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to the Magisterium for practicing unlicensed sorcery," said Sebastian.
    "You wouldn't," said Laeria. "You're a Loyalist, not a Restorationist or a Militarist. You hate the Magisterium, and won't have anything to do with it."
    Sebastian took a step towards Laeria. "Cast a spell my daughter again, and you'll find out just what I'll do."
    Laeria met his gaze for a moment, and then stalked away.
    Sebastian sighed and scooped up Caina. "Did she hurt you?"
    "She didn't hit me," said Caina. 
    He carried her to the library, sat upon the couch. Caina leaned against his shoulder, crying softly. 
    "Why does she hate me so much?" said Caina at last. 
    "I suppose you're old enough to understand now," said Sebastian. "Do you know what the Imperial Magisterium is?"
    Caina had read about it. "It's...the brotherhood of the magi, the sorcerers. The only ones allowed to use sorcery inside the Empire."
    Sebastian nodded. "Before I met your mother, she was a novice of the Magisterium. The novices take a seven-year course of study before they become full magi. The Magisterium expelled your mother in her fourth year. She was simply not strong enough with sorcery to become a full magus. When she married me, I thought she had gotten past that, but I was...I was wrong."
    "Why did she marry you," said Caina, "if she hates you as much as she hates me?"
    "She thought I was a different kind of man than the one I really am," said Sebastian. "I am the Lord of House Amalas, and a Count, besides. Do you know the difference between a Lord and a Count?"
    Caina thought back to her reading. "A Lord is a noble of the Empire," she said, remembering. "But a Count...a Count is a noble appointed to an office by the Emperor himself."
    "I was already appointed Harbormaster of Aretia when I met your mother," said Sebastian. "I think she hoped that I would rise higher, become the commander of a Legion, or maybe the Lord Governor of an important province."
    "Someone powerful enough to force the Magisterium to take her back?" said Caina.
    "Yes," said Sebastian. "Very good. But I am not that sort of man, Caina. I have no stomach for Imperial politics. Aretia is my home, and I am content to stay here." 
    "And Mother hates it here," said Caina.
    "Yes," said Sebastian. "She would rather return to Artifel and the Motherhouse of the magi, but they will not take her. So she takes her frustrations out upon me...and upon you." 
    "Do you wish you had never married her?" said Caina.
    Sebastian smiled. "How could I," he said, touching her hair, "for without her, I never would have gotten you."
    Caina smiled. 
    "But this has gone on for too long," said Sebastian. "I am ashamed that I let it go on for so long. If she strikes you again, tell me and I will put a stop to it. And if she uses her sorcery against you, tell me...and I will go to the Magisterium."
    "I don't think she will," said Caina. "I made her stop. I got angry and pushed her out of my head." 
    "You did?" said Sebastian, surprised. "That takes great mental strength."
    "She said bad things about you," said Caina. "I got angry."  
    "You defend me more than I deserve," said Sebastian. "But if Laeria lifts hand or spell against you, tell me. I will not let it pass."

    ###

    But her mother left them alone after that.
    Perhaps Sebastian's threat daunted her, or Caina's unexpected resistance alarmed her. After that day, Laeria ignored them, spending almost all her time shut away in her rooms, practicing her spells, or corresponding with the few magi who did not ignore her. She emerged only to appear with Sebastian and Caina at public functions, and left as soon as possible.
    As Caina grew older, more than once she wondered why her father simply did not divorce Laeria. The gods knew he had endured enough. Perhaps he thought Laeria could change. Perhaps part of him still loved her. 
    Caina did not love her mother, not even a little.
    Eventually, she realized that her father preferred reading and thinking and writing to any