Page 107 of Cathmoir's Sons

Danny shakes his head. “The Straits are almost twice that deep. Caves could go even deeper.”

“While we’re placing the transponders, Luca can research spells that will allow us to dive deep without getting the bends,” Kellan says. “Rach and I trained for a month before we did the dive to recover Sagoru’s statue. We don’t have that kind of time here.”

I nod. I haven’t studied pressurization spells, but all Air mages learn basic charms for flying which include blood oxygenation. That seems like a good place to start.

“Maybe we should include a real healer on the team if depressurization is a risk,” Arch says.

“We have real healers,” Kellan responds, reaching under the table and squeezing my hand. “We’ll have even more when Rhodes gets back from Bevington. But an ounce of prevention and all that. I’d rather none of us have a gas embolism. Cami, if you’d help Luca with that research while we place the transponders, that would be great.”

The Seer nods. “No problem. One more thing.” She spins her tea mug between her hands. “I know my visions of Jakob Maher and his Wepwawet are clouded by my fears, but I’ve been Seeing shadows and hearing howling again.”

I grind my teeth. Law was right. We should have killed that asshole and dumped his body in his own well.

“When my brother gets back, he’ll patrol with some of our Cait,” I say. “They’ll find any jackals long before they find us.”

Arch nods. “I’ll do a few laps with them, get the lay of the land. I’ll also keep an eye out for rival teams. Other than Madavar’s team, any ideas on who we might expect?”

“Well, we know Carter won’t be here,” Cami says with a note of glee.

“Even with his contacts, it’s going to take him a while to get released,” Danny adds. “The Brits are extremely pissy about unregistered firearms. He’ll be lucky if all they do is deport him. I think he might actually spend some time at His Majesty’s pleasure.”

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” the Ink Mage chortles.

There are nods all around the table.

“Rhodes mentioned that the Capricorn Guild is fielding a team,” Kells says once the collective gloating settles down. “I think we should expect five to seven rival teams, including the one from Madavar. Van Wyke won’t be able to stay away, either, the peacock.”

“Without a team, van Wyke is going to struggle,” Arch says dismissively. “He’s not a Water mage. It occurs to me that our only real competition is likely to be from someone whose Element is Water.”

He’s surprisingly short-sighted for a team leader. Any Element could be useful in recovering Ulune’s Daughter; it just depends on the mage and how they use their magic.

I tip my head toward Kellan. “I’m not familiar with van Wyke.”

“Loosely affiliated with Amherst?—”

“So, of course, we hate him.”

Kellan chuckles. “Of course. Solo treasure hunter. He pulls in experts as needed, but he always works alone. Flamboyant but, particularly for a one-man band, very successful. Master illusionist.”

I file the information away and make a mental note to look up van Wyke while I’m researching pressurization spells.

“Who do you see as our biggest competition?” I ask.

“Probably Rowan’s team,” she admits. “Madavar’s resources are extensive. They can call on experts from any discipline. And Rowan always has a steady stream of undergrads who are willing to do research for him.”

“Even though he’s a dick,” I say.

“Even though he’s a dick,” Kellan agrees.

“Well, maybe the local Cait can tip the odds in our favor.”

Kellan grins at me.

When Rho returns,Kellan and I are in a back room of Ty Olewydd that was probably a family playroom until we started transforming it into a library and study. Kellan levitates bookshelves I’ve summoned from Cait House, fitting them against the walls, while I create a reading nook near the big back windows where the natural light is the best. The people who sold Law the house left a large, wooden desk in one of the upstairs bedrooms; I reposition it in front of the bookcases before stacking reference materials on the leather blotter.

Law leads Rhodes into the library. We break off what we’re doing to circle him. His eyes are red, and his hands are trembling. Whatever he found in Bevington wasn’t good.

Evan Lords follows Law and Rho into the library. I have nothing against the Capricorn, but I feel like I’ve seen enough of him recently. Olive House isourplace. Having Lords in it raises my hackles.

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