the Moon Clan’s troubles. “Why aren’t you with your sister?”