“It is highly unpleasant, I promise you, when a charming young woman like Maris Garrick is put in such an untenable position!”

Shari sniffed. “A great pity you didn’t seek advice when it came to pushing a match between the Garrick girl and Morgan Danfey. I could have told you it would all end in tears. The Danfey men’s history with women is—”

“Not the point, surely. I don’t see—”

“Of course you see,” said Brice, frowning. “You simply chose to ignore your misgivings, Venette. As I chose to ignore mine when it came to allowing Morgan custody of Barl Lindin.” He shifted his dour gaze to Shari. “But I suggest you reconsider your accusations, Lady Frieden. It might well be inadvisable for ranked and unranked mages to mingle, but doing so is not a legal transgression.”

“It is when she’s a proven miscreant and he’s her Council-appointed custodian,” said Sallis. “Why are we even debating this, Brice? Mage Lindin must be retrieved, immediately, and put under a judiciary’s lock and key. As for Morgan, well, I think he has more than made my argument for me. He must be expelled from this Council.”

“For what?” Venette demanded, before Brice could reply. “Seeking an escape from his grief by dallying in the wrong bed?”

Sallis laughed, mocking. “Of course you defend him. The sun has yet to rise on a day in which you won’t defend Morgan Danfey.”

“Defend him, Sallis? I could slap him until he begged for mercy! I am so angry I happily admit I agree with you in that Barl Lindin cannot remain where she is. But I won’t support you in Morgan’s expulsion. However distasteful we might find his behaviour, he isn’t a miscreant. We don’t have the grounds.”

“Lack of judgement is grounds,” said Shari. “A resolution of no confidence is grounds.”

“You require a unanimous opinion for that,” she retorted. “You don’t have it.”

Flushed with temper, Shari leaned across the table. “It seems to me, Venette, that when it comes to Morgan Danfey your judgement is equally lacking. Perhaps—”

“Enough,” said Brice, his voice heavy with warning. “I will not preside over a catfight. We are in agreement on one thing. Barl Lindin must return to the Hall of Knowledge, after which time we will further consider her fate. To that end, I suggest we pay Morgan a visit.”

“Why should we go to him?” Sallis demanded. “Like supplicants? Summon him to us, Brice. Let him answer for his gross behaviour here.”