But Tor isn’t my immediate concern.

“You planned all of this?”

Aldrich regards me with measuring eyes, as if gauging my mood more than my question. “The Order would not have lasted fifteen centuries without adequate strategy, Briana.” He turns to the rest of the table. “Regent Gabriel, your report from the Order’s public domain.”

Gabriel reads off a sheet of paper. “Over the course of three sessions, Mage Seneschal Tacitus and I have concluded that Briana’s father is not a Code violation, although he should remain under Liege supervision for the time being.”

“Good to hear,” Aldrich says.

“We have also concluded that the Code of Secrecy has not been broken by Briana Matthews, nor was it broken by her mother. However—”

I hold my breath, waiting.

“Briana’s responses did suggest that Scion Sitterson falsified records to add Alice Marie Chen to the Vassal network. These records claim she was sworn into the Code, but as it’s an unauthorized invitation, we can’t be sure.”

The breath leaves my chest in a rush. Alice. What did I tell them about her?

Aldrich nods. “The fate of Ms. Chen?”

Tacitus meets my eyes and grins. “Mesmered. I allowed her to keep her memories of her coursework but erased everything related to the Order and her best friend’s connection to it.”

“No…” I press my hand to the desk to stand but crumple immediately. The injury William shoved into my bones and muscles sends a cold, searing pain up my shoulder and into my neck. “You can’t do this.”

“We can and we did,” Tacitus murmurs.

Across the table, Aldrich’s own Seneschal, Serren, releases a low whistle. “That is precision work, my friend. Not just any Merlin could distinguish between the girl’s experiences as you have.”

Serren is right. I’d seen Lord Davis’s Kingsmage, Isaac, tear through Alice’s mind without care, wiping away whole days like a tornado, leaving nothing behind. I’d brought her memories back with my ancestor’s healing while possessed, but… I don’t know if I can undo what Tacitus has done. I don’t know where Alice is, I don’t know when I’ll see her again, if I’ll see her again—

“Breathe slowly, Briana.” Erebus sits closest to me, and he dips his head to meet my eyes. “You’re hyperventilating.”

Cestra rolls her eyes. “You are the most vicious warrior I’ve ever met, Erebus, and yet you are soft toward this girl.”

Erebus cuts his eyes to his Regent. “She is the Scion of Arthur, whatever conclusions we come to today. Her health and well-being are of concern to us all.”

Aldrich clears his throat. “Let’s keep moving. Cestra?”

“My report is two-fold,” Cestra says. “We spoke with Briana about her abilities and I have two proposals.”

“Proceed.”