Listening intently, Inessa nods and frowns thoughtfully. "It sounds rather like the Grand Game, but with mages. Though I suspect both parties would take offense to hearing that." Even so, to her eyes the elite often seem to have more in common with each other across borders than they would like to believe.

"Agreed, I have no desire to face their magic. I can dispel if need be, but that's a last resort, not a first. If nothing else, I can annoy them through buying a little time with ice walls." She's sure they can burn those down, but it's still time they waste on an object rather than those escaping.