“It doesn’t matter why she’s here, Brice,” said Sallis Arkley, almost shrill with fury. “If you don’t bind her, I will. She cannot be permitted to leave the Hall, ever again.”

As Remmie opened his mouth to protest, she touched his arm. “No. Don’t.”

It was hard to look at these important, arrogant mages. To meet their eyes and see such fear and loathing and contempt in them. Lady Frieden was shaking, fingers curled almost to talons.

No. No. Don’t think about talons.

“Mage Lindin,” said Venette Martain. She looked as exhausted as Morgan had, deep lines of sleeplessness grooved into her face. “Despite what you might think, despite my colleagues’ understandable disaffection, it’s good that you’re here. We’ve been talking about you, as it happens. And there are a few things we’d like to know.”

On principle, because this woman loathed her for no better reason than Maris Garrick’s disappointment, Barl lifted her chin. “Such as?”

Reaching amongst the scattered books, Venette Martain produced a flower. Slender-stemmed. Pink and cream petals brushed with blue along their edges. Morgan had laughed as he’d made it, created beauty out of a poor, plain daisy.

“Such as, how long you have been corrupting Dorana with forbidden magework?” Venette smiled. “And corrupting Morgan Danfey with it. Let’s not forget that.”

Before she could stop him, before she could remember how to speak, Remmie pushed forward. “She didn’t corrupt him. Morgan Danfey corrupted her. The transmutation incant is his doing. Barl would never have sullied herself with this filth if he hadn’t—”

“You’re her brother?” said Venette Martain, eyebrows lifting. She let the flower drop. “Remmie, isn’t it? Yes. Morgan mentioned you. The resemblance is remarkable… in more ways than one.” She glanced around the table. “You all feel it?”

“Indeed, Lady Martain,” said the younger of the two unknown women. “Extraordinary.”

Lord Varen, seated again, rapped his knuckles to the table. “You seem well-informed, Mage Lindin. Tell this Council everything you know about your sister and her doings with Morgan Danfey.”

Remmie shook his head. “Not before you promise me she won’t be bound again.”

“You are in no position to make demands!” said Lady Frieden. “Answer his lordship or be bound yourself and taken to a cell.”

Barl winced. Her brother was no fool. As a schoolteacher he was used to summing up others quickly… and recognising genuine authority when he met it.

It was one of the worst things she’d ever lived through, listening to him tell the Council first what he’d found at Morgan’s estate, and then what she’d told him at the Shooting Star. Because he had a generous heart he tried to go gently, this time, but his rage and disgust were too deep, too heartfelt, to remain hidden.