“Where are you going?”
“Hawklord.”
* * *
The Tower doors were open by the time Kaylin had run up the stairs, which was unusual but appreciated. The Hawklord was standing in the Tower; the Tower’s aperture opened to morning sky. Even from the door, Kaylin could see Aerians flying in numbers too great to be simple patrols.
She saluted as she entered and came to stiff, almost vibrating, attention.
“What,” he asked, hierarchical preamble forgotten, “has happened?” He didn’t saywhat did you do this time, but his tone—and his glare—implied it. He didn’t give her permission to relax her stance, and she considered remaining at attention, but he sounded annoyed and very tired.
She told him as concisely as she could, staring at a spot just past his left shoulder.
“...I see. I believe you have a visitor,” he added.
The familiar came fluttering down through the open aperture to land more or less on her shoulder.
“Did you have something to do with the current emergency?” the Hawklord asked the small dragon. The small dragon huffed, squawked and settled.
“That’s a yes,” Kaylin translated.
“Did you ask him to intervene?”
“No, sir.”
“He did it on his own?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Invisible Aerians. Shadow nets.”
“Moran said—” She reddened, and corrected herself. “Sergeant Carafel said that we’ve got no proof they meant to kill her.” She hesitated, and then added, “It’s possible the net was meant to slow the Dragon down. Last time—”
“I am aware of what occurred.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Very well. Have the Barrani thoroughly inspect the injured before they are relayed.”
“Why don’t we just send them to the cells? We can offer medical help there if it’s required.”
“What a clever, intelligent idea. I’m certain it’s one that would never have occurred to any of your commanding officers on their own.”
Kaylin kissed corporal goodbye for another promotion cycle.
“Join the Barrani in their inspection,” he continued. “If you notice anything out of the ordinary, report it immediately. To me,” he added.
Marcus was not going to like that.
* * *
Severn met her in the office as she headed to the front doors, and fell in beside her. She filled him in as she jogged. He stopped to unwind his weapon chain. When spinning, it was proof against a lot of magic. Among other things. He caught up as she hit the streets. The Barrani had clearly been alerted by mirror before she’d made it down the Tower stairs. Teela was there, as was another of the human women—Rakkia. Tain and Rakkia’s partner stood back, armed and silent.
Teela met Kaylin’s eyes, shook her head slightly. Rakkia said, more pragmatically, “I see nothing.” She stepped out of the way as Kaylin approached the Aerians and stopped.
“What—what did youdo?” she whispered at her familiar. She might have shouted, but for the moment, shock had robbed her voice of strength.
The familiar crooned. He set a wing, gentle this time, against her eyes.
She saw nothing at all out of the ordinary. No Shadow. No weird nets. No strange armor. But she saw normal wings. The familiar lowered his wing, and she saw very damaged wings. She’d seen Aerian wings take injury before. This was nothing like that.
“Kitling.”