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No!“The oracle head said we are bonded,” he argued.
“Heard and witnessed,” Asa called out, many of the others echoing him.
“The oracle also determined that the bond is nonstandard,” the proctor said, raising her voice so all could hear.
“There is no codicil,” Wolfgang said smoothly, “in Convocation law regarding nonstandard bonding. You have no grounds to take custody of Lady Phel.”
“Because there’s never been a nonstandard bond,” the proctor shot back. “This is unprecedented.”
“But not illegal,” Asa put in. “Lord Phel has bonded his familiar, as verified by your own oracle. That should end the matter.”
The proctor fumed, then smiled as some thought occurred to her. Turning her canny gaze on Gabriel, she nodded. “I am willing to leave the familiar with you for the time being, Lord Phel, if you can assure me of her obedience and that she is fully subject to your will. I require a demonstration of your control. To ask less would be irresponsible,” she added primly.
Gabriel inclined his head warily. Nic could fake any amount of obedience to him, he was certain. The difficulty would be in controlling himself. But he could do anything for a short time, if it meant protecting Nic.
“A simple demonstration will do,” the proctor continued. “Force your familiar into alternate form, and I’ll be satisfied.”
Behind him, Asa said something to Sage and Quinn, a relieved note in his voice. Nic closed her eyes as if in pain. His parents looked at him in utter bewilderment.
“What is she talking about, Gabriel?” his mother asked. “Alternate form?”
“I’ll explain later,” he told her, willing them both to be patient. “I will comply with this demonstration,” he said to the proctor, “but not here, in front of everyone.” Turning Nic in his arms, he caressed her cheek, hoping he looked possessive and controlling, trying to read the message in her eyes. “It’s private. Not for the eyes of commoners,” he added, desperately hoping that excuse would fly. He hadn’t seen any other wizard push their familiar into their alternate form, and Nic had expressed surprise that Lord Elal had done so to Lady Elal in front of Gabriel. He also hoped his parents would forgive him, once he explained.
Nic gave no clue, regarding him somberly. Yes, he knew what she was thinking. If this privacy gambit worked, it would buy them only a little time.
“Private, he says,” the proctor snorted. “All right, then. As I’ve requested several times now, take me to a private, quiet location.”
“I’ll arrange for one,” Gabriel told her. “We are under renovation, so I’ll require some time. We’ll convene tomorrow morning.”
“And allow this one to escape again on my watch?” the proctor demanded. “I don’t think so. It’s now, Lord Phel. Here or in private. I don’t care if it’s an empty room, but I’ll test this unknown familiar to determine her magical potential—and relative sanity—and you can demonstrate your so-called bonding.”
“Now see here,” GF protested. “What all is involved in this testing? Our Selly is a bit touchy, and I won’t stand by and let her be harmed.”
Selly looked up then, catching up with the conversation around her. “Harmed?” Then she glared at the back of Nic’s head. “Youpromised!” she screamed, loudly enough to crack eardrums and more than enough to startle his mother, who reflexively released Selly to clap her hands over her ears.
“No!” Gabriel yelled, lunging past Nic to grab Selly, who leapt like one of those wildcats from the western marshes onto the porch railing. Rat grabbed for her, but she skipped out of his reach with surprising speed, scampering along the porch rail at top speed. “Don’t let her get away,” he called out. There were a lot of people standing around and only one, mildly crazed young woman. They should be able to surround her.
But Selly reached the end of the porch, climbed a pillar like it was a tree, and disappeared over the roofline.
“Agile little monkey, isn’t she,” Jadren commented on a disinterested drawl.
“Stop her,” Daisy wailed.
The proctor leveled a grim look on Gabriel, as if he’d somehow planned this. “You will retrieve the familiar.”
“Yes,” he replied, seizing on the opportunity Selly’s flight had afforded. “Come on, Nic.” Taking her hand, he pulled Nic into the house.
“Leave your familiar with me,” the proctor yelled after him.
He skidded to a stop. “I need her for an incantation to recover my sister. Which order do you want me to follow?”
The proctor worked her mouth in frustration.
“She’s getting farther away,” he warned the proctor.
“Go, then,” she agreed. Gabriel was too busy running down the hall to make out what else she called after them.
“Where are wegoing?” Nic gasped as Gabriel practically dragged her down the hallway, his much greater stride leaving her scrambling, his viselike grip on her hand remorseless. “Seliah will be—”
