could not quite bring herself to meet Adon's gaze. “Maybe we're in an area of especially wild magic,” she suggested. “Since the Time of Troubles, no one's really bothered to map out all the places where the gods' fall made spells unpredictable. Tegea could be-” “The devoted of Mystra need not refrain from casting spells in areas known for wild magic,” Adon said pedantically, then faced the young woman. “You know that as well as I do. Besides, we can both guess why my first spell didn't succeed.” The novice shook her head. “There must be another explanation.” “No. What happened is a sign of Mystra's disappointment in me,” he said. “If I don't discover why she's displeased with me before we leave Tegea, I fear I never will.” When the sun rose the next morning, it found Adon standing in the center of Tegea. Behind him, a bubbling spring spilled out of the mountainside to fill a stone basin with cold, clear water. In front of him was a small plaza enclosed by the stone walls of several two-story houses. Dozens of women wearing white blouses and colorful skirts stood in the square, their heads swaddled in black shawls and veils. In their hands, they held the empty wooden buckets they filled each morning at the water basin. “Mystra's magic will protect you from Lord Gorgias,” said Adon, one hand casually resting on the head of his mace. “All I need from you is one who'll trust me to prove it.” When none of the women stepped forward to volunteer, Corene moved into the crowd and touched the veil of a thin woman. “Come now, do you wish to wear these masks for the rest of your lives?” “What's done is done,” said the woman. “Sarafina thought she was too beautiful to marry the duke, and now we must all live with the consequences.” “This is not Sarafina's doing!” boomed Adon. “Lord Gorgias cursed your village, and it's cowardice to blame Sarafina because she won't yield to his demands.” “That's easy enough for you to say,” yelled a matronly woman. “You don't live in Tegea.” A chorus of agreement answered from the crowd, then another woman said, “Even if you can help us, what happens when you leave?” “I'll tell you what happens,” said the thin woman. “Lord Gorgias punishes us for defying him.” “No, he won't,” said Corene, stepping to her patriarch's side. She gave Adon a dutiful glance, then added, "I'll be staying behind to make sure that doesn't
happen.“ ”A lot of good she'll do us,“ said the matronly woman, glaring at Adon. ”If your idea of bravery is to leave a little girl behind to fight the duke, I want nothing to do with you.“ ”Inside a week, she'll be scrubbing Lord Gorgias's floors and begging for gruel,“ called another. ”No!“ cried Adon. ”With the power of Our Lady, she's strong enough to prevail over any foe-even Lord Gorgias.“ From the back of the plaza, a familiar voice called, ”Then let her prove it.“ A narrow lane opened in the crowd, and Sarafina walked forward, a pair of empty water pails in her hands. When she reached the basin, she dropped the buckets at Corene's feet, then reached up to her veil. ”If you are strong enough to protect us from Lord Gorgias, then make me beautiful again.“ ”No, Sarafina!“ shouted the matron. ”If you ask strangers for help, we'll all pay the price.“ ”At least we still have our hands to work with,“ cried another woman. ”Don't make Lord Gorgias any angrier, or he'll take those away, too.“ The thin woman stepped toward Sarafina. ”Haven't you caused enough trouble already?“ ”I'm suffering the same as you-probably more so, considering the hardship your anger has caused my family's inn,“ Sarafina replied. ”But the duke is evil, and I'd rather die than marry him.“ ”There are tortures worse than death,“ said the thin woman. ”And your stubbornness is visiting them upon us all.“ ”If you prize your appearance so highly, then you marry him,“ countered Sarafina, ripping off her veil. ”As for me, I'll parade my ugliness past all the men of the village before I sell my virtue and yield to the duke.“ Adon gasped at what the duke's curse had done to Sarafina's face. From the eyes downward, her appearance