XI

"Torture?" Mrako asked, appalled.


Freggel twitched as if pained, "It is not torture, It is...dissuasion. Valora does not have the capacity to fulfill this duty, and we need only to convince her and her father of that. You can surely see the reason in this: What on earth is to happen to us, to the very practice of Magic itself, if we allow an incompetent, petulant, girl to orchestrate the Institute? We have devoted our entire lives to the practice, study and teaching of Magic, and well do we know how delicate the Institute is. It is for the good of all of us, including Valora. I'm sure you've realized how she loathes us."


Mrako did not like this in the slightest. In fact, he did not like a lot of what was going on these days. "What is the danger in trying her fairly. Who can say what aptitudes she may have? Certainly we have had excellent Wizards out of the Family in the past."


"We do not have time for that. We are floundering, Mrako. We were not prepared for this situation, and we  have already found a more suitable candidate. We have begun training them, in fact. We require now only that Valora step down, and we are prepared to make certain she does."


A pause.


Mrako bit his lip, and looked at Professor Freggel. He sighed, and said only "As you wish, Professor."