“No, I—Oh.”
“Indeed. The Imperial Records—to which you had no access—are more complete. I believe you will find that some loose permissions have been granted for the duration of your current investigation. Those permissions would be irrelevant in the Halls of Law, but you have access to the palace. I suggest you avail yourself of it.
“In the meanwhile, is this the man you encountered in the warrens?” As he spoke, the surface of the water in the large basin began to move. Waves broke its stillness. This time, however, the water didn’t remain flat. The center of the pool began to rise. The water moved as if it were elemental. As if it werethewater.
Tara shook her head. “It is not. In the Tower—and in similar buildings and environs—the elements require some rudimentary permissions to form fully, unless the elemental gateway is large. But the Towers can take control, if such control is required. Do you require it?” The last was said a little doubtfully. “If so, this is not the room you wish to be in.”
“I don’t need to talk to the water,” Kaylin said with some haste. “If I need to do that, I’ll go bother Evanton.” As she finished the sentence, the water finished its slow climb; it then dribbled down as if it were wax.
What was left in the wake of this accretion of liquid was the height, the shape, of a man. As the water’s movement slowed to a crawl, a face emerged, followed by arms, legs, clothing.
“Yes,” Kaylin said, replying to Tara’s first question. “This is the man I’d identify as Candallar. His clothing was different, but that’s his face.”
The water sculpture of Candallar remained standing.
“You’ve been to Candallar,” Kaylin said.
Tiamaris nodded.
“Did you see its Tower?”
“Not as closely as Nightshade’s, or perhaps not as extensively. I have entered the periphery of the Tower in Candallar.”
“When Candallar was present?”
“No. The fieflord of Candallar leaves his home more frequently than other fieflords. I was aware of the purpose of the Towers, but desired to understand them better. I merely waited until he stepped out.”
“Is Candallar’s Tower like Castle Nightshade?”
“Not exactly, no. It is less obviously martial.”
“Given what happened to Barren—”
“I am pleased with the outcome,” he said, his voice lower. Kaylin discarded that line of questioning.
“We think Candallar wants to be repatriated.”
“And he attempted to support a faction within the High Court that offered him what he wanted?”
“That’s our best guess. It’s only a guess,” she added. “You’d know if his borders became dangerously insecure, wouldn’t you?”
“Candallar stands guard against the largest of the fief borders to faceRavellon. I believe we would know.”
Tara, eyes obsidian, said, “We would not know unless that breach threatened our fief. If Shadow came in through any of our borders, we would be aware of it.”
“Could you allow someone to enterRavellon?”
Tara exhaled. “Yes. But Kaylin, theNorannircould enterRavellonif they chose to do so. We could stop them, but it would require physical intervention.”
“Meaning Tiamaris would have to fly there?”
“Yes.”
“From what you’ve said, this wasn’t accidental. Spike was told to meet someone at the border. The Lord was there. Either Candallar’s Tower didn’t notice Spike, or Candallarcouldgive permission.”
“It seems that way. The Barrani who emerged fromRavelloncarrying Spike did not carry other Shadows. He was allowed to leave. Towers cannot prevent people from enteringRavellonwithout the aid of their lords. What we prevent is the escape of Shadow. Had the Barrani Lord not enteredRavellon, it is highly doubtful that Spike could have left.”
Kaylin nodded.