“No,” a new voice said. “Our people are not at war. And if you are willing to remain within my borders, you will come to no harm.”
Kaylin turned to see the Avatar of the Hallionne. It was, as she had half expected, Orbaranne. But this Orbaranne was not the Avatar she had seen the last time she’d stepped foot in her domain. That Avatar had looked like a frightened young woman.
This one looked like an ageless, terrifying monarch. Her words reminded Kaylin that the Barrani themselves often chose to remain outside of the Hallionne’s doors in all but cases of emergency. Even in an emergency, Kaylin suspected that many of the Barrani would be uncomfortable. They had no desire to have their minds read, even if the reader was an apolitical building.
“Of course,” the Hallionne said. “They are a people who depend upon the secrets they keep from others—and no secret is safe from the Hallionne.” She tilted her head to the side as she studied Bellusdeo.
“I live with Helen,” Bellusdeo pointed out.
“Yes, I can see that.” Orbaranne’s Avatar frowned. “Helen is unusual, as you stated. She was not built as we were built, and not for the same purpose—but she has perhaps gone further than we would, or could, in pursuit of independence. Should you attempt to harm other guests, we will be forced to act—but not until then. I welcome you both.” She hesitated.
“Blood?” Kaylin asked, remembering the demands of her own first entry into one of the Hallionne.
“It is not essential.”
“Then why do you make it a condition of entry?”
“I do not. The Barrani demand it as a token of surety.” She had not looked away from the golden Dragon, although it wasn’t necessary. Nothing happened within the Hallionne that escaped the Hallionne’s notice.
“I have nothing to offer as surety,” Bellusdeo said.
“No. Nor would I demand it. I am gratified, however, to accept you as a guest. You are my first—my very first—Dragon.” Hesitation again. “Not all Hallionne will view this as a privilege, but all will accept you if you travel with Lord Kaylin.”
“Oh?”
“The Consort has asked it of us.”
Kaylin’s jaw would have hit the floor had it not been attached to her face. “She asked you to acceptDragon guests?”
“No, Lord Kaylin. She asked us to accept you and those who travel with you. I do not believe she intended your companion to be a Dragon. I believe she spoke of your familiar.”
Kaylin reached up to her shoulder. The familiar was not there.
“We can, as your Helen does, stretch rules. We cannot break them.”
“But—”
“And the Consort is precious to us, as you have perhaps noticed before.”
“When? When did she ask this?”
“Yesterday. Ah.” The Avatar’s expression shifted and softened, lending a hint of youthful vulnerability to her intimidating perfection. “He is here. Pardon me. If you follow the lights, you will reach the grand hall, and we will meet you there.” She vanished in the blink of a very slow eye.
“I hope,” Kaylin said, as she turned toward the floor with the brightest lighting, “that she remembers to warn her visitor that he has a Dragon in his domain.”
“Who are you expecting?”
“From her expression, I’d guess it’s the Lord of the West March.” Kaylin reddened. She was not, as it happened, wearing the ring that he had given her—the most obvious public symbol of his claim of chosen kinship. It was safe at home. Of course it was.
It is not required. I believe I would recognize you without it. But why do you leave it at home? It is not so plain or so poorly made that it would be an embarrassment to be seen wearing it, surely? Even among your mortal kin, who would not recognize its significance.
She had forgotten—she always forgot—what his voice was like. It was not Nightshade’s, and it was certainly not Ynpharion’s; it was warmer, somehow more open than either.
It is meant for those of my kin who might otherwise fail to understand your significance. It leaves them without the pathetic excuse of ignorance, should they decide to harm you. You have heard that there has been an...incident.
I’d heard something, yes.She exhaled. Out loud, she said, “The Consort told me the cohort were traveling along the portal paths.”
Cohort?