A travel incant, and over such a distance. What a mercy nothing had gone wrong. And it could have, easily. Bellamie Ranowen’s latest report to the Council had warned them the mysterious instability was growing more marked. She’d urged them again, forcefully, to begin magework restrictions. She’d practically begged them to put a stop to incant travel. Brice had once more refused the College mage’s request, but it was clear his resolve was weakening. Even Sallis and Shari were beginning to rethink their stance, because at last they’d felt the wrongness for themselves.

And all of us know it’s just a matter of time before we won’t be able to keep it a secret any more. We might not have admitted it aloud yet… but we know.

“Venette?” said Maris. “Are you all right?”

With an effort she thrust the fear out of sight. “Hardly, my dear. Your news has quite broken my heart. And now I’ll ask a favour of you. Don’t incant back to the country. I’ll have my travelling carriage take you. Incanting such a distance when you’re upset isn’t safe. Please, Maris,” she insisted, as the girl began to protest. “I’d never forgive myself if something went wrong.”

Sighing, Maris nodded. “All right.”

Light-headed with relief, Venette summoned her master servant. “Jarman, Mage Garrick is leaving. I want the travelling carriage put to so it can take her home. And while she waits, bring her refreshments.”

Jarman bowed. “My lady.”

“I’ll have to desert you now, I’m afraid,” she said, forcing a smile. “You’ve brought me quite the knot to untangle and it’s best if I get to work straight away.” She held out her arms. Maris hesitated, then went to her. Holding the girl tight, she kissed her damp cheek. “You must not worry about this, my dear. I will make everything right, I promise.”

“I told you!” With rare, unchecked anger Sallis slammed both fists to the Council table. “We had no business letting Danfey take that troublemaking mage out of here. Now, Brice, see where your soft-hearted pity leads us!”

Venette watched Brice’s lips pinch bloodless, and held out a calming hand. “Please, Sallis. Shouting recriminations at each other is hardly going to solve anything. Besides, it’s not as if any law has been broken.”

“If you didn’t think this was a disaster you wouldn’t have called for an emergency meeting,” Sallis snapped. “So kindly—”

“I called for this meeting because Greve Danfey is dead and Morgan has not seen fit to inform us of the fact,” she retorted. “The death of a ranked mage is very much Council business. That one of our own is bereaved makes it doubly a matter of concern. As for this other unpleasantness—”

“Is that what you call it, Venette? When a ranked mage, a councillor, stoops to rutting below his station?” Shari Frieden tittered. “Unpleasantness?”