“Given the High Court? We could certainly usesomething.”
Yvonne coughed; it was the kind of cough that emerged when someone was surprised into laughter they definitely shouldn’t share. But the coughing stopped. “Severn,” Yvonne said, voice almost a whisper. “Can I trust them?”
Sedarias rolled her eyes in disgust, which was only funny when paired with An’Tellarus’s equally disgusted expression.
“I do,” Severn replied.
Yvonne turned to Mrs. Erickson and said, “Tell them. Tell us.”
“But is it really okay?”
“If things become more dangerous,” Helen told her friend,“Yvonne can remain with us until the danger passes. Imelda—you have never caused harm. Even when speaking with Bellusdeo’s ghosts, you helped both Bellusdeo and her sisters to heal. But if I understand anything now, it’s important that we have as much information going forward as we can; without it, we can’t even begin to ask the right questions.”
“I see the dead near Yvonne.”
25
Mrs. Erickson straightened her shoulders. She chose to speak to Helen, not the guests, as if Helen was the greatest source of comfort in the kitchen. Or perhaps the only woman present who felt like a peer. “I can’t see ghosts with Yvonne—not the way I did with Bellusdeo. I can’t hear them the same way. They don’t look likepeopleto me. Even the strange ghosts I brought home the last time looked like people to me, and when they spoke to me, I could hear their voices as if they were.”
They weren’t. Kaylin could perceive them—but she saw them as words. She couldn’t hear what Mrs. Erickson heard, but, conversely, believed that Mrs. Ericksoncouldhear them as if they were normal dead people. Normal.
“These look like ghosts from children’s stories—phantoms meant to terrify, things that might once have been human but have no humanity left in them. They’re not easy to see—but... they’ve become easier.”
“Since when?”
“The flowers,” Yvonne whispered. “The green.”
“I think so, dear. I don’t really understand what the green is. But I don’t really understand what the ghosts here are, either. I think they’re connected to you, but not strongly. Do you know?”
Severn said, “She doesn’t remember.” Maybe that was even true. But Severn’s answer made clear he knew more.
“Annarion asks: can the green wake his brother?”
“We’re not exactly carrying the green with us,” Kaylin told Terrano.
“Yeah, but it’s sort of here. I mean—the crown is here. If the green sends the crown and the dress to its chosen representatives, the greencanreach us, somehow.”
“True. Why don’t you find a way totalk to the greenand ask it yourself!”
“Might I point out that this entire complication came to our attention because of an assassination attempt? It didn’t come to our attention because of the green,” Sedarias cut in. “That assassination attempt involved Barrani in large enough numbers the Lords of the High Court must be involved.”
“It also involvedRavellon, or its environs. And possible activities by former Barrani who believe Barrani shouldn’t have names. Or shouldn’t have fixed, unchanging names,” Kaylin said, adding to her words without disagreeing with any of them.
“We are certain the green is not in collusion with either.” It was Teela who replied.
That was probably true.
“And it is the green that is present here; it is the green that is throwing the house slightly off balance.”
“Hazard a guess as to why?” Kaylin said to the Barrani Hawk. “Why, exactly, is everything going even further sideways? We’ve got enough to deal with on our hands—we reallydo not needany more!”
“Kitling,” Teela said. “While we all share your frustration, some self-control is suggested.”
Kaylin replied with volumes less self-control, in multiple languages.
An’Tellarus turned to Severn, her expression showing a hint of warmth. “I begin to see why you kept her from me.” Thetone was indulgent. “Very well. Yvonne, tell your story. Or if you cannot tell all of it, I will not punish Severn if he chooses to share what he knows.”
“Why?” Kaylin demanded, suspicion in the single word. Teela’s expression made clear she had resigned herself to Kaylin’s lack of self-control.