“That is what you experienced?”
“That,” Bellusdeo said, with a slight nod, “is what happened to me.”
“Your people,” Lord Farlonne continued, surprising at least Kaylin, “are rumored to live on the border, in the fief of Tiamaris.”
“They are. They have been building dwellings capable of housing them; theNorannirare taller than your humans. They have the magic and the knowledge that they used to defend their homes, however imperfectly, from Shadow. It is not the same as the magic found in Elantra.”
“That, too, I have heard. But I heard it at Court, a place I am seldom found, and I cannot attest to its veracity. Or could not. I believe, however, that you can.”
“I can. In matters of Shadow, in matters ofRavellon, there is no help I, or my people, would not extend.”
“And in return for this consideration?”
“Perhaps, in the near future, you might visit Tiamaris. It is where what remains of my people are currently situated. I would be gratified to entertain the specifics of your questions there, but I believe some permission would be required to enter the fief.”
“No doubt similar to the permissions I myself require?”
Bellusdeo’s smile deepened; it was still sharp, but nonetheless looked genuine. “And perhaps for the same reasons.”
“You have my permission to continue your inspection of the border within Farlonne.”
“Your permission, yes. But I feel that the effort would be largely wasted. It is clear to me that you take the duties imposed by the captaincy of a Tower very seriously.”
“It was long considered a besetting sin and a sign of inflexibility in my character.” Farlonne offered Bellusdeo another bow.
This time, Bellusdeo returned it. She then resumed her Draconic form, and once Kaylin and Severn were seated, flew to the border zone between Farlonne and Liatt. “I liked her,” she said, the words almost guaranteed to carry to at least the fieflord.
“She seemed to like you, inasmuch as any Barrani likes anyone else.”
I concur, Ynpharion said, sounding vaguely displeased.You might—might, given your general squeamishness—find much you would admire in her. His tone was grudging.
You don’t care for her?
What does that even mean?He was now annoyed.She is a Lord of the High Court. She is not of an age with the Lady, An’Teela, or Lord Annarion’s brother.Kaylin failed to see what her age had to do with anything, given the way age graced the Barrani.She has less knowledge of things that occurred during the first two wars.
That wasn’t why she annoyed Ynpharion.
No. I found her lack of flexibility and her demands that others adopt her standards to be condescending.
Since most of the Barrani were locked in a struggle to corner the market on condescension, Kaylin shrugged.
But she accepts the responsibilities she chooses to carry, and she carries them almost to the exclusion of all else. She is not the head of her line; she lacks ambition in that regard. It is because of her lack of ambition that she is fieflord here. She knows what occurred, historically, in the distant past; she understands why the Towers were created. She also understands that the Towers require a captain, a Lord, to fulfill duties she sees as critically essential.
If Kaylin had been walking, she’d have stopped; she moved because Bellusdeo was currently responsible for her forward momentum.
Does she take all responsibilities as seriously?
As I said, she dedicates herself to the duties she undertakes.
Yes, that’s what you said. What I’m asking—what I think I’m asking—is why did she dedicate herself to this one?
Ynpharion was silent, which meant he didn’t know. Probably.Why, he finally said,does your Dragon dedicate herself to it?
Because she lost her home, her world, and her family toRavellon.
You are unkind to Lord Ynpharion, Nightshade said. He was amused.
I’m as kind to him as he is to me.