“The request, however, that he make that demand? It came from one of the Barrani Hawks. They’re guarding him against ‘accidental’ in-cell suicide.”
“And you believe I had some hand in that request?”
It hadn’t really occurred to Kaylin until he asked the pointed, chilly question. Kaylin knew that the composition of racial Caste Courts varied—often greatly—by race and racial customs. She’d assumed that the Caste Court of the Barrani was, to all intents and purposes, the High Lord and his Court.
And Evarrimwasa member of that Court.
“We didn’t come here today to question you about your role in the Caste Court,” she replied, picking her words with care, but resolutely clinging to Elantran. “We came to ask you questions about your acquaintance with both the Arcanum and the Aerian Arcanist.”
“Which Aerian?”
“The Arcanist.”
“There are currently two.”
“Fine. With the Aerian Arcanists, plural. If, however, you would like to volunteer information about the role of the Barrani Caste Court in this entire mess, we’d be grateful.”
“Human gratitude is ephemeral.”
And Barrani gratitude was almost nonexistent, in Kaylin’s opinion.
“Mortal gratitude persists in comparison to the length of mortal lives,” the Consort said gently. “To expect otherwise is to fail to understand mortality.”
Kaylin exhaled. “We want two things.”
“Oh, do continue.”
“We want to meet the Aerian Arcanists.”
“And?”
“We want the Barrani Caste Court to stop interfering in matters that are none of its damn business.” Ynpharion coughed. Teela exhaled. Kaylin inhaled, held her breath and turned to face the Consort. “Apologies, Lady,” she said, voice curt. “I spent the night with the midwives, and I’m hideously short of sleep.” It wasn’t a very gracious apology, but it was an explanation.
An explanation that possibly only the Consort would accept with any grace. But she was the mother of her race, in a way that a mortal couldn’t be to their own. “I see.” Her eyes were no longer the dark blue that all the rest of the Barrani eyes were. “I cannot, of course, compel Lord Evarrim to make the introduction you demand. I am not, and have never been, a part of the Arcanum. Even were it my calling, it would have been forbidden.
“I can, however, find out what the Caste Court barter is or was. If we aid the human Caste Court in some fashion, it will of course be to our theoretical advantage.” Her tone implied heavily that she could see no advantage the human Caste Court could possibly offer. She glanced at Evarrim.
Evarrim was a peculiar shade of white. He bowed to the Consort, and held that bow for much longer than necessary. When he rose, his expression was composed, almost neutral; his eyes were all midnight, but at this point, the surprise would have been green, not indigo.
“I am not at all certain the Arcanists in question will agree to a meeting.”
Kaylin said nothing.
“At the moment, both of those Arcanists are residents of the Southern Reach. They have quarters in the Arcanum, but those quarters were not designed with Aerians in mind; for obvious reasons, they find them uncomfortable. If the Arcanists agree to meet with you, you may be required to visit the Southern Reach.”
“Fine.”
“As you no doubt suspect, Lord Kaylin, one of the two is involved in an unusual branch of magical study. It is considered somewhat esoteric.”
“And forbidden?”
“We are not children, to be forbidden our natural curiosity. Our responsibilities are to our own studies, and their relative safety. We do not police other members of the Arcanum. I believe that would be consideredyourjob.”
“Arcane bomb, did I forget to mention?”
He stiffened.
“Arcane bomb,” she continued, “with a very, very small magical footprint, an unfamiliar-to-me sigil. The bulk of the splash effect appears to have been Shadow.”