“You are speaking to someone who is not me, I assume,” Bellusdeo said.
“Yes, sorry.”
“The Hallionne?”
“No. The Lord of the West March.”
Bellusdeo smiled. “I really did resent being left behind, you know.”
“When I was sent out here the first time?”
The Dragon nodded. “I feel almost grateful to the Keeper for the opportunity.”
“The Emperor is going to kill me.”
“I imagine he won’t be pleased, no,” Bellusdeo said. Her eyes were almost gold. “But he is a Dragon, not a mortal. I would be more concerned about your sergeant, in this case.”
“Sergeant?”
“The Dragon Court understands both the function and necessity of the Keeper. The Emperor is therefore unlikely to blame you for anything that occurred. Your sergeant, however, might see it differently when you take a sudden leave of absence without permission.” At Kaylin’s expression, she snickered. “I have to admit, I’ve grown almost fond of him. I did not care for him when we first met.”
“He doesn’t care for the Dragon Court.”
“Yet he devotes his life to defending and upholding the Emperor’s Law.”
“The laws are mostly good. And we owe allegiance to the laws, not the Emperor directly.”
“They are not different.”
“They are.”
“In the worst case, the Emperor could merely change the law, and you would be honor bound to defend it.”
“It’s still different,” Kaylin insisted.
“It is indeed different,” Orbaranne said. Kaylin looked around for the source of the voice, but stopped herself; she should be used to it by now. After all, Helen’s voice was frequently completely disembodied. “But these lands are not Imperial lands, and the laws are different here. The Emperor does not rule them. The Lord of the West March does.”
“But...”
“Yes?”
“The High Court is in the heart of the Empire.”
“Yes.”
“And the High Lord is therefore expected to respect Imperial Law. He’s part of the Empire.”
“Yes.”
“And the High Lord is the man the Lord of the West March serves.”
“Indeed. But Lord Kaylin, the fiefs are also in the heart of the Empire. And the fieflords are not considered citizens.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know it because you know it, and you once took shelter here. No,” Orbaranne said, her voice softening. “You did far more than take shelter. Were it not for you, I would not be here now. The Hallionne Orbaranne would be gone. Come. The Lord of the West March is impatient.”
Given Kaylin’s prior experience of the Lord of the West March, she doubted that the impatience was his.