“It is irrelevant,” Bellusdeo said.
“But either someone heard me and passed it on, or some part of the building’s sentience still exists.” She exhaled. “The wall—the wall that we first saw—might be composed of actual living people. There were Barrani there as well, but much farther back. We don’t study esoteric magic or sorcery in practical classes—we leave that for the academics. But I’ve seen people who have been turned to stone before. In Castle Nightshade.
“I assumed that was Nightshade’s power. But now I think it’s the Tower’s. And I think this building might have somehow trapped the people I could see, with Hope’s help, in that stone wall. I mean, it could have been an Arcanist—but there’s no appearance of sigils, no magical traces, left behind. Just a blank stone wall, unless you look through Hope’s wing.
“Oh, and one other thing, but this isn’t building related.”
“Please continue.”
“The Barrani man we interrupted—who called himself Killian—couldn’t see or hear Hope.”
“Killian?”
Bellusdeo frowned; there was an edge of disbelief in the Arkon’s voice. “You arecertain?”
“Pretty certain, but—”
“Iam certain, Lannagaros.”
He opened his mouth. Closed it again. “This Barrani couldn’t see your familiar?”
“Hope was squawking his lungs out. Killian couldn’t hear him at all. Not until Hope got fed up and breathed on him.”
This caused a shift in the shape of the Arkon’s eyes. “You let him breathe on someone. Youlet him breatheon another living being? One who was not attempting to kill you?”
“I did try to stop him. And in our defense, it didn’t seem to harm Killian at all; it just allowed him to see Hope.”
Without warning, the Arkon turned on Hope—which was very much like turning on Kaylin, given Hope’s placement. He then let loose a volley of his native tongue.
Kaylin’s teeth were chattering by the time he stopped.
“Lannagaros, I feel that is harsh.”
“Perhaps. But the person who will pay the price for the familiar’s misbehavior will not be you. It will be Kaylin.”
Hope didn’t seem to feel terribly chastised. Kaylin did. And hard of hearing until the aftershocks of the Arkon’s lecture had passed. When she could be certain her voice wouldn’t come out as a shout because she was overcompensating, she said, “This isn’t even the reason why we came to talk to you. We’re hoping to find out whether or not your archives contain information pertinent to our investigation.”
A white brow disappeared into a silver hairline.
“Do you recognize the namesDurandel,AggarokorKarriamis?”
The Arkon did not immediately answer. Instead, he rose from his chair. “Come.”
Bellusdeo frowned at his passing back, but fell in behind him; Severn and Kaylin took the rear.
“Touch nothing,” the Arkon said, the words floating over his shoulder.
When Kaylin failed to respond, he did turn. “Recall what happened on a prior visit, Corporal. It is a command, not a request. I have had a trying day, and it does not appear to be nearing its end soon.”
She nodded.
“You will either keep control of your familiar or have him wait outside. And by outside I mean outside of the library.”
Hope squawked.
“I disagree. It is the consequence of your actions. Or perhaps a consequence of your Chosen.” He turned again.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Kaylin told the familiar.