“You’re sure.” Kaylin turned to Helen. “Is he right?”
“He is correct about his assumptions in regard to Alsanis,” Helen replied. “But Alsanis appears to have been particularly fond of Terrano, and of the cohort in general. I am not a Hallionne, but I believe my function was similar. Ah, no, I believe the intention was similar. A great deal of my power involves hospitality and security. Killian’s function was not quite the same.” A rare smile touched her lips, lingering in the corners. “There were some complaints about him in my youth.”
“Complaints?”
“He did not believe in cozening students. Given his situation, his students were often considered among the elite of their people—there were very few mortals, for instance—but he had odd views on education in the eyes of those elites.”
Terrano snorted. “Did all of his students survive?”
“That would be an excellent question. He oft said ‘I’ve hardly misplaced any of them’ in response to questions such as yours. He was said to have strict rules when applied to the students; the rules that governed his behavior were less clearly stated. I should add that he was the one who built the communication channels between us; he was, he said, quite bored.”
“And he’s been compromised.”
“From the sounds of it, yes. And no. Had he a master or a lord, it would be more readily apparent.”
“How?”
“Kaylin is my master—”
“Tenant.”
“Tenant, if it makes you more comfortable. Tenant, then. Kaylin is my tenant, but even when she is not present within my walls, her desires and her rules hold sway. I could not simply dispose of one of you behind her back, no matter how tempting that might be. I could not hide the crime for long, if at all.
“What she wants from a home, I provide. That is true no matter where she is or how often she returns or leaves. If Killian says he has no master, it is best to take him at his word.”
“And the wall full of people?” Kaylin asked.
“I am uncertain. You said he did not appear to be aware of the wall?”
“Or the room. Or he was lying.” She hesitated and then said, “Buildings of my acquaintance don’t seem to lie much.”
“It is not beyond us,” Helen replied. “But it takes both will and effort to utter words that have no meaning. I would imagine that if Killian was built to withstand the petty malice brought to bear by the young and the insecure, he might well have that function. He might also be able to choose not to offer information that he possessed, in the theory that that information had to be earned by more academic or observational endeavors.”
“Do you think he has—or had—a master in the past?”
“Almost certainly.”
“Do you think that master is gone?”
“Yes.”
“So, getting back to border zones. Couldyouturn our front lawn into a border zone equivalent?” Terrano’s eyes were practically sparkling as he leaned into his hands, his body angled entirely in Helen’s direction.
“No, dear,” she said to Terrano. “I highly doubt that that is a wise idea. I do not have an appreciable understanding of what, exactly, this border zone is. It is not like the outlands, but more than that I cannot ascertain. Kaylin, could you ask Severn to come over?”
“Why?”
“Because he has investigated the border, and I think it will cause less discomfort than attempting to have Lord Tiamaris as a guest.”
“He’ll come over after work tomorrow.”
In the morning, Kaylin discovered that she had not only a Dragon in tow, but also one of the cohort; Mandoran had decided to tag along. He offered to do so incognito, by which he meant invisibly. Mandoran was nothing new.
Terrano, however, decided that he would come exploring as well, and that was now a crowd. Kaylin, like any other human being, didn’t appreciate a crowd looking over her shoulder when she was trying to get work done. She wasn’t an entertainer, after all.
“I think Terrano considers you very entertaining, dear,” Helen said as Kaylin grumbled her way to the front doors.
“Not helpful, Helen.”