Garadin’s brows rose. If the Tha’alanari were capable of withholding information from the mass of their kin, they were not particularly careful with expressions. The forehead stalks began a weaving, staccato dance that implied heavily that Garadin was arguing with someone.
“I have been asked to allow someone else to speak with you,” Garadin finally said, voice stiff with disapproval or concern.
“Will they join you, or should I mirror them directly?”
“They will join me,” Garadin replied, in a tone that strongly suggested he would far prefer to be left entirely out of it—or as entirely as a telepath could be. “I hear that Rosen managed to offend Draalzyn.”
“Which, you must admit, is not difficult.”
“It is not difficult for Rosen to offendanyone.”
Elluvian chuckled.
“I heard that.” Rosen’s voice drifted into the back of the office. She had always had exceptional hearing, and her injuries had not changed that.
“I am not the person who voiced that opinion,” Elluvian said.
“You’re not discouraging it, either.”
“It is materially true.”
He could hear her snort; so could Garadin. Only one of them found it amusing. Time passed. Garadin maintained the connection. Severn remained closeted with Helmat. Rosen took a mirror transmission of her own, and then another.
Eventually, the mirror’s view widened to encompass two people. A young woman had joined Garadin. Her hair was the color of pale honey, but her eyes were not green; they were gold. She was not afraid, nor was she worried or angry. “My apologies for forcing you to wait,” she said, executing a bow that implied that she was his social inferior. It was a human bow. “I was not in a location to which the mirror network has easy access.”
“This,” Garadin said, “is Elluvian of Danarre. He serves the Imperial Wolves.”
Some hazel clouded the gold of the woman’s eyes. She could not, however, be surprised; she had known, before rushing to Garadin’s side from wherever it was she had been, who he was.
“And this,” Garadin continued, even more stiffly, “is Ybelline. She is a member of the Tha’alanari.”
“I do not believe I have encountered her in previous duty rounds.”
“I have been admitted to the Imperial Service within the last two years.”
“You are new, then?”
Garadin looked offended. Ybelline, however, did not. “No. I have been a part of the Tha’alanari since my coming of age.”
“Forgive me, but was that recent?”
She laughed. “By your standards? It could not possibly be anything else. But by our standards, no.”
“What are your duties—” He caught Garadin’s darkening eyes, and bowed. “Apologies, Ybelline. I have spent so much time with mortals that I occasionally speak my mind.”
“It is not customary among your kin,” she replied, still smiling, “at least not in my experience.”
He wanted to ask her what that experience entailed, but did not. “You have questions about our possible candidate.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I have asked permission to fill in the gap in our schedule.”
“You have not...”
“No. I have not served the Wolves before. But Ihaveserved. I understand the risks.” She glanced at Garadin and added, “Most of our work involves humans, and I am considered young by their standards.”