While she talked, Kash cycled through a series of emotions, but only the rage ever showed on his face. "That's bullshit. You were trying to help. If no one ever told you you weren't supposed to do that..."

Kash half-growled at the tension in his shoulders and the pit of his stomach. He had a special hate for elders and organizations that didn't tell young people what they needed to know. Like, say, how evil his bride-to-be actually was.

He subsided but said, "Two-thirds of the magic users in my world would be Doomed by that Council. We have entire schools of magic based on mental effects."

And then, realizing that hadn't been her point, he added, "I'm glad Harry had the balls to stand up for you."