Not needing to ask, Venette crossed to the cupboard, withdrew a bottle and a glass and poured him a generous helping of icewine… then raised an eyebrow as Brice tipped it straight down his throat.

“More?”

Coughing, he shook his head. “As much as I’d like to drain the bottle, this is something best dealt with sober.”

“Really? I think I’d rather get uproariously drunk.”

His gaze met hers bleakly. “Bellamie Ranowen was right.”

On second thought, I’d prefer to look foolish.

“Whatever this is, Brice, it must be spreading. Or deepening. You felt it more quickly than I did. It took me many mageworking attempts… and I got to the very end of my fourfold transmutation.”

“Whereas Bellamie Ranowen felt it before either of us,” Brice said, frowning. “In magework that did not demand so much. I know, I know, you’ve not been mageworking of late. But Venette, I have. I noticed nothing.”

And that realisation had shaken Brice to his foundations, something she had never thought to witness.

“Don’t blame yourself. I doubt there’s a mage in Dorana who could’ve imagined something like this.”

Banging his emptied glass to the workbench, Brice flicked her an impatient look. “I am head of Dorana’s Council of Mages. It is my duty to imagine something like this.”

“But Brice, truly, for all we know this—this—whatever it is—might have been present for months. Perhaps years. Just because Bellamie Ranowen stumbled across it a few days ago doesn’t mean its origin is recent.”

“Venette…” Brice rubbed a hand across his face. “Let’s agree we’ll not waste time attempting to make each other feel better.”

“Fine,” she said, a little stung. “How then would you like to waste it?”

That earned her another look. “The Council will have to meet at once. And I’ll send for Bellamie Ranowen to attend.”

“What of Morgan?”

Sighing, Brice shook his head. “No.”

“But Brice—”

“No, Venette. This matter is extremely grave. I’ve no desire for distractions.”

Cold with dread, she took an imploring step forward. “Brice, please, reconsider. When Morgan learns he’s been excluded from dealing with something this important he’ll be furious. And rightly so. You said he’d be summoned if he was required to—”

“Precisely, Venette. If he was required. At the moment we have no idea what we’re dealing with. So until we do, we’re better off if he stays where he is.”

“You’re being unjust,” she said, hearing her voice unsteady and not caring. “Which isn’t like you. First you condone Sallis’s underhanded behaviour toward him… and now this? Brice—”