“I’m not sure how much attention Bellusdeo was paying, but Terrano was attacked when Bellusdeo and Teela surrounded the one building on the border of her—or your—fief.”
Logia nodded. Gone was affectionate amusement; she was focused now, concentrating.
“Terrano’s a bit unusual.”
This caused a snort with a little bit of smoke in it.
“He often walks around invisible so he doesn’t have to interact with people.”
“I’m sure we’d all do that if we could.” Logia winced. “Fine. Many of us would.” It really was like speaking to a cohort member.
“He avoids magical invisibility because it can be detected, which would make him more visible in a dangerous sense, not less. Bellusdeo knows their history, or as much of their history as I do.”
“She disagrees with the latter but agrees with the former. She does point out that Terrano can move with ease between different planes, different states of existence.”
Helen opened the parlor door from the outside.
Mandoran entered, followed by Mrs. Erickson and Fallessian. Fallessian played porter; he carried a large tray as if it were a tin plate. “I don’t mean to interrupt,” Mrs. Erickson said, “but Helen said you had a guest. Hello, Logia.”
Kaylin blinked. She was surprised that Mrs. Erickson recognized Logia immediately. And why should that be surprising? Mrs. Erickson had talked to the eight dead sisters before they had, at last, combined with Bellusdeo. She’d heard their stories. Kaylin hadn’t.
And Kaylin hadn’t asked, either.
“No, dear,” Helen agreed. “And that was both kind and wise.” Meaning:don’t start now.
Logia rose instantly and offered Mrs. Erickson both of her hands, palms up. Mrs. Erickson took them immediately, smiling up at Logia, who was much taller than Mrs. Erickson had probably ever been.
“You look well.”
“I am much, much better than I was the first time we spoke,” Logia replied, her eyes a warm gold. “We are all doing well. I think Bellusdeo is the most overwhelmed by the changes—but in a good way.”
“I heard you’ve been having a bit of a problem in your new home? Are you getting along better with Lord Emmerian?”
Emmerian was the furthest thing from Bellusdeo’s mind.
“Lord Emmerian is both happy for Bellusdeo and somewhat flustered by the changes in her—but I think it’ll work out, in the end. Right now, we’re focused on the breach of the fief, or the possible breach.”
“Fallessian said Terrano was injured. That boy just isn’t very careful.”
Mandoran snorted but managed to prevent himself from laughing out loud. He entered the parlor and took the seat closest to Kaylin. At the moment, the seats were close together. Kaylin wasn’t certain Fallessian intended to remain, but it was clear Mrs. Erickson wanted to say hello, and that would take a while.
She could, and did, relax.
“Terrano’s almost here. He wanted to investigate one thing, but he would have had to enter the border zone by himself. I offered to join him.” He winced. Kaylin could imagine just how happy either of the two had made Sedarias.
Logia stepped back, and another sister took over. She greeted Mrs. Erickson with a hug, not a hand-holding. Mrs. Erickson had never been loud; she was naturally soft-spoken and naturally deferential.
“While she’s saying hello,” Mandoran continued, pulling Kaylin’s attention from the combination of Dragon and Mrs. Erickson, “Sedarias and Teela agree: you should extend an invitation to Yvonne immediately. Or as close to immediately as you can. Sedarias intends to head off An’Tellarus, or to suss outher intent. Teela’s going to be here when Yvonne visits, just in case.”
“That’ll make clear An’Teela supports An’Mellarionne.”
Mandoran nodded. “It’s almost an open secret anyway. It’s not formal—but we’re Barrani. Formality counts.”
“But... this’ll be formal, no?”
“Not your problem.”
“Itismy problem! I’m living with all of you!”