“I am not a fool,” was the frosty reply. “The letter was destroyed outright. It did not leave this room once it had arrived here.”
“How long did it take you to review the request?”
“Two days—which is our norm. The letter was not handled with more care, or less care, than any other unwelcome missive. If you fear for Random, it is unnecessary. The harm she does herself, we accept. We cannot change or prevent it.
“Harm done by outsiders, however, we can.”
“Was the request for Random?”
“It was a general request. I believe the point was to gain entry.”
Severn frowned.
“The boy who made the pack you now carry,” Master Sabrai said, “had an oracle. No Barrani will be allowed across the threshold in the foreseeable future—and the reasons for that have been made clear to the Emperor and his Imperial Service. I do not believe Barrani—present company excepted—could approach the front gates without setting off appropriate alarms.”
Severn continued to study the logs.
“This one?” he asked, pointing at another logged request.
“You noticed that one? He is part of the human caste court. This would not be the first time he has made a request of the Halls.”
“The timing—”
“And the urgency, yes.”
“Could you allow the mortal to visit,” Elluvian asked, “and find out what his actual intentions are when he’s here?”
Master Sabrai was instantly angry. “No.”
“Very well. Severn?”
Severn, however, went back to the first book. “Master Sabrai, have there ever been Tha’alani visitors outside of the three children?”
“They were the first. As Random has informed you, two of the three did return.”
“And no other Tha’alani?”
Silence.
Into that silence, Ybelline now walked. Master Sabrai turned to her immediately.
“There was,” Ybelline said quietly, “one other Tha’alani visitor.” There was no question in the statement, but she held Master Sabrai’s gaze.
He nodded.
“Did he come to receive an oracle?” Severn asked.
“Ybelline Rabon seems to know what was discussed,” Master Sabrai replied. “I will leave the answers in her hands. It is a caste court matter. The Tha’alani Caste Court.” He looked at Ybelline. “Random?”
“She is resting now. She is exhausted, but I think she will be at peace.”
“She needed to meet you, I think. The Oracles and the Tha’alani have very similar experiences in the populace at large. It is easier to hide a child like Random than it would be to hide the three who came to meet her—but not when she receives an oracle. Oracles are feared, as you are, and some die just as the Tha’alani did.”
Ybelline nodded. “We have much in common, Master Sabrai.” And very little of it happy. “Random asked me to tell you that she is resting now. She thinks there might be one more visitor.”
“And?”
“Unless the visitor is the Emperor himself, Random should be considered unavailable. She said she would avoid the visitor if possible, but she’s afraid that if she does, the visitor might affect the whole of the Halls. She’s very concerned about the children.”