When Rhode and Lilia returned to the Magic Tower in Durnholde Keep, they found two more mages there.
They were none other than the Apprentice Magic User and Novice Magic User who had gone away on business before Rhode arrived.
Clearly, they had heard about the upheaval in Durnholde and hurried back to see what had happened.
As it turned out, all that had changed for them was their leader-and their new leader was friendlier and stronger.
Stronger was the important part.
In the world of mages, strength still commanded respect.
The two mages therefore quickly adapted to the new situation and followed Rhode's instructions, just like the other magic apprentices.
Their return was well timed, too. They could help Sally with her work. After all, they held fairly high positions in the tower and were more capable than the other magic apprentices.
Otherwise, whenever he went out, Sally would have to run the Magic Tower by herself, and that would wear her out.
As for the other, higher-ranking mage-Hearthglen, the Intermediate Mage-Rhode naturally could not count on him to do any work.
He had more important "work" to do.
After all, what they had found at Scholomance was physical evidence, while Hearthglen was a witness. When the time came, they could take him to Dalaran to testify to Kel'Thuzad's crimes.
For now, Rhode would keep stringing Hearthglen along and make sure he stayed put.
Then it was time to concentrate on practicing spells.
Ever since coming off worse in the last assassination attempt, Rhode had felt that his greatest threat was not mages or warriors, who had to fight him head-on, but rogues, who could turn invisible and suddenly pop out of the shadows to stab him in the ass.
But if a mage could spot a rogue