The pain in Brice’s voice was shocking. Even Sallis was taken aback. Sinking into his seat, he glanced at Shari then rearranged his face into an expression of solemn concern.

“My lord, of course I do not doubt your experience of this phenomenon,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “And you may be assured that as soon as I’m able I shall seek to confirm its existence myself. But if it were a widespread problem we would know, for other mages would have brought it to our attention. They have not. This gives me some little cause for hope, that whatever this anomaly might be, it is yet in its infancy and so can be easily contained.”

Shari nodded. “Well said. I agree.”

“And you, Venette?” Brice asked. “Do you also agree?”

“I think I must,” she said, after a moment. “It would be tragic indeed if in seeking to save ourselves from one disaster, we created another by acting in haste. Let this Council task Bellamie Ranowen to learn all that she can about Dorana’s unravelling tapestry. And while she investigates, so can we. Let us make discreet enquiries in every district. Learn by diverse and unobtrusive means whether there are other mages who have felt anything… strange. Between us I’ve no doubt we can shed light on this mystery.”

“Very well,” Brice said at last. “For now, that will be our course of action. But let me make one thing abundantly clear. This is now our greatest secret. We in this chamber and Bellamie Ranowen must be the only mages who know of it. Not a word, not a whisper, to anyone else.”

In other words, don’t tell Morgan. Venette met Brice’s cold stare with a coldness of her own, angrily aware of smug Sallis and Shari, gloating.

“What of the General Council?” she said. “Do you mean to treat them with equal disdain?”

“Those fribbles?” Sallis snorted. “Why would we involve them? Half their number at least is unranked. Their acumen is taxed enough with tariffs and petty lawbreakers. This Council has no need of their prosaic advice.”

“I’m sure Lady Brislyn would be edified to hear it!”

“Enough, both of you,” Brice said tiredly. “The time may well come that we must inform the General Council. For now, with the rest of Dorana, they will remain ignorant. Sallis, ask Mage Ranowen to step back in. The sooner we start our investigations, the sooner we can put this distasteful business behind us.”

Morgan opened his eyes to the warmth of Barl curled by his side on the floor… and the freezing memory of his father’s agonised death.

The sunlight shafting through the attic’s window was pale. Insubstantial. So it was early, then. Not much above an hour past dawn. He’d have to go downstairs. The servants must already be stirring. They’d have to be told. And there were things to be done.