The spider creature’s mouth closed slowly. Yes, he did have a head that was separate from the rest of his body. That head rose on something that resembled a leg rather than a neck. The head itself appeared to be mostly mouth, but the round, dark things that might be eyes sat at the four corners of a mouth that seemed rectangular in shape.
The creature spoke again, but this time, Kaylin could understand the words. They were Barrani. “You are not in class.”
“We have permission to leave the classroom.”
“Impossible.”
Robin said, “Killian gave me permission.” He spoke from behind Severn’s back. “You can ask him.”
“Ah.” It was hard to tell if Arbiter Starrante was frowning. His eyes, however, seemed to be shifting in color—or at least the two lower eyes. They had gone from black to a pale blue. The upper eyes remained dark, but Kaylin could see—through Severn’s eyes—a flicker of something that might be gold. “I am afraid Killianas is not responding.”
“Killianas requested that the library be opened.”
“That is not Killianas’s decision to make,” Starrante said, more edge in the words.
“Is it yours, Arbiter Starrante?”
Careful, Kaylin said.
The head lowered, retracting into the body.
“Are you the chancellor?” Severn asked.
“Of course not.”
“Who is the chancellor?”
“There is no chancellor,” Starrante replied, his head now so flush with his body he once again looked like a spider. A spider that was making its way to the door.
“Who is the interim chancellor?”
“There is...no...chancellor.” The words were louder, and not just because he was closer.
Severn—
He moved, grabbing Robin and vacating the open door. But even moving, he could see—and therefore Kaylin could see—the color of Starrante’s upper eyes; they were a livid, ugly purple. She had no idea what race Starrante was; had he been less solid, she would have thought him a one-off Shadow, straight fromRavellon.
Giant spider legs with terminal claws crashed into the door frame. Annarion, like Severn, had leaped out of the way. Starrante’s movements were jerky, unnatural and punishingly swift. The door frame cracked under the weight of the sudden blow; it cracked again when the second leg joined the first.
Severn retreated down the hall, shoving Robin in Annarion’s direction.
“Don’t attack him!” he shouted. “Avoid closing.”
“Easier said than done,” Annarion replied. “He doesn’t seem to be under the same restrictions.”
“I don’t think he’s doing this of his own volition!”
Nightshade—we’re having a bit of trouble with Starrante. We’ve found him, she added.Can you tell Killian—or ask Killian—if he can interfere?
Interfere in what?
I think Starrante is trying to kill Severn and Annarion.
“I doubt that. I doubt it highly,” Killian said. Nightshade had not spoken. “If Arbiter Starrante truly intended to kill your friends, they would almost certainly be dead.” He frowned. “I do not include Lannagaros in that number.”
“He’s not the only Dragon that came with me—but they’re trapped in the library. I’ve found Starrante—he was in the chancellor’s office.”
Killian frowned. His expression was more fluid, more dynamic, than it had been the first time she’d met him. “I see.”