"I do not have powers," Jack told her, leaning back. It felt good to talk about Sebastien to someone new, someone who didn't already know the story.

"When I was small -- and this is a very long time ago, by the way, there's time travel in this story -- my parents had to sell me into service. I worked for a few years. I wasn't treated especially well. Sebastien caught sight of me and, for reasons I'll never understand but am unfathomably grateful for, decided a half-starved seven-year-old might make a good protege. He was my teacher until I came here. He's a very good man, a bit inscrutable when he wants to be. He's one of the best private detectives in his world." A pause. "Tell me about your friend."