"I have nothing useful. My second guess would've been that her men were simply more organized than a Quartet who hadn't worked together in years, but I doubt that was the clincher. Especially because it doesn't apply here to my battle with her, and I assume that whatever the answer is applies to this battle as much as that one."
"Wise answer," Alexander allowed. He crossed his arms, expression growing serious. "The answer is the House. As far as it's concerned, Isobel is its rightful owner. As such, it will not let her lose. It's as simple as that."
"That's… really it? But you said Lyra could've won."
"She could've. She had the best odds. Yet, the House found a way to ensure her failure. It wasn't easy, though! She was a few adjustments away from victory! A crafty one, that girl. Deceptively difficult to beat."
