Kaylin decided that discussion of Helen’s faults, flaws or strengths was not on the table. Talking about Helen this way made her feel slightly disloyal.
“I see.” The Lord of the West March began to pace. Fair enough; it was what Kaylin unconsciously did when she was thinking. But Kaylin was a private, not a ruler. “How did you arrive? Or rather, what was your perception of events?”
“We went to the Keeper’s Garden, at the direct request of the Keeper himself.”
His eyes darkened a shade, but they were already blue. “Does he regularly make such requests?”
“Not regularly, no. Only when he has information he wants to share.”
“And he had information about this cohort.”
“No.”
“I begin to see why some of my kin find conversation with mortals so vexing.”
Given that the Barrani form of verbal directness involved weapons or armies, Kaylin thought this a tad unfair. “He said that the elemental water was upset. I don’t know how much you know about the Keeper’s Garden—”
“I understand what it houses.”
“The elemental water was...upset. Evanton—the Keeper—thought that the water would talk to me in a way that would help him make sense of her upset.”
“And?”
“She did talk to me, sort of.”
“It told you to come to the West March.”
“Not exactly, no. She brought us here. She grabbed us and brought us here. The Consort has been in communication with the Hallionne—I think perhaps with all of them—and asked them to house me and my companion.”
Barrani brows rose slowly and deliberately. “I am certain my sister did not ask the Hallionne to house a Dragon.”
“Not exactly in those words, no. But she said companion, and Hallionne Orbaranne felt that Bellusdeo—oh, sorry. Bellusdeo, this is the Lord of the West March. And this is Lord Bellusdeo, of the Imperial Dragon Court.”
Bellusdeo bowed. It was a stunning, graceful motion that made her appear almost Barrani. If Diarmat could see this, he’d either be gratified at the success of his lessons, or enraged that she chose not to make such perfect gestures when she was clearly capable of it.
On the other hand, if Diarmat could see this, Kaylin would be a pile of smoldering ash for her absolute failure to start with the proper introductions, so perhaps it was for the best.
The Lord of the West March tendered a bow as elegant and graceful as Bellusdeo’s, which the gold Dragon appeared to take as her due. If he was ruffled by this, it didn’t show.
“Anyway, Bellusdeo accompanied me to the Keeper’s Garden. She was with me when the elemental water, uh, intervened.”
“And at great cost, to the water,” he said softly. “It has been a long, long time since we have seen such a direct intervention, and it is never done for something as simple as war.”
War did not seem that simple to Kaylin, unless by simple, he meant stupid. She kept this firmly to herself. Or tried. “This has happened before?”
“Yes. But Lord Kaylin, it was done at the command of a sorcerer. It was not done by the volition of water alone.”
“Believe that we didn’t ask the water to dump us here.”
His smile was slight, and it vanished as he glanced at the Dragon. “I do. The Hallionne has her concerns, but in this particular case, they are unnecessary. My concern, however, is not. Why did the elemental water bring you here?”
“Can we back up a bit?”
“Pardon?”
She switched to High Barrani. “Do you understand how the water brought us here?”
“Ah. Yes, and no. I have little personal experience with summoned water. As most of my kin, I am adept with fire, and with earth. Water is more elusive. My sister, however, is adept at speaking with the water when it proves necessary. And no, Lord Kaylin, I do not believe my sister responsible for your arrival. Had she been, she would also be here.”