“The same could be said of you, my lady,” Remmie said, in the tone of voice that should have warned Venette Martain that the argument was already lost. “As the Council of Mages’ last mage, your authority is trusted and absolute, your lightest word the law.”

“Then do as I say!”

“I can’t. Venette—” Unfolding his arms, Remmie took a step towards her. “Don’t you understand? The last time I let her out of my sight she fell in with Morgan Danfey.”

“Thank you, Remmie,” Barl said sharply, rapping her knuckles to the workbench to ensure their attention. “I’m not a wayward child you need to keep on a leash.”

“Exactly,” said Venette Martain, leaping in uninvited because it suited her purpose. “You’re being quite—”

“I’m being a good brother!” said Remmie, not appreciating her interference either. “I’m honouring my word! Don’t waste your breath, Venette. You’ll not push me aside on this.”

Now they glared at each other, and if she’d not been annoyed by Remmie’s high-handed bossiness Barl would have laughed at the thwarted look on Venette Martain’s face.

She rapped the workbench again. “The choice is mine, you understand? Since I am the mage tasked with warding Dorana, I will be the mage who decides how that warding will be done. And if you don’t like it?” She spread her hands, tightly smiling. “Then by all means, find yourselves another mage.”

Oh, and her brother and his new friend didn’t care for that. But she was beyond caring for what they did and did not like. There was an excellent chance that the warding of Dorana would kill her… or at the least leave her badly debilitated. It was a sacrifice she’d make, if not happily, then willingly. She owed that much to every mage who suffered now because of her mistakes.

But it doesn’t mean I’ll be bullied. They need me more than I need them and for once I’m not inclined to let them forget it.

Venette Martain’s shoulders slumped. “Fine. The choice is yours. But I implore you, Mage Lindin, let Remmie stay here. Elvado needs him. I need him. There are mages here aplenty who can serve as your guardian.”

True enough. But no matter how badly Elvado and this woman needed her brother… she needed him more.

“I’m sorry, Lady Martain,” she said, doing her best to sound sincere. “It’s not simply a case of needing a second pair of eyes to watch for mage-mist and other calamities. Remmie knows this incant and my magework. He is my other, better self.”

“Venette…” His eyes soft with compassion, Remmie crossed to Lady Martain and slid his arm around her. “I’ll be back before you know it. You’ll hardly notice I’m gone. And I do need to do this. Keeping Barl safe is more important than anything.”