Serrin had dutifully learned a lot about barriers and wards in the previous few months. He had enough anxieties about highly powerful mages with an interest in him, and a naturally paranoid nature to match. He’d spent more time practicing the centering rituals than he cared to think, and now he was going to find out if he’d gotten it right. If he hadn’t, the drain was going to kill him. It was either him or his companions. No contest.