“Excellent,” Gabriel approved, oblivious to how unusual a moment this was. “What can you tell us about it?”

“It was sleeping,” Iliana said slowly, her brows knitting. “Hibernating for a very long time, deep in the mud. Then a huge wave of magic hit and awakened it. Only a few days ago?” she made it into a question.

Nic exchanged rueful looks with Gabriel. “That makes absolute sense,” she reassured Iliana. “Can you find out any more than that—why it was here in the first place, where it came from?”

“Maybe with time. Right now it’s too agitated. And hungry.”

“Hungry?” Gabriel echoed with consternation. Of course her nurturing wizard would be worried about feeding his captive monster that just nearly killed a few people. “Can you tell what it wants to eat?”

“Fish, I think.”

“If it will go back into its pool, we’ll bring it fish,” Gabriel promised. “Can you convey that?”

Alise and Iliana both shrugged in bemusement, then focused on the column of water. The tentacles stilled, then gradually—perhaps sullenly, if Nic wanted to read into its body language, and perhaps via her own native Ariel magic—withdrew beneath the level of the floor. Gabriel drew on her magic again, creating a seal over the top of the column as he slowly lowered it until the surface of the pond once again lay smooth and undisturbed well below the surrounding rim.

“It wants the cover off,” Iliana whispered. “Or it can’t breathe. That’s why it was upset.”

There was one answer.

Gabriel removed the last of the confining magic, his hand tense in hers as they braced for retaliation. But the water lay clear and still. They let out a relieved breath as one. “That was good work, people,” Gabriel said with a smile. “I’m proud to have you as part of House Phel.”

They all beamed with pleasure, almost preening under Gabriel’s approval. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only one lethally vulnerable to the wizard’s charm.

“Lord Phel?” Iliana asked shyly. “May I keep trying to listen to the monster?”

Gabriel’s gaze flicked to Han. “I assume you’d be willing to stand guard and protect Iliana?”

“Yes, sir, Lord Phel.” Han even bowed, he was so pleased by the request.

“Then I’d very much appreciate if you would do so,” Gabriel told Iliana. “So long as Han is available to guard you.”

“Yes, Lord Phel,” Iliana agreed with enthusiasm. “I’d like to rest first, but perhaps we could try this afternoon?”

“Perfect,” Gabriel replied. “And,” he said, raising his voice, “Han can ensure that no one else approaches the pool. I’ll arrange for a guard rotation for when you two aren’t here, to prevent further incidents.”

“I told you,” Jadren called from across the room. “It wasn’t me. I only—”

He at least had the sense to stop talking when Gabriel raised a hand. Gabriel looked at Nic. “I’ll stay to discuss with Jadren. I don’t think I’ll need you, and I assume you have a long list of things to do.”