Winter felt smug at having prevented her from undermining him, before reprimanding himself because it was to be expected so there wasn't any satisfaction to be gleaned. It wasn't anything special, not for an Icewing.

"That was merely a question," he informed her matter-of-factly. "If it was a challenge, you would know."

Her answer hadn't given him the information he was fishing for, but there was no point being indirect at this point when they both knew where this was going (especially if she was just going to be contrary for the sake of it).

"Were all your studies with private tutors?"