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“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.”
“At this point, given how Papa has dealt with you, that’s sounding like a bonus.”
Nic considered, wishing she could consult with Gabriel, knowing that he’d tell her the choice was hers.“Your wizardry would be welcome,” Nic began, then hesitated.
“But?”Alise waited, expression bland and spine rigid.“You might as well spit it out, Nic.Let’s not dance around each other anymore.If you don’t want me here, I understand and will abide by that.”
“It’s not that,” Nic assured her hastily, burying the uncomfortable stab of guilt that she kind ofdidn’twant her brilliant wizard sister around dazzling everyone.The time for sibling competition was over.
Alise was watching her carefully.“Then what is it?”
With a sigh, Nic handed Alise her last blank NDA.“This is not because I don’t trust you,” she said as Alise studied the document with climbing eyebrows.“We’re asking everyone to sign them before we discuss the contract to the house.”
“Bold,” Alise murmured as she read.Without looking up, she held out a hand for Nic’s quill, signing with a flourish.“I assume Han and Iliana will be asked to sign, too?”
“Yes, as soon as I copy over some more.Beyond that, now that you’ve signed this…” She waved the document in the air, determined to keep it safe until Gabriel could seal the promise magically.“I can tell you that Han and Iliana will be asked to sign contracts also.”
Alise sat back, taking up her glass again.“I don’t have to tell you that a familiar’s signature on a contract isn’t legally binding in the Convocation.”
“No, though it might be helpful to have someone besides me explaining that to Gabriel,” Nic replied drily.
“Aha,” Alise breathed, clearly thinking that through.“Now I understand.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s not that you’re in love with Lord Phel—though I don’t doubt that you are—but he’s a radical.An outsider.He’s making you his equal partner in this enterprise.That much was clear already, that your input and opinion matters.”
“I don’t see how that was clear when he obviously overruled me about you all staying,” Nic muttered, still annoyed by that, even though they’d made up.
Alise grinned broadly.“See?Just the fact that you were, and still are a bit—unless I miss my guess—annoyed that he overruled you demonstrates that you’re not used to that.In point of fact, you were smart to turn us away, and I can see why you’re worried that Lord Phel chose to take us in.While I’m selfishly glad for his soft-hearted decision, I can see that you have to be the one to hold his feet to the fire regarding truths of life in the Convocation.”
“You’re not wrong,” Nic replied with resignation.
“But what you two are doing here is important,” Alise continued.“I realize now that we don’t have to run away to establish the community I described.”
“We don’t?”
“No, because you’re already doing it.”
