I spent the next few days in a sort of forced inactivity in Stonekeep Castle, so I read more from the book I found on magic and found some valuable insights there. It was obviously written by someone who was blessed with the same connection I have. There was a very large chamber on the two learning levels of the keep where I could practice certain spellcasting techniques with which I was experimenting so I wouldn’t damage anything. It wasn’t easy to learn to fly well, an ability that I had only stumbled upon recently, much less manage to summon other magic at the same time. I felt certain I would have to do both at the same time soon, so I practiced flying. When I felt comfortable doing it, I started using other magics as I flew around.

  I also spent some time practicing the extradimensional storage spell I planned to use with the bracelets Whizzbang was making. There was no one around to see me, so modesty wasn’t an issue when I whisked everything I was wearing to an extradimensional space. No matter how much I practiced, I couldn’t switch out one set of clothing for another, however. That sort of practicality needed to be part of several spells combined into one and making an item to do it all at once was definitely the way to go. It all had to be done fast, as there would be a moment where the person using the bracelet would be completely unclothed between the time the existing clothing was removed and the time the stored clothing was put on, so I thought some sort of illusion was necessary for the sake of decency. Maybe I could tailor make something for each bracelet. After all, Mira wouldn’t want something flashy if she was sneaking around and suddenly needed to change into her armor. On the other hand, I may want something noticeable. I made my armor to make a statement, to be distinctive, so maybe the act of changing into that armor should be just as memorable. I doubted that Bran and Elle would want something like that, though. They were much more modest people. I would have to think on it some.

  I spent a few hours each day in the Amber Throne scouting Aerie and checking up on Kromwell and all the bad people I knew of. I could still see nothing of Kromwell, Raynold and Bermin, so they must have still been in the palace at Fellton. They’d been in there for a long time, which seemed ominous to me. I couldn’t tell who was or was not a Xerith through the Amber Throne’s magic, either, which would’ve made things a lot easier. Instead, I actually had to be present and use Mordon’s helm if I wanted to know who was secretly a shapeshifter. I couldn’t see into the Temple of the Overgod, either. I could find and keep track of the leadership of Aerie and see how they reacted to other people, though. The king and queen of Aerie were youthful people in their late twenties who lived in the palace a short distance from the temple. They behaved like I would expect a king and queen to act when they were in court. When in private, however, their limbs sometimes moved in unnatural ways or spoke in a voice that didn’t belong in a human body. It was really creepy. They were definitely Xerith in disguise, as were their personal guards.

  The third day after our date, I teleported to Havanalil to Belimara’s home to pick up Mira’s new dress. Belimara was kind enough to have made a matching pair of slippers as well as the dress and slip I had asked for. Mira was going to love them. She had a thing about fabric. When she was young, her father only gave her rough-spun, itchy dresses of brown or gray to wear, so now she only wore the softest cotton whenever possible.

  The cape I ordered from Belimara turned out to be splendid. It was a dark blue color that went nicely with the bluish silver of adamantium. Belimara had bordered the entire cape in a half of an inch of silver thread, too. After thanking her, I took the parcels back to Stonekeep with me and made the clasps I needed for the cape out of gilded adamantium, then preserved the cape with magic to protect it from the ravages of time and normal wear. It was something the Pirate King had done with most of his possessions, and I was glad that I’d made finding out how he did it a priority. I had treated the leather straps in the articulations of my armor to the same magic as I made each piece. I intended to keep this set of armor for a very long time.

  The day after I finished enchanting my cape, Mira brought Whizzbang with her through the portal I made for her passage at breakfast time. He had four individually wrapped bundles that the bracelets must be in.

  “Good morning,” I said happily, giving her a kiss on the cheek as I accepted a plate of food with my breakfast on it.

  “Good morning,” Mira said as she graciously accepted the kiss.

  “Good morning to you, too, Whizzbang. Are those the bracelets I asked for?”

  “Indeed, they are. I can do without the kiss on the cheek, though,” Whizzbang said good-naturedly as he handed me the little bundles. He was looking all around him at the throne room with its golem sentinels and especially the Amber Throne I had just vacated. “Nice place. It certainly doesn’t disappoint.”

  “Thanks. I haven’t gotten around to painting yet, but I should have time soon,” I joked. I put the bracelets on the table. “Incidentally, don’t set foot on the dais, or the golems will chop you in half. If the killing spell doesn’t get you first, that is.”

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  “Seriously?” asked Whizzbang.

  “Yeah, he really means that,” Mira said. “You’ll know which doors you can’t go through if you approach because the golems raise an axe in warning.”

  “Good to know this is such a family friendly place,” Whizzbang murmured.

  “If you can give me a few minutes to eat, I’ll give you the grand tour,” I said.

  “Sure, sure. Take your time,” Whizzbang said graciously.

  I stood over the little table I had set next to the throne with my plate almost level with my mouth and ate as hurriedly as I could. While I was thus occupied, Whizzbang wandered slowly around the room, peering closely at the two portals and the golems. Compared to a thirty-foot-tall adamantine golem, a three-foot-tall Seeker was barely even visible. The head of the axe the golem carried was bigger than Whizzbang was. Mira filled me in on what was happening around the Smith house as I ate. There was never a dull moment there. I never spied on anyone in the family with the Throne because I didn’t want to catch someone in an intimate moment. My mom could read my face like a book and would know instantly if I saw anything I shouldn’t, and I didn’t have to be told that no one wanted to be spied on. Mira was content to tell me everything. It gave us something to talk about, too. I used a little magic to clean the plate and utensils off, then set them by the portal with a telekinetic spell.

  “Thanks for your patience. Ready for the tour?” I asked.

  “I’ve been waiting decades for this. I can’t wait another moment!” Whizzbang exclaimed happily.

  “You’ll be glad to know that I attuned you to certain portals just like I did with Mira, so you won’t need me to lead you around the keep. The golems guarding most places will not attack you, either. There are a few places that have very potent and deadly spells protecting them, so I made sure to keep those portals closed to you, so you aren’t killed before you know what’s happening,” I said.

  “I appreciate that,” Whizzbang said with only a little sarcasm.

  Since we were already close by, I showed him the library first, including how he could summon and reshelve the books by means of the central desk. I could tell he wanted to linger here, but he was a good guest and followed along with Mira and me anyway. I told him what was behind every door on the lord’s level as we moved through the hallways to the portal going to the level with the portals going to other areas within the keep. We showed him where the two learning levels were, where the supplies of food were, where the golems of the Adamantine Legion were stored, and where the smithy and foundries were.

  The only thing I kept from Whizzbang was the level where the grand conjuration chamber was, but I told him what was behind the portal so he wouldn’t be curious. I kept the fact that there were vaults full of precious metals and gems on that level to myself, which may have been a little selfish. Some people would do anything to get in there, so knowledge of that place should not be floating around. I had the feeling that the incredible wealth in there was not mine to use for selfish reasons. It was probably meant to finance a war, and I hoped it would never be used.

  The last thing I showed Whizzbang was the portal to the roof so he could get in and out. I remembered that he knew invisibility and flying magic from the battle at the Surekeels’ house those years ago, so he’d have no trouble getting in unnoticed. From what I knew of Whizzbang, he wouldn’t want that kind of attention, either.

  “I understand you’re taking a risk in providing access to me to this place, Jeron, and I want you to know that I won’t betray your trust,” Whizzbang said earnestly.

  “I’ve always known you were trustworthy, ever since the Surekeel thing. I’m sure we won’t regret it,” I said.

  “You know, if you showed me flying magic, I could get up here by myself and come and go as I needed,” Mira said with obvious deviousness.

  Whizzbang chuckled. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked about that yet. Yes, I’ll teach you that magic soon. I think you’ve worked your way up to it, and you can handle that one. There are a few other things I think you should learn, too. All in good time.”

  Mira smiled widely. “I’ve been waiting years to hear you say that. Thanks!”

  “You’ve worked hard. You’ve earned it,” Whizzbang confessed. “I may have held you back a bit because I like the company if I’m completely honest.”

  “That’s easy to forgive,” Mira said. “We’re friends. What do you say about showing me some things in the big practice room?”

  “Lead the way, oh most talented pupil.”

  We stepped back through the portal into the main concourse. “What about you, Jeron? Do you want to join us?” Mira asked.

  “I need to enchant those bracelets, and I think it’ll be very exhausting and time-consuming work. I’ll be in the living area of my rooms if you need to find me,” I said.

  “All right, then,” Mira said.

  “I have your parcel from Havanalil in my suite also, if you want to come by and pick it up later,” I said in parting.

  “Subtle,” Mira said with an arched eyebrow. She walked off down the hall with Whizzbang.

  I wanted to spend time with her, but she needed to be with Whizzbang for a while. The whole reason I made the deal about the bracelets with him in the first place was so he would be around here more. He would learn things from the library, and he would teach Mira things I couldn’t. He probably knew I had that aim in the first place, but he didn’t mind that I was fostering an atmosphere of cooperation. I was definitely not using him. Whizzbang was no one’s fool, as he was fourteen times older than me, and he was very intelligent. He’d see right through me if I tried to trick him. In all, I thought everyone agreed that this new arrangement would work out very well. If he wanted to go so far as to take up residence here, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Good friends were hard to find and allies who would fight alongside you were even more rare. Whizzbang was both.