Icarus makes a sound, sucking his teeth. His gaze moves from Puck to Corbin. Gloria looks away.

"So. This whole thing looks like it was staged to draw me and my friends out. And the information might be ... doctored or contaminated in some way. No doubt that is what Venois hoped we'd do - pass on the information and either discredit ourselves or the Libertines. All so a Guardian could say 'I said so' and further entrench her rule."

Corbin looked up at the ceiling and then back at Puck.

"Thanks for your help. We will see what we can do about the sympathies. And move on, probably. I don't want to drag your consilium into this."

At last, Corbin, batter and burned, appeared to take command. He directed his gaze not just to Puck, but the other mages of Sacramento.

I'll end the scene here. It feels like its been dragging for quite a while. Thanks for persevering Xander Shane Xadun