"It doesn't ring right, Drex. It doesn't make any sense at all."

Drexelica leaned forward, cupping her chin with her right hand as if considering what to say next.

"Who got the most out of your granfer's disgrace, Grimm?"

The young mage shrugged. "Lord Thorn, I suppose. When Geral finally died, Lord Thorn became Prelate instead of Granfer."

He saw Drex's eyes narrowing, and he shook his head, seeing where the discussion was heading.

"Lord Thorn was Granfer's staunchest friend!" he protested. "The expected sentence was death, and only Lord Thorn's pleading swayed the adjudicator at Granfer's trial. If Thorn'd been the guilty party, why would he want to spare Granfer's life?"

Grimm sighed. He had nothing more than a slew of vague suspicions and doubts, nothing on which he could put his finger. He had considered the matter in some depth, but he knew he had no reason whatsoever to suspect Thorn of any wrongdoing. A spell capable of making a full Questor act against his will, while believing he was acting under free will, must be beyond the power of any single mage. Such an enchantment might have been carried out by a Great Spell, a large group of potent thaumaturges acting in concert, yet it seemed that Loras had been a popular mage, both within the House and at High Lodge.

No, Lord Thorn could not have done this.

After long cogitation, Grimm spoke.

"No, Drex, I don't for a moment think Lord Thorn did it. I have absolutely no reason to suspect him. In fact, books I read at High Lodge led me to believe that the only possible explanation involved powerful Geomancy, witch magic, rather than Guild magic."

Drexelica started. "I'm not all that powerful, but I've read quite a lot about witchery, Grimm. You must believe me when I tell you no ordinary witch could cast a spell like that. It would take a more powerful witch than I've ever heard of. Why would a strong witch hate your grandfather so much? Witches don't have a lot to do with the Guild."