Lady Elise Antoine de Bellefeuille shows up late in the garden for a meeting with the Mind Mage, Cyprian, to discuss plans – as she has been kept very busy by the ambassador and only recently released from her daily duties. They discuss the matter of how much of a danger the Dean presents, and what they might fear if Elise speaks with him, as he has requested. Cyprian urges Elise to stall for time … and also proposes that he use a spell to create a mental link to Elise so that they can privately communicate via magic, in a way that others cannot eavesdrop in on.