Summary

Conn wakes up the next day at Heartsease. He thinks “it was good to be home” (262). Conn lies in bed and contemplates the cold weather outside and the power of his locus magicalicus. He thinks “No other wizard had ever had a locus magicalicus like this” (262). He wonders why he received the stone came to him out of all people. Conn gets up and goes downstairs, where he begins preparations in the kitchen. When he goes outside to get water, the blackbirds in the tree in the courtyard suddenly swarm him, fly around him, and return to the tree. Conn goes back inside, where Benet is sitting in the kitchen. He asks to see Conn’s locus magicalicus and Conn refuses, citing the danger of holding another’s stone.

When Conn brings breakfast to Nevery’s study, he finds Keeston, who accuses him...