“Good. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, tell me why you think she doesn’t belong here.”
“She?”
Damn.
“How did you even come to meet her? I suppose I should not be surprised; you are certainly acquainted with the Lady and with Lord Bellusdeo.”
“She’s not like the Lady,” was Kaylin’s flat and certain reply. “And she’s not like Bellusdeo, either.”
“No. She is not, but she occupies a central, singular place for the Aerians, as the Consort does for the Barrani, or Lord Bellusdeo for the Dragons. It should not surprise me,” he said again, “but it does.”
“Do you know what her role is?”
“We will trade information, perhaps. How did you encounter her?”
There was a beat of silence before Kaylin exhaled. “She works in the Halls of Law.”
His eyes shifted from blue to a very surprised gold, a color she very seldom saw in Barrani. “You must be mistaken.”
“I think I know the Halls of Law, and I think I know a sergeant when I see one. She works in the Halls.”
“A...sergeant.” He closed his eyes; when he opened them again, they had reclaimed the color blue. It was a lighter shade than Teela’s. So was midnight sky. “No wonder they tried to kill her. This has happened before?”
“Not while she’s been a sergeant.” Kaylin set her cutlery down and folded her arms, tilting her chair back on two legs. She wasn’t hungry, and while that didn’t usually stop her from eating, she wanted to concentrate.
“Never?”
“Not that I know of, no. But I’d say ‘never’ covers it.”
“Ah. And before that?”
“It’s not in Records.” She stonewalled. He couldn’t read her mind now. He couldn’t see her thoughts. “Why would you expect that this wouldn’t be the first attempt?”
He smiled. “Because she is living here, Kaylin. Perhaps you do not understand why this is a crime in the minds of the Aerians.”
“Some of the Aerians.”
“As you say. Why does she not dwell with her kin? Why does she choose menial employ? She isIllumen praevolo.”
“And I’m the Chosen,” Kaylin shot back. “But I need to eat.”
“The Chosen does not mean to humans what your Aerian will mean to the Aerians. Perhaps it should.”
“It certainly should,” Bellusdeo interrupted. “She is not treated with nearly the respect her burden is due.”
Kaylin lifted a hand in Bellusdeo’s direction, and the Dragon fell silent. She probably wasn’t happy about it, but Kaylin didn’t check; she was watching Nightshade as if he were the only person in the room.
“Do your Aerians not speak of it?” Nightshade asked her.
“No. And I can’t ask them.”
“And she does not explain?”
“No. She thinks it’s not safe for me to know.”
He smiled; it was winter, but beautiful. “And so you come to me.”
“I didn’t—” She exhaled and regrouped. “Yes. Yes, I’m asking you.”