Nic wasn’t sure what to say to that.

“Besides,” Alise ventured, “I notice you don’t have an Elal wizard on your roster yet, and there is a serious dearth of house elementals and useful spirits. The lighting, forgive me for saying, is terrible. And how do you even dust this enormous place without earth elementals?”

Alise so perfectly echoed Nic’s own dismay that she laughed. “So far it’s the damp that’s the real problem. Did you know that most of the people of Meresin are low-level water wizards? Their MP scores are too low for Convocation standards, but they have enough magic to survive and flourish here.”

“That’s interesting,” Alise replied, sounding confused about Nic’s point, which was fair. Nic was indeed deflecting giving a definitive answer.

“I’ve been dying for Elal magic,” Nic admitted. “It’s been a bit of an issue since Gabriel refuses to deal with Papa or any subsidiary of House Elal, and that was before Papa reneged on my dowry, so—”

“Wait.” Alise held up a hand, eyes wide. “Papa refused to send Lord Phel your dowry?”

“And my trousseau.” Nic grimaced. “Which, yes, is my fault for absconding before the wedding, but everything I have is what Gabriel has given me, which doesn’t sit well.”

“No,” Alise murmured, “it wouldn’t with anyone, least of all you. Still, that’s not legal. The contract terms set in the Betrothal Trials are set by the Convocation. House Phel has a legitimate grievance with House Elal for contract violation.”

“But under the circumstances, will the Convocation even listen to House Phel’s complaint?” Nic countered. “Gabriel refused to turn me over to the Convocation proctor. Doesn’t that put House Phel on tricky ground to approach the council?”

“It’s an interesting legal question,” Alise mused. “I notice that Wizard Ratisbon is on your roster now, along with Asa Refoel and Quinn Byssan.” She smiled briefly. “I know you and Quinn were always close. It’s good she’s here—and not only because those three have their portraits in the trophy hall at Convocation Academy for debate team and mock trial championships. They ought to be helpful in sorting the legalities. Quite the assembly of talent you and Lord Phel have accumulated already.”

“You’ve been busy gathering intelligence,” Nic noted with some surprise. “Quickly, too.”

Alise flicked her fingers, and several higher-level spirits appeared, hovering in the air around her. “I may not have your power, but it turns out using spirits to spy is something I’m decently good at.” She smiled thinly. “Knowledge is power, yes? I wanted to be able to make my case for a contract with House Phel.”

“A contract, here?” Nic echoed in astonishment. “But you haven’t graduated from the Academy yet.”

“The only reason to graduate is to get a good house contract or to please Papa. Both are moot points now. Also, now that I’ve crossed Sabrina Sammael, her cadre of bullies will make my life miserable. Please don’t make me go back.”

Nic considered it, knowing Alise was right about Sabrina, if nothing else. “Papa will lose his mind if we do this.”