On the floor, Barl Lindin was whimpering. The pitiful sound closed his throat. “The girl was foolish and arrogant. Of course she had to be punished. But if you think I should take pleasure in that, then—”

“No-one here has suggested it,” said Varen, curt. He glanced at their fellow councillors. “And if I thought anyone did I should be forced to reconsider his or her place on this Council.”

“So, the upstart’s bound,” said Shari Frieden. Whatever pleasure she felt, to see the girl huddled and hurting, humbled, she made sure to hide it. She wasn’t a fool. “But that still begs the question of what’s to be done with her next.”

“Has she family in Batava?” said Venette. “Does anyone know?”

Varen shook his head. “I’ve no idea, but even if she does we can’t send her back there. It’s too far away for us to judge her contrition. Besides, it’s clear her family has been no good influence, else she’d not find herself in this predicament. She’ll spend the night here, in the Hall, closely watched. Bindings have been known to go awry.”

“Fine,” said Sallis. “But what happens tomorrow? The Hall’s not a judiciary.”

“One challenge at a time,” said Varen, mildly enough. “First let us see how Mage Lindin passes the night.” He frowned, considering her. “Between now and the morning I’ll give a measure of thought to how she can best be accommodated in the weeks to come.”

“You may think on her ’til the sun sets in the north,” said Venette. “But I give you fair warning, Brice. If it’s a custodian you’re looking for, I’ll not be her keeper.”

“Nor I,” said Shari Frieden, eyeing the girl with distasteful contempt. “I won’t abide such a troublemaker under my roof.”

Turning, Morgan looked down at the girl shivering on the chamber’s floor. No outward sign was on her, but any mage of talent would know she’d been bound. She felt like the bright sun, shadowed with clouds. Muffled. Stifled. He thought that was the reason for her distress. Once the binding was in place, the incant caused a mage no pain.

Poor thing. Were such a thing done to me, I think I might go mad.

He turned back to Varen. “I’ll take her, my lord.”

Sallis laughed. “You, Morgan?”

“Why not, Lord Arkley? Or are you suggesting that Lord Varen shoulder the burden?”

“Provided she passes the night without incident, she should be consigned to a judiciary,” said Shari, impatient. “She deserves no more consideration than that.”

“Exactly,” said Venette, nodding approval. “To dispose of her otherwise would set an unfortunate precedent.”

Frowning, Varen shifted his gaze. “You disagree, Morgan?”