“We don’t know, do we?” This was her opportunity to convince her small audience to give this serious thought. “Have you been taught yet how to bind a familiar?”

Alise exchanged a look with Asa, then nodded. “We’re sworn to secrecy—and placed under a geas that won’t allow us to speak of it, so I can’t tell you details—but it’s one of the first things we’re taught when we advance to the wizard-only training.”

Just as Nic had suspected. “I knew enough of the basics to tell Gabriel what to do for our bonding, but it occurred to me since that our father was counting on the bonding being inadequate or nonstandard. Because only wizards are taught the key. It has to be an embedded spell, if any wizard, regardless of magical type, can trigger it, and I’m betting it’s embedded in the familiars.”

The way both Asa and Alise had their lips clamped firmly shut, black eyes wide in astonishment, told Nic she was right on target. “I remember when I was categorized,” she told them. “It’s a vivid memory, as you can imagine, made sharper by the emotional intensity. I recall everything—the proctor, the oracle head, the words that changed my life… and then there’s a small gap. That’s when they do it, I’m guessing. They embed the spell in us that a wizard later triggers.”

Neither of the wizards moved, almost holding their breath so as not to activate the geas. “Gabriel and I created a bond between us,” Nic continued, “but it looks strange, and acts differently from other wizard–familiar bonds, because he never triggered that spell. He simply didn’t know how.”

Alise relaxed slightly, experimentally opening her mouth. “That explains a great deal.”

Asa nodded judiciously. “I would not argue with that conclusion.”

With a surge of excitement, Nic smiled at the healer. “I think we should try. The spell should only affect Laryn, if my conclusions are correct. If it works, then we can sever Maman from her wizard, too.”

She held Alise’s dubious gaze. “It would be worth it, if this can be done.”

“It would change everything,” Alise breathed, pale with the enormity of what Nic proposed.

“I know it. Familiars will be able to elect to leave the partnerships they were forced, arguably tricked, into.”

“We’re talking about a world filled with unbonded familiars,” Asa warned, brow furrowed.

“A world where familiars can choose who to share their magic with,” Nic returned crisply. “You don’t have to agree to this, Asa, but I’m offering you an opportunity to be free of Laryn. It’s an alternative to seeing her executed,” she added more gently. “If it goes wrong, then we’ll know—and the fallout will likely be less than whatever punishment we or the Convocation would sentence her to.”

Asa scrubbed his hands over his scalp, then nodded. “Only if she agrees. She is a traitor, but she should have the choice: execution, delivery to Convocation Center for them to do as they see fit, or this.”