Alise nodded staunchly. “I broke the news to Wizard Asa and can confirm that he was astonished and devastated.”

Gabriel could easily observe how Laryn’s actions had affected Asa. Though he was soldiering on, something in the man had broken.

“I accept full responsibility for what Laryn did,” he inserted, looking at a point on the wall over Gabriel’s shoulder. “I didn’t monitor Laryn’s activities closely. I knew that she resented Lady Phel, but I thought she’d get over it in time. I never imagined she would…” He couldn’t seem to finish.

“Asa,” Gabriel said, holding out a hand. Asa met his gaze then and clasped Gabriel’s hand, wary surprise in his wizard-black eyes. “That’s the trouble with treating other people like human beings. Laryn isn’t a dog to be kept on a leash. She’s a woman with free will. It’s not on you what she chose to do.”

Asa smiled briefly, grief replacing it. “Thank you, Lord Phel.”

Gabriel released the man’s hand, thinking, which unfortunately made his head ache. What would Nic want him to do? “I assume turning Laryn over to the Convocation means they’ll punish and retrain her using vile methods.”

Jadren shrugged as if it were of little interest, though Alise shook her head. “They might not bother. Once separated from Asa, Laryn’s mind would deteriorate from the attenuation of the bond.” She tipped her head at Asa. “They would likely make her docile through psychic sedation and use her as a breeder. She doesn’t need sanity to produce magical babies for the Convocation.”

Gabriel couldn’t even contemplate what that life would look like. He felt certain that Nic, no matter her need for justice, wouldn’t wish it on Laryn either. He’d just have to ask Nic, and they’d decide together. Any other scenario didn’t bear contemplating.

“The downside for Asa, of course,” Jadren continued, “is that he won’t be able to bond a new familiar until the current one dies.” Everyone, even Asa, stared at Jadren, aghast. He shrugged it off. “Even with that bond attenuated, that’s how it works. It needs to be said.” Jadren spoke to Gabriel directly now. “Wizard Asa will be hampered as a healer without a familiar. You’d have to replace or demote him as House Phel healer. Killing the traitor would be doing Asa a favor. The Convocation would likely offer him a new familiar. He wouldn’t get another crack at the Betrothal Trials, naturally, and they’d almost certainly simply assign him a familiar, but it would still be a more favorable outcome.”

“It’s true,” Asa said wearily. “Not that killing Laryn would be a favor to me. I don’t wish for her death, despite everything, but I won’t be an effective healer without her assistance. I’ll resign, so you can replace me.”

“Can’t you use magic from unbonded familiars?” Gabriel asked. “We have Iliana, Han, and Narlis. Even Selly might be helpful, in time. I know you borrowed from them already.”

“Short term, sure,” Jadren answered for him, “but having unbonded familiars around is like leaving your coin sitting on the seat of a public carriage—you’re just begging for them to be stolen.”