Chapter 13
Nic had not returned to Convocation Academy since the day she graduated.
That had been a bittersweet day—more bitter than sweet—as she finally quit the place and people who’d witnessed her precipitous fall from anointed heir and the next Lady Elal to miserable familiar about to subject herself to the Betrothal Trials.
The sweet had come entirely from her own determination to wipe the superior smirks off of every last face.
She’d planned to return in a year bonded to a powerful wizard of another high house, one she’d already wrapped around her little finger, immersing herself in high-house politics.
She hadn’t had more of a plan than that—just the certainty that she could attain wealth and power via that path, and with it she would make everyone sorry they’d ever snickered at the turn of fate that made her a familiar instead of a wizard.
Never in her wildest imagination could she have envisioned this particular homecoming, as lady of an (almost) high house, yes, but of the obscure and fallen House Phel.
And here she was on the arm of a powerful wizard, sure, but one who arguably had her wrapped up and so in love that she did his bidding without being asked.
He’d infected her with his brand of idealism to the point that she was returning to Convocation Academy, not to show off her position in the hierarchy, but to tear it all down.
Funny how the universe delivers your true heart’s desire, even when you yourself don’t know what it is.
Because she couldn’t imagine a more gratifyingly triumphant return than this.
She hadn’t been crushed by a supposed downfall that was becoming a familiar instead of a wizard.
She’d found actual happiness—and, even more important, a belief that she possessed the power to make a better and happier society for everyone else, too.
First step: meet with Provost Tandiya Uriel.
Nic hadn’t had occasion to meet the provost in person during her years at Convocation Academy.
She’d been a model student, exceptional in every way.
Even after her involuntary demotion from potential wizard to confirmed familiar, her pride hadn’t allowed her to perform anything less than sterling work.
Provost Uriel had attended the graduation ceremony, naturally, but Nic hadn’t chatted with her then, either.
She’d taken her certification and left, going directly back to House Elal to prepare for the trials.
Provost Uriel’s familiar, Priyan, also served as her admin.
He surveyed the five of them with raised brows, but otherwise complete poise.
In truth, he surprised Nic by immediately identifying the lot of them.
“Lord and Lady Phel, welcome. Lord Harahel Emeritus, it’s been many years since you graced our hallowed halls and it’s a pleasure to have you here.
Familiar Han, Familiar Iliana, welcome back. Do you wish to re-enroll?”
Han and Iliana startled at that. “Can we?” Iliana asked tentatively.
“That’s not for me to decide,” Priyan answered with polite kindness, “but I can make a note in your files.”
Iliana threw Han a clearly conflicted frown.
“Can we decide later?” Han asked gruffly, taking her hand.
“Of course. Now, I don’t see any of you on today’s appointment books.” He hadn’t looked at anything, but Nic had no doubt he knew the provost’s schedule down to the last quarter minute. “What shall I tell the provost is the nature of your business or businesses?”
Gabriel started to answer, but Nic put a hand on him.
“Confidential,” she said, adding tone of polite regret.
The provost most likely had no secrets from her familiar, but this was an office in a busy public building.
There could be any number and variety of eavesdroppers.
Already, their odd crew would have been noted and speculation would be flying through the hallowed halls of the academy.
Which meant their enemies would be alerted to the movement.
At least they’d been able to send a Ratsiel courier to House Phel to warn them of potential attacks.
Gabriel had rather wryly commented they might as well send a courier to expect the sun to rise in the morning, but had left his commentary at that. Wise man.
“The provost will see you now,” Priyan said, alerted by the interoffice Ratsiel communicator.
Lord Harahel Emeritus followed Nic and Gabriel, Han and Iliana bringing up the rear of their little parade, the two lovers looking like naughty children being called to the office rather than ambassadors of critical information.
Tandiya Uriel stood as they entered, steepling her capable fingers on the polished wood of the desk.
An imposing woman with a short cap of platinum hair, Provost Uriel wore her many years gracefully and with the mien of someone who valued her long life and the experience it implied.
She took them in with one sweeping, canny glance from her snapping black wizard’s eyes, her Uriel magic similarly assessing them and their intentions.
Though House Uriel focused on law and administration, their magic was primarily psychic.
Not unlike House Harahel wizards in their ability to memorize, assimilate, and analyze information, they also possessed honed skills in reading intention and truthfulness.
Legend had it—though the history books were sketchy on the topic—that Uriel and Hanneil had been a single high house back at the founding of the Convocation.
At some point, a schism had occurred over the ethics of using psychic influence on others.
House Hanneil had gone down the path that might begets right, believing that anything they were powerful enough to do, and that benefitted their house, should be done.
In truth, many high houses operated by the same philosophy, they just weren’t as brazen about it.
And not as effective. Only after Hanneil nearly took over the entire Convocation through mentally manipulating other wizards in key positions of power—saliently stopped only by House Uriel and a small coalition of other high houses—were they sanctioned and limited in their operations.
Some people joked that House Uriel’s primary trademark was foiling House Hanneil, but it wasn’t a laughing matter to those who knew.
In fact, Gordon Hanneil would have succeeded in his schemes had Tandiya not stopped him.
From the way Alise had told the story, the Uriel wizard exhibited a frightening level of psychic ability.
Which included mind reading, as Nic was reminded when Tandiya clearly heard the thought, locked eyes with her and smiled slightly. Well, she might as well say it aloud then.
“Greetings, Provost Uriel,” Nic said, inclining her head in respect. “House Phel wishes to offer our official gratitude for how you protected our wizard and my sister, Alise Phel, and her consort, Cillian Harahel.”
Behind her, Bertie snickered, though Nic wasn’t sure if that was for her choice of words or her presuming to claim the relationship between Cillian and Alise.
Provost Uriel raised her platinum brows, but also inclined her head in greeting. “Lady Veronica Phel. Welcome back to Convocation Academy. Lord Phel, it’s good to finally meet you, as you never did grace my halls as a student, more’s the pity.”
Gabriel smiled, a rare relaxed and warm grin. “An oversight on my part, Provost. I’m sure I would be a better wizard for the experience and education.”
She eyed him. “I like to think so.” Her sharp gaze lanced past them and softened beyond what Nic would’ve thought possible.
“Bertie.” She came around her desk and opened her arms. He practically skipped to her and gave her a one-armed hug, as he was still carrying the immense tome under the other arm.
No one could persuade him to leave it in the carriage, or even under Priyan’s watchful eye.
“How did this crew manage to dig you out of your study?” she asked. “Last time I knew, you’d declared that you intended to spend the rest of your life reading and thus refused to budge from House Harahel ever again.”
He winked at her. “I did spend the rest of my life doing that—and then it turned out I still had some time left over. Extra credit for being an exemplary human being, I suppose.”
“If anyone has earned that, you have.” She laughed, then turned an abruptly stern face on Han and Iliana.
“I didn’t anticipate seeing you two miscreants in my office ever again.
Aren’t you supposed to be on the run, hiding out somewhere?
” She tapped her lip, pretending to think.
“Oh yes, you claimed sanctuary at…” Her eyes slid over to Gabriel. “House Phel.”
“We settled the legalities, Provost,” Gabriel said, apparently unruffled, though Nic scented a hint of ozone in the air, a sense of silver shimmer.
Tandiya did, too, because she gave him a stern look. “No magical waterworks in my office, boy-o. You have rank in the Convocation, but this academy is my personal kingdom and I rule with absolute authority.”
Nic believed it, too, especially after hearing how neatly the provost had nullified Gordon Hanneil.
“Provost Uriel,” she said, resisting the urge to interpose herself between the provost and the errant familiars, “we brought Han and Iliana here because they have pertinent information on, a, ah, issue of ongoing concern.”
The provost gave her a very dry look and resumed her seat behind her desk.
“Yes, so I ascertained once Priyan told me who was here, as I’m not either uninformed or an idiot.
I established the silencing shield as soon as you entered.
And I’ve swept for Elal spirit spies.” She gave Nic’s surprise an arch smile.
“Nor do I underestimate my enemies. Sit, sit, all of you. Now,” she mused as they all found chairs, “who should start this tale? Iliana, you were always a diligent student—and technically, still mine—report, please.”