"Exactly," Pen said. "And, once Desdemona and I -- Des is my demon, and I should introduce her -- get this straightened out, I have had good luck learning to mimic other types of magic with my own. Not always efficiently, I'm afraid."

Shamans pay blood for their abilities. Penric trying to duplicate it pays rather a bit more.

A mental poke reminded Pen. "Penric kin Jurald. Sorry, I got a bit carried away and didn't introduce myself first. I am capable of being sociable, I promise."

Caleb has clearly found a fellow scholar. Fitting at a university.