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And I bumped directly into the governor, almost knocking her down in the hallway.

“Your, um...” I started. She was the governor, ruling in regency for the Emperor, so she wasn’t technically a “highness.”

“Hello,” she said kindly. “I’m Adelaide.”

“Yes, ma’am, I know, ma’am,” I stuttered foolishly.

She was one of the most beautiful people I’d ever met. She wore a dress of embroidered silk that cinched in at the waist with a silver girdle, and her hair was chestnut brown, shot through with strands of white that looked almost decorative. A silver diadem was woventhrough her locks. Even though the hospital was muggy and oppressively hot, she was cool and collected, and made it seem as if we were the only two people in the entire building.

Her smile was kind and genuine. “Are you an alchemist here?” she asked.

“Studying to be one,” I said.

“At Yugen?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” Governor Adelaide said. “We need all the people we can get to help with this plague—both in treating patients and in finding a cure. Who is your master at the academy?”

“Master Ostrum,” I said.

I had become accustomed to people being impressed when I mentioned my master’s name; his reputation was well established. Instead, Governor Adelaide frowned slightly. “I’m afraid he doesn’t like me very much,” she said when she noticed my look of concern. “But he’s one of the best, that’s for certain.”

“If it helps,” I said, “I don’t think Master Ostrum likes much of anybody.”

Governor Adelaide laughed.

“Get that infernal woman out of here!” Lord Anton bellowed from his suite.

“Well, off to work,” Governor Adelaide said, and although I knew she was trying to be cheerful in the face of Lord Anton’s rudeness, her smile was strained. She entered the suite. I hesitated a moment, but then followed her inside.

“Lord Anton,” Governor Adelaide said.

Grey’s eyes widened as the governor swept into the room. He looked past her shoulder, probably expecting an entourage of lords and ladies, and seemed a little surprised when it was only me.

“Get out,” Lord Anton growled.

“I came to wish you well,” Governor Adelaide said. “I heard you were ill, and—”

“Yourhospital sent me here,” Lord Anton said. “Despite the fact that I donothave the plague.”

Governor Adelaide looked down at his hand, but did not say what we were all thinking.

“It’s a filthy, disgusting poor man’s disease,” Lord Anton muttered. “This is just another attempt to malign my good name.”

“We’re no longer campaigning for the governorship,” Governor Adelaide said gently.

Lord Anton wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Get out,” he grumbled. And then, after no one moved, he added, “Please.”

“Young lady,” the governor said, turning to me, “would you be so kind as to show me how I may help out here?”

“Nedra, ma’am,” Grey said. “Her name is Nedra Brysstain, and she’s the brightest alchemist at Yugen.” Pride radiated from him as I escorted the governor from the suite, leaving him with a grumpy Lord Anton.

“Nedra,” the governor said, musing. “I’ve heard your name here before. The potion makers speak highly of you.”

“Thank you,” I said.

The governor maneuvered her dress through the crowd of people in the corridors waiting for a room. “I must confess,” she said, “that I am ashamed of myself for not coming to the hospital sooner.”