Her hand itching to slap the stupid woman silly, Venette turned to Brice. “I want this matter decided, Lord Varen, once and for all. I want you to rule on Morgan’s position. I’m tired of you letting Sallis and Shari decide for you.”

Brice’s eyes glinted. “Be careful, Venette.”

“I have been careful! And I’ve been patient! For weeks now I have waited for you to do the right thing. Well, my lord, I am tired of waiting. I’m tired of listening to Sallis and Shari malign one of our own, knowing that you’ll not lift a finger to stop them!”

“Very well, Lady Martain,” Brice said curtly. “Here is my ruling. The fact that Sallis and Shari dislike Morgan does not mean their concerns lack credence. The harsh truth is that no matter his talents, which are many, I grant you, Morgan Danfey is unstable. There is an inconstance revealed in him that I fear one day will be his undoing. A mage and his magework cannot be taken apart. Who we are, what we are, informs everything that we do. You rail at me for not making my ruling sooner? Well, I have been waiting too. Waiting for him to come to his senses and ask me for the chance to prove his worth. Instead he remains on his estate, sulking and fucking. That is not the conduct of a councillor, Venette.”

She thought she might drown in Sallis and Shari’s gleeful smugness. She thought she might weep, because Brice was wrong… and she could say nothing. Confess that Morgan was mageworking, and that she abetted him, and she’d be censured. Likely stripped of her position. And if she wasn’t on the Council, she couldn’t help Morgan at all—or Dorana.

So, with teeth gritted, she accepted what she could not change. “Lord Varen.”

With a sharp nod, Brice looked to Sallis and Shari. “You are unwise to dismiss our neighbours as beneath contempt. For countless generations they have known one thing above all else: the mages of Dorana are untouchable. But now this generation has seen us stumble. And though we shall regain our feet, it will be a long time before they forget what they have seen. They might even be emboldened to test our resolve. Therefore you’ll retire to the archives and read every history book, every note, every scribbled scrap, in search of magics that we can use to defend ourselves should this generation seek to press their advantage.”

They sat, grimly silent, contemplating a future they did not wish to face. Perhaps did not even know how to face… though not a one of them would admit it. At least not yet.

Venette turned her shoulder to Sallis and Shari. Lowered her voice. “Brice… will you at least let me be the one to tell Morgan?”

“Very well,” he said. “But after today, Venette, I will not discuss him again.”