Marla waved away the cup of coffee Pelham brought to her side. “Yes, in a Senet game in Egypt, just before I came to America in the early 1700s.” Cole accepted a cup of tea, and his eyes took on a faraway look. “I gave it to one of my apprentices, a man named Malkin, before he went off to seek his fortune.” “Everett Malkin?” Marla said. “He was the first chief sorcerer of Felport, back when it was barely just a city!” “Yes,” Cole said, nodding. “He did well for himself.” Marla was stunned. “Why did you never tell me one of your guys founded my city?” “You must understand, he was only one of countless apprentices I brought with me to the New World,” Cole said. “Many of the early chief sorcerers were my men, in New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Norfolk, Savannah, Detroit…. All dead now, of course, or immortal and mad.” Marla nodded.
