"You make it sound so simple," she retorted, thoroughly exasperated. "But everyone knows ghosts are terribly, terribly dangerous. Sure, hunters have some immunity, but one miscalculation, and we're talking a major disaster. When you're dealing with high-energy ghosts, there's always the possibility of serious psychic trauma."

"Nothing went wrong," Cooper said quietly. "The issue that had arisen was formally settled according to Guild Law. There should have been no gossip."

"Well, there is gossip, Mr. Guild Boss."

"It doesn't involve you," he said quietly.

"I have another news bulletin for you. Everyone is saying that I was the reason the duel was fought."

He frowned. "Who said that?"

"Everyone. Aren't you listening? My colleagues in the Department of Botany stared and whispered when I walked through the faculty lounge. You should have heard the giggling when I went into the women's restroom."

There was a short, heavily weighted silence at that news. The discussion was going downhill fast, and her heart was breaking into smaller and smaller pieces. She only had one last, frail hope to cling to.

"Elly," John said, placating. "You're the daughter of a Guild family. You know how important our traditions are."

"For heaven's sake, Dad, I've got nothing against a few institutional traditions. But we're talking about a fullblown duel." She flicked a glance at Cooper. "In case neither one of you has heard, that sort of thing is considered archaic, primitive, uncivilized, and way over the top by modern, educated, sophisticated people such as my colleagues."

"Your father's right; the gossip will die down," Cooper promised.

"That remark only goes to show how out of touch you both are with mainstream society." She started to pace. "It's all very well for you not to worry, but let me tell you a few facts of academic life. This may come as a stunning shock, but it turns out that figuring at the center of a stupid, mega-macho duel between a couple of hunters-one of whom happens to be a Guild boss-is not the kind of thing that will help me get promoted to assistant professor."