His fellow councillors were watching him. He could feel the weight of Varen’s cool stare, the heat of Venette’s irritated regard. He cared less about Sallis Arkley and Shari Frieden. Nothing he did or could do would ever impress them.

He drew the binding’s first sigil on the chamber’s still air. Left it there curdling, and spoke the incant’s first cruel words. Beneath his fingers, the girl flinched. He heard a breath catch in her throat. But he couldn’t let that move him. He couldn’t afford to care.

Barl Lindin wasn’t the only one on trial.

Five more sigils, five more tongue-twisting parts to the binding incant. Then he had to open his eyes. Even with his back to Varen and the others he didn’t dare let the regret show in his face. Her face might reflect it, betray him, and he’d have questions to answer.

But she was too mired in her own distress to be any danger to him.

The five sigils, each one a fiery crimson, surrounded her in a tight circle at shoulder height. They pulsed with the power of the yet-untriggered incant, flickering her with heat and light. The chamber’s air was thick with threatening promise, slickly coated with fear and pain. The girl was sickly pallid, her breathing swift and shallow. Her small hands were clenched to fists by her sides. And her eyes—her blue eyes—

Don’t look at me like that, girl! You brought this on yourself. You should’ve stayed in Batava, where you were safe.

But if she’d stayed in Batava he’d never have met her.

Those astonishing, pain-filled eyes narrowed. “Well, my lord?” she said tightly. “What are you waiting for? Do it!”

Her courage nearly broke him.

“Takra!” he said, and triggered the incant.

The five sigils flared, garish, like fire fanned by a wild wind. Barl Lindin gasped, her slight body shocked rigid. A heartbeat later she started trembling. Then the incants melted one into the next, began rising and falling and spinning, the circle shrinking… shrinking…

The melded sigils touched her shaking shoulders and swiftly sank into her flesh.

“Oh,” she whispered. “Oh no… please, no…”

Morgan caught her as she crumpled, and lowered her gently to the floor.

I’m sorry. Forgive me. You must have seen I had no choice.

But he couldn’t see how she would, when he doubted he’d ever forgive himself.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Excellent, Councillor Danfey,” said Lord Varen behind him. “That was neatly done.”

There was bile in his throat, sour and scorching. Staring at the bound girl at his feet, Morgan rose then stepped back. Made himself turn and stare Venette in the face.

She was smiling. “Yes, indeed. Very neatly, especially for a first attempt. It seems you have a knack for the harsher incants, Morgan.”