Umber's face emerged from the darkness, and he didn't look pleased to see me. "You and I have a debt to settle, chovihani."

I was so shocked by the challenge I laughed. And while I knew it was the worst possible response-mostly from experience-I couldn't contain the absolute absurdity of it.

"At the risk of sounding arrogant," I said, not even trying to hide the amusement in my voice, "you don't stand a whit of a chance." I called up my power, letting it sit on the ...