“Lady Frieden, our current circumstances give us the right!” Dreen Brislyn said, glaring. “Three days ago the General Council received formal declarations from the rulers of Brantone, Feen, Trindek, Manemli and Ranoush. In other words, the rulers of every sovereign nation that sits upon our borders. Doranen mage-mist has been seen in their lands, and as you can imagine, they are not amused.”

Stunned silence. Chilled, Venette looked at Brice, then Sallis and Shari.

“Is there proof?” Brice said at last, hoarse with dismay.

Lady Brislyn lifted a leather satchel onto the table, withdrew a sheaf of papers and handed them to him.

“They have provided various eyewitness accounts, from nine different locations. There are also reports of inexplicable warpings and disruptions of buildings. Buckled roads. Suddenly unsafe bridges. Livestock suffering ghastly hurts with no cause apparent.” Daring any of them to challenge her, she looked around the table. “In other words, they are suffering what we suffer.”

“Impossible,” said Sallis, as Brice quickly scanned the copied letters. “Our borders are warded. No magic escapes them.”

“Our borders are failing,” Dreen Brislyn said, her face fierce. “For centuries Dorana has lived in peace with its magickless neighbours because we have found a way to comfortably coexist. Because we have never been a threat. Well, my lords and ladies, we are a great threat now!”

Venette leaned forward, capturing Dreen Brislyn’s attention. “Do you mean to suggest that these insignificant nations might inflict violence upon us?”

“Suggest?” The woman laughed. “Lady Martain, I tell you outright, for that is what has been told to me. These princes and potentates, whose nations are far from insignificant, believe we are a danger to their sovereignty and safety. And being, for the most part, of warlike dispostion, some of them go so far as to accuse us of attacking them. So discarding old enmities, they have signed a treaty amongst themselves. Even now their various warriors gather along our mutual borders. They have told us, in no uncertain language, that we must control these rogue magics… or pay the price.”

This time it was Sallis who thumped the table. “Then they are fools! They should fear what we’ll do if they raise so much as a bread knife against us!”

“And what is that, Sallis?” Venette asked, with a rolling-eye glance at Brice. “Stamp our well-shod feet and wave our impotent fists in the air?”

Silencing Sallis with a look, Brice tossed the copied letters onto the table. “How has the General Council responded?”

“We have given them assurances that the matter is being dealt with,” said Lady Brislyn. “More than that we were not inclined to say before consulting with this Council, bearing in mind that your purview is limited to the business of magic within Dorana’s borders.”

“Obviously that purview must be expanded,” Shari said, her eyes narrowed. “Given these unprecedented circumstances, the Council of Mages must—”