go for a crone or something and just take heat 1 or 2 and maybe some misfortune. but remember they are only sacred in serpent cult which i tend to avoid so..... (try w9 and high air blessed battle vestals as good bodyguards for mages)
and water 9 raises them from low to mediocre defence... and dont forget those attacks all target 1 square. if you want to go for pure offense try water 9 fire 9
(loads of armour piecing attacks) and even with twist fate chances are it will let you survive an initial charge hopefully and allow you to poison/attack/rout opposition. and if combined with air it dosnt get wasted on missles