“Because someone is responsible for the disappearance of your friends, and the sooner we discover who, the better.”
Terrano shrugged. “I think it’s more important to find them.”
“That’s because you don’t live here. But they want to.”
Terrano muttered something under his breath. Bellusdeo caught it; Kaylin didn’t. Probably just as well.
* * *
Barrani carriage or no, by the time Kaylin stumbled out of the door she was sore and tired. Sitting still, or sitting as still as a moving cabin allowed, took a lot of energy; Terrano hadn’t bothered. Although the Lord of the West March was in the carriage and obviously a witness to his antics, his boredom had grown, and he ended up trying to fly. This had caused two stops, because his first attempt would have broken bones had anyone else tried it. His second attempt was only a little better.
But his third attempt was very Mandoran-like. “Don’t look at me like that. This is harder than it looks.”
Since to Kaylin it looked impossible, she rolled her eyes. She tried to remember that Terrano had almost been responsible for the death of a Hallionne, that he had attacked the Consort, and that he had no loyalty whatsoever to his own people. All of these things were true, but it was hard to put them in the right context when she watched him; his excitement made him seem almost like a foundling who has finally come to understand that he’s safe.
But foundlings couldn’t kill people. Except maybe each other.
As if she could hear the thought, Bellusdeo said, “There is a reason it is not unwise to fear them.”
“But you like them!”
“Yes, I do. But I have the luxury of being a displaced person—something I never thought I’d say. Icanlike them. I can let that influence my decisions. I am not responsible for the well-being of everyone else. Were I the Consort—”
The Lord of the West March cleared his throat a touch too loudly.
Bellusdeo inclined her head. “I do not believe I would take the risk.”
“Of?”
“Allowing them to take the Test of Name. It isn’t about the resultant politics—I believe that is the Lord of the West March’s concern—but about the resultant chaos. They don’t have malicious intent. But Kaylin, Hawks died.”
“Hawks died because of the ancestors!”
Bellusdeo said nothing. As was her wont, she said it loudly.
“So, if you were queen—or Empress—what would you do with them?”
“I would do what the Emperor is doing. I would wait and see.” With an apologetic smile, she added, “I am not Barrani.”
“I left Diarmat’s report behind.” It was probably a soggy mess, too.
“You have the Lord of the West March as a traveling companion. He knows more than the Imperial Court.”
“He’s not exactly objective. No offense,” she added quickly.
None taken.
“But the Imperial Court will be. Less well informed, but more objective.”
“Do you think so?”
“You said it yourself—they’re not Barrani.”
“Ah, you misunderstand. The Emperor’s hoard is the empire. It is therefore in his interests that the Barrani rule be as peaceful as possible. Where the Barrani choose to intrigue with any subtlety, it is a matter for the Barrani Caste Court. The High Court, in this case. But where that intrigue cannot be ignored with a bit of effort, it will not be. The Barrani, I believe, understand this; it is not something that needs to be stated.
“The fact that the cohort disappeared while outside of the Empire was no doubt a strategic decision.”
“Because it’s irrelevant to the Emperor?”