The one thing he didn’t speak of was Rumm, and how he died. But why? To spare her? Or to punish her, by making her be the one to tell that tale? She didn’t know.

When Remmie finished he was near to tears. “That’s the truth, my lords, my ladies. I swear to you, in the name of justice, Morgan Danfey is the cause of this.”

“He is part of it,” said Lord Varen coldly. “But according to your testimony, by her own admission your sister is the one who enabled him to perfect his transmutation incant. She has performed it with him, over and over again, and in doing so has brought Dorana to the brink of utter destruction!” He nodded at the younger woman. “Mage Ranowen, here, of the College, has closely examined this abominable flower and proven that beyond all shadow of doubt. The magic that created it is unravelling us. Can you truly think this Council will do no more than say tut-tut and let her go her merry way?”

Remmie hung his head. “No.”

Leaning forward, Venette Martain tapped the table. “Mage Lindin. Where is Morgan now? How is it you come to be here without him, weeping and wailing and beating your breast in an orgy of contrition that may or may not be genuine.”

Rumm.

This wasn’t going as she’d planned, and now there was nothing she could do to soften the consequences of her actions, and Morgan’s actions, and the harm that they’d wrought.

The other woman, still unnamed, was staring at her intently. “There’s something they’ve not told us,” she said, her mellow voice clipped with distaste. “A piece of this ugly puzzle is missing.”

“Well, Mage Lindin? Is Lady Brislyn correct?” said Lord Varen, and when she didn’t reply, banged his fist to the table so hard that all the heavy books on it jumped. “Answer me!”

“Morgan is in the mansion, asleep,” she said, dully. “I drugged him and warded him inside the library.”

Venette Martain didn’t even try to hide her shock. “Why?”

Barl felt Remmie shift closer. Felt the sorrow and sympathy muddled in with his anger. So. He’d been trying to shield her. Perhaps, when this was over, they’d have something to salvage after all.

“Answer Lady Martain, Mage Lindin.”

Brice Varen’s harsh, imperious tone made her flinch. Breathing hard she looked up.

“He used a transmutation incant on his master servant, Rumm. It failed. The man died.”

A chorus of gasps. From the sudden pallor in his cheeks, not even Sallis Arkley had expected to hear such a thing.

“But why would Morgan do something so—so monstrous?” Shari Frieden whispered, her voice shaking. “He is arrogant and unapproachable but he has never been this misguided.”