There was a glimmering of amusement.Terrano is correct.The Consort chose Kariastos for a reason.
All of Kaylin’s worry, all of her fear, took shape and form, transforming as it did into a bitter anger. She had led the cohort—or almost led the cohort—into a trap.Why didn’t you say anything?It was a stupid question. She knew it was stupid. But the anger had to go somewhere or it would overwhelm her.
Because she is not concerned about the cohort, as you call them; not in the fashion you are. If they are caught in a trap, it is unlikely that Kariastos will destroy them immediately. She can disentangle them afterward.
And me?
She did not—she does not—believe you are at significant risk. What Kariastos might build at her request will not harm you, because you have your familiar.
What is shetryingto do?
Frustration.What do you think?
You do not wish to be involved in this, Nightshade said softly.
I’m involved anyway.
Limit your involvement.
I can’t—I live with your brother. And Mandoran. The Barrani are trying to start a war because we have Bellusdeo, who had no intention of coming here at all. If I did nothing at all going forward, I would still be entangled in all of it.
Sedarias is dangerous.
Kaylin did not reply.
Lirienne did not ask her what she thought the Consort intended. And that told her something that she needed to know, and conversely, didn’t want to. But that, she told herself, was life.You know what they’re doing, she said, not bothering to hide the severity of either her tone or the disappointment she felt.
Yes.
It’s beyond the political, now.
Nothing is ever beyond the political,kyuthe. Nothing about my kin.
Help us. Bellusdeo is with us. Bellusdeo isn’t part of the cohort; she’s a Dragon. If there’s—if something was planned, she’s going to get caught up in it, too. The Emperor will be enraged, and war is not in the interests of either of our people if Ravellon has somehow become involved. In fact, war is only of value to Ravellon; it’ll split our forces. And it seems pretty clear that Ravellonisinvolved.
Lirienne said nothing. Kaylin let it go. She held his name, not the other way around, but she knew that she was not equal to enforcing her will. Not now, and probably not ever.
Kaylin lifted a hand and exhaled. Using her Hawk voice, she said, “No one enter the Hallionne.”
“Oh?” Sedarias’s voice was chilly.
Ignoring this, Kaylin turned to Terrano. His expression made clear that he thought anyone who gave orders to Sedarias—and expected to be obeyed—was so far beyond stupid they might as well be dead, which was what was going to happen when Sedarias was finished with them.
The ground beneath her feet—beneath all of their feet—began to rumble in a peculiar way. It did not feel like a tremor, exactly; Kaylin thought that standingonBellusdeo’s throat while she was attempting to roar would feel similar.
“Sedarias—” Terrano’s voice was sharper and far less calm, but when she lifted a hand, he swallowed. “We’re too close to the Hallionne, and I really don’t think this is a good idea—”
“What is she doing?” Kaylin asked him. Her arms had not started to ache; her skin felt normal. But Terrano’s queasy expression made clear that Sedarias, who seemed to be standing utterly still—as if she were a sword that had not yet been wielded—was doing something. Anything that could make Terrano nervous was bad.
“Sedarias—the Hallionne does not—”
Whatever she’d been about to say was lost to the sound of thunder, the flash of lightning and the buckling of the ground beneath their collective feet. Even Terrano’s.
27
“What did youdo?” Kaylin shouted. She had to shout, to be heard; if Sedarias had not been not Barrani, she wouldn’t have heard, regardless.
Sedarias might have looked smug, if smug had utterly lacked any sense of enjoyment. Kaylin searched for a word and came up withvindicatedas the closest match for the Barrani woman’s expression.