turned into the side chapel. Jonah spotted Jack Swift and Ellen Stephenson at the back of the chapel, sprawled across the last pew, their swords propped up beside them. Working security, no doubt. Jonah and Gabriel found their way to seats three rows from the front.
Looking forward, Jonah saw that Leesha Middleton and Mercedes Foster were seated in the front row.
About a dozen people were ranged around a conference table that had been set up on the dais. McCauley was the only one Jonah recognized. Mercedes Foster paused to speak with them on her way to the front of the church. “Hello, Gabriel, Jonah.”
The crowd in the sanctuary was restive, seething. Some of the spectators seemed to be in an ugly mood. “This looks like a lynch mob,” Jonah murmured. “Is it always like this?”
“Feelings are running high about the Montessori kidnapping,” Mercedes said. “I hope you wore your bulletproof vests.” She rolled her eyes. “Look on the bright side . . . it will make for a lively discussion.”
“Do you think we should defer introducing the representation proposal?” Gabriel asked.
Mercedes shook her head. “I hope we’ll get support, if not here, then in the town at large. Your Natalie was like a goodwill ambassador for the Anchorage when she was here. Everybody was impressed with her.” The sorcerer looked around. “I thought you were going to bring her today.”
“I was,” Gabriel said. “But then I had a request for a healer to see a seriously ill patient. I hoped she’d be back in time to come with us today, but I understand it’s been a tough case.”
That’s just what Natalie needed, after Mose, Jonah thought. Another tough case. Some savants lived with their extended families outside of Gabriel’s complex, but many of them still came to the Anchorage for health care.
As Mercedes walked on up the aisle, Gabriel studied the crowd. “I’ve never seen so many mainliners at one of these meetings,” he murmured.
Jonah recognized some faces from his previous visit to Trinity. The angry parents who had confronted McCauley were all there, and then some. Scanning the crowd, Jonah saw Ms. Morrison, Ms. Hudson, and Mr. Scavuzzo in the audience.
“Gabriel,” Jonah said. “There’s something you should know about what happened at the sparring match. Some parents seemed to think—”
Somebody tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Ellen leaning over the back of the pew. “Jonah! Did you get my texts? We were hoping you’d come work out.”
“Oh. Right. I did get your texts, I should have answered back. I’ve been buried in—in schoolwork,” Jonah said. “Jonah is serving an apprenticeship with me,” Gabriel said. “Learning the music business. Between that and school and his own music, he doesn’t have time to do much else.”
“Speaking of music, Mr. Mandrake, we’re looking for a local band to play at a private party,” Ellen said. “An indie band, that plays original music. Not too pricey. I thought you might have a recommendation.”
“If you e-mail Patrick in my office, he’ll be able to send you a list, by genre,” Gabriel said.
Just then, McCauley banged his gavel. “We have a full agenda, so let’s get this thing started,” he said. He looked around. “I see lots of new faces here. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Seph McCauley, secretary of the council.” He nodded toward a young woman on his right,who glowed brighter than anyone else in the room.
“I’m Madison Moss, council chair,” she said. Madison Moss was a tall, rangy girl whose wavy hair was pulled back in a clip. She wore a long, divided skirt, cowboy boots, and a handwoven scarf wrapped three times around her neck. “That’s the Dragon Heir,” Gabriel murmured. “The source of power for all mainliners.”
Jonah had difficulty matching her up with the way he’d heard her described by wizards. She didn’t look much like a despot, to tell the truth. Just now the notorious Dragon Heir seemed to be doodling on a sketch pad hidden under the table.
“She’s not that much older than me,” Jonah said.
“She’s had to grow up fast,” Gabriel said. “She’s not entirely comfortable in this role.”
“I’d like to welcome back Leander Hastings and Linda Downey,” Moss said. “As y’all know, they’ve been cataloging the weaponry, manuscripts, and other heirloom items at Dragon’s Ghyll in the UK. They’ll be presenting a report on their progress.”
Hastings raised one hand in acknowledgment.
“They’re McCauley’s parents,” Gabriel said. “They were active in the underguild rebellion for years. Hastings is a wizard, Downey an enchanter.”
“Really?” Jonah had never seen an enchanter in the flesh—if you didn’t count looking in the mirror. He leaned forward, angling for a better view. Then, just as quickly, he shifted his gaze away. He knew what it was like to be stared at.
Madison Moss introduced the others around the table, which included representatives from each of the mainline guilds.
“We expect Rowan DeVries to be here as well, from the Wizard Guild,” McCauley said, gesturing at an empty chair.
“He must have been delayed.”
“Now,” Moss said, scanning some notes in front of her.
“Before we get into the agenda, are there any announcements?” Gabriel stood up. “We have a quick announcement,” he said.
“Of course,” Moss said, squinting to see who had spoken.
“Mr.—”
“I’m Gabriel Mandrake,” he said. “And this is my associate, Jonah Kinlock.” Gabriel motioned to Jonah, who reluctantly pushed to his feet. “We want to remind you all to buy your tickets for the annual Thorn Hill benefit concert, which will be held on March fifteenth, at the Keep.” A murmur ran through the sanctuary, mingled excitement and disapproval.
“As usual, we have a fantastic lineup . . . some great local bands, as well as rare appearances by Lisbet and Fallen Angels.”
“We’re going, Jack,” Ellen whispered, behind Jonah. “I love Lisbet.”
“Tickets go on sale next week,” Gabriel continued. “And they’re expected to go fast. In the meantime, I hope you’ll check out our silent auction online. You’ll find lots of rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts and donations by musicians from all over the world. And if any of you have donations for the auction or the cause, Jonah here . . .” Jonah raised his hand.
“Jonah will be happy to take your pledges.”
A buzz of excited commentary followed. Fragments reached Jonah’s ears.
“Let’s move on to new business,” Moss said, over the muted din. “Mercedes?”
The sorcerer Mercedes Foster stood. “We have a request from the survivors of the Thorn Hill disaster to be given representation on council. I support this request, and I would like to introduce this issue for discussion in preparation for a motion.”
“All right,” Moss said. “Is there discussion?”
Scavuzzo raised his hand. “There are representatives from every guild on the council already. Why single them out for special treatment?”
“I can speak to that,” Gabriel said. He stood. “We believe that the issues confronting the savant survivors of Thorn Hill are different enough from those of the mainline guilds that they could benefit from having a voice on council.”
A seer stood up. “Will we have a representative for every kind of disability, then? How about nearsighted people?”
Linda Downey raised her hand. “It seems to me that the distinction is that here we’re speaking of magical differences, not physical or racial distinctions. If the savants are magically different from the other guilds, then that might warrant their being given representation on council.”
Morrison stood, claiming the floor. “It seems to me that residents of Thorn Hill are either in the magical
