“Oh?”
“The Barrani and the Dragons don’t.”
“And you are one of the multitude of mortal races?”
She nodded. “I need sleep.”
Starrante’s head once again mostly separated from his body as he turned to look back at the Dragon and the Barrani. “Now I remember. But...if you do not sleep, how do you dream?”
Sedarias said, “Our dreams are more focused, more tangible.”
“And less dangerous?”
“Perhaps. But danger is oft in the eye of the beholder.”
“Well said. Are you perhaps a student here?”
“No. My classroom is less structured.”
“A pity. It is seldom,” he added, “that we converse with those who are not students. I cannot think of another time—”
“The interim chancellor is not a student.”
“No. I believe,” he continued, after a distinct pause, “that I was sleeping.”
“Yes, but you weren’t in the library.”
“No.”
“How did the interim chancellor even find you?”
“That is a very good question, but not one I can answer at the moment. How did you find me?” he asked of Kaylin.
“I was—until very recently—in the library. I found Arbiters Kavallac and Androsse; they’re still there. We’re...not. When you were last seen, you occupied the chancellor’s office.”
“Ah. I believe the intent was protection of that office from intruders; it is not clear to me why such protection was felt necessary.”
“Whose intent?”
“The interim chancellor. In an emergency, the chancellor’s office has authority to make and request changes.”
“He could order you to guard his office without your conscious intent?”
“Demonstrably.” The tone conveyed annoyance—that and the color of the eyes. “I believe I dreamed of the Chosen,” he added as he ambled down the hall. “And possibly others. There was a student—quite young, by appearance—who appeared to have been skipping class. That is frowned upon here, unless one is given permission.”
“He had permission.”
“That could not be verified.”
“Where are we going?” Sedarias asked.
“We cannot stay here to any great effect,” Starrante replied. “We are therefore returning to the Academia. If you could, Chosen, I would ask you to wake Killianas—but Killianas is a subtle creation, and the waking is not entirely in your hands. As it is, I believe we will find answers of a kind in the chancellor’s office itself.”
“You’re certain that you’re in control of your actions now?”
“At this moment, yes.”
“Will you remain in control if you enter that office again?”