Someone in the distance roared. In Dragon.
Kaylin reddened. “I think Bellusdeo wants us to hurry up.”
* * *
A dress had been procured—somehow—for the Dragon. It was not a particularly fancy dress, but it was real, and it wasn’t armor. Her hair had been plaited in a single braid that pulled hair off her face and made her look more severe. Or maybe it was just her expression. Her eyes were orange, but close enough to red to make conversation seem life-threatening.
The cohort were, unsurprisingly, blue-eyed. But the blue varied in shades, and two of the cohort were almost calm. Tara had led the cohort into a large room with various small tables situated across a carpet that absorbed all incidental noise. Terrano was seated between Sedarias and Allaron, but seemed to have given up on sulking; he was talking, in low tones, with the leader of the cohort.
Tiamaris stood at the center of the room, arms folded, eyes orange. “We have informed the Imperial Court that you have made a safe—if unconventional—return to Elantra. The unconventional will of course be a matter of grave concern. Lord Bellusdeo has claimed that the decision to take the path you took was hers.”
“That’s not—”
“Sedarias has likewise claimed the decision as her own. Do you have anything to add?”
“Yes. You’re doing a damn good imitation of Diarmat.”
Bellusdeo was surprised enough to laugh, which lessened the deadly color of her Dragon eyes. Tiamaris grimaced, which, given his demeanor, was unexpected.
“The Dragon Court is in an uproar,” he said. “The Swords have been—I have been expressly commanded to inform you—working nonstop since your abrupt departure.”
“By who?”
“Who else can give commands that I am obliged to obey?”
Ugh.
“Bellusdeo has been granted conditional approval to remain with you—as long as you are situated within your own home. The Emperor trusts Helen.”
Kaylin would have resented this, but given the circumstances, felt it unwise. She also happened to agree, and was being cowardly; she knew the Emperor would be blamed if Bellusdeo resented what might amount to house arrest, and the Emperor was in the Imperial Palace. Kaylin would be living with Bellusdeo under the same roof.
“And everyone else?”
“The Barrani are not the concern of the Dragon Court—or rather, these particular Barrani are not. The war band is. However, one possible benefit of a declaration of war is that the High Court and its lord are not in a position to make racial demands of the Emperor. Discussions and negotiations are tense enough that the Emperor would reject, outright, any attempt to forcibly repatriate your friends.”
“You’re speaking theoretically, right?” Kaylin asked, without much hope.
“He’s not,” Tara replied, before Tiamaris could. “Things have moved quickly, here, but nothing is on fire.” She hesitated, which was unusual for Tara. “Ah, I forgot to mention something. You will not be able to speak with Lord Ynpharion, nor he with you, while you are within the Tower.”
Kaylin folded her arms. “Thank you.” She meant it. “Now that we’re home and as safe as we’re likely to get, we’re going to have to visit Candallar. You’re a fieflord, he’s a fieflord. If you have any way of making that meeting safer, we’d appreciate it. His job as lord of a Tower is to stop Shadow from escaping to eat the rest of the city.” To Tara, she said, “He apparently allowed a Barrani Lord—of the High Court—to enter and leave Ravellon. When he left, he was carrying a passenger.”
Tara’s eyes were obsidian.
“You let us in. You had that option. Could you letmewalk into Ravellon and come out carrying Shadow?”
Tara’s skin turned to stone. Literally. “No.”
“Well, that’s what the Tower of Candallar seems to have allowed.”
“Impossible.”
So not the word Kaylin wanted to hear. Before she could continue, Tiamaris lifted a staying hand. “We have been informed—by Corporal Handred—of Candallar’s possible collusion with both assassins and...something at the heart of Ravellon.”
I told him what you knew. If Shadows are leaving Ravellon and entering Elantra that way...
Kaylin relaxed. Marginally.
Tara said, “We are also investigating. My lord has begun the process of—”