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to her mouth that belied the softness implied by her round features. "Care to give it a try?"
    Sudden anger licked up like a tongue of flame growing from an ember. It burned through Ciara's veins, hungry for something to devour. Lady Honval's eyes widened, an eager light glittering in them. Not too long past, Ciara would have lost herself to the surge of power without thought to consequence. Whether due to Andrakaos's absence, or her own growing self-control, she tamped it down instead. When she drew in a deep breath to calm her racing pulse, it came tainted with the sweet, flowery scent of Lady Honval's perfume.
    "I can't change what you think of me, or how you choose to see things," Ciara said, her voice remarkably steady. "I may have been the reason Donovan came to Nisair, but his actions were his own. It's taken me a while to understand that. Even longer to believe it. He's hurt a lot of people I care about, and deserves whatever punishment the Emperor sees fit."
    "Whereas you deserve none at all?"
    "Not for anything Donovan did." Ciara kept her gaze resolutely on the mage, even though the memory of the men she'd killed on the road begged to be brought to the fore. Their blood would remain forever on her hands, no matter how many people called her actions justified. "I am sorry you lost someone important to you, but you aren't the only one."
    For the briefest moment, a touch of something other than contempt claimed Lady Honval's expression. "Danya Nialyne's death was senseless. Her loss will be felt by many." No sooner were the words out than the sneer returned. "Yours, on the other hand, would hardly be noticed. Step cautiously, Lady . Do not think being the Lord General's bed warmer entitles you to special treatment. A bird that grows too heavy to fly soon finds itself the fox's meal." She turned to Jorny. "Take her back where she belongs and keep her there until she is sent for. She should not be allowed to wander the grounds at her leisure."
    "All due respect, Lady Honval," Jorny said evenly. "I take my orders from Commander Garek, and he's made no such stipulations. If you'd like, I can relay your concerns to him when I return to the barracks."
    The stillness of a held breath settled over the Hall. Lady Honval's guards shifted and Ciara tensed but Jorny appeared unaffected.
    "How dare you defy me," the woman said. "The Council of Mages is the ruling authority in this city in the Emperor's absence. I will not have my orders questioned by some self-important Guardsman."
    "As you say, m'lady." Jorny touched Ciara's elbow and slanted a meaningful look toward the arched entryway.
    "You should bear something in mind," Lady Honval said. "Lord Donovan is a traitor to the empire and, as such, has forfeited all rights and privileges. It is within the Emperor's power to extend that censure to any heirs. Should you find yourself bereft of General Bolin's sanctioning, your position here will not be what you have been led to believe it is." 
    The woman pushed past her, guards in tow, and Ciara could only stand and gape after her until Jorny purposefully cleared his throat.
    "Are all the mages like her?" Ciara asked.
    "Can't really say," Jorny replied. "I make it a point not to have many dealings with them."
    "I'm not sure I want to have many more dealings with them myself."
    On the bright side, it didn't appear Ciara needed to worry about being used by the Imperial Mages, as Donovan had claimed.
    No, they don't want to use me, Ciara thought. They'd rather just execute me.
    A cold finger of dread traced across her flesh. If the rest of the mages thought like Lady Honval, Ciara could just imagine how they would view her attempts at trying to find Donovan. They wouldn't understand that she only wanted to ease some of the worries weighing Bolin down, and ensure Donovan answered for his actions.
    "I suppose we better go back," she said to Jorny.
    The Guardsman gave a loose shrug. "You're free to go where you like, m'lady."
    "But Lady