“Hey!” Kaylin shouted.
Teela paused but didn’t turn to look back.
“You better not be investigating on your own. Or pursuing. You know what the rules are.”
“I am not here as a Hawk. I am here as An’Teela—and Barrani Lords do not require partners.” Her tone was cold.
Before Kaylin could say another word, Fallessian and Torrisant stepped forward. Neither was a big speaker, but Mandoran translated their silence. “She’s not going alone. I don’t know if you know, but Fallessian is good with a sword, and he’s adept at avoiding attacks.”
“Annarion is better,” Fallessian said, as if he grudged being forced to speak.
They all knew Annarion wasn’t going to leave Nightshade until his brother was at least conscious.
“Will you come home now?” Mandoran urged.
Kaylin nodded. Teela continued toward the Bellusdeo border, Fallessian and Torrisant shadowing her.
Bellusdeo exhaled. “I have half a mind to visit the High Halls myself.”
“Please don’t.”
“Home?” Severn asked.
She nodded, and they headed toward Bellusdeo’s fief, because it was closer.
07
Bellusdeo fell in beside Kaylin, which was awkward until Mandoran dropped back. Severn remained where he was—but that was fair, given what she’d said to Teela. He was her beat partner. If Teela wasn’t here on behalf of the Halls of Law, fine. Kaylin felt that she was.
As they walked, she told Bellusdeo what Teela was investigating, and why; she was certain Teela had said very little.
“But Lord Nightshade has survived.”
“So far.” Kaylin hesitated. “I’m not sure he’s going to make it. Annarion’s upset. Teela’s angry—but she went to the site of the attempted assassination to investigate. There was evidence of magic—a lot of magic—on and around the site. I’m less clear about what happened before she met up with you. I know she was following or tracking traces of someone who was taking advantage of the border zones.
“I’m not sure she wants you involved.”
“That’s unfortunate for her. This fief ismine. Barrani who move within the fiefs—and who do not serve the fieflords—are a threat to the security of the fiefs. What are you not telling me?”
Kaylin hesitated. She was a terrible liar, and Bellusdeo had always been perceptive. “Everything’s a mess. Nightshade’s injury. Annarion’s reaction. The cohort’s reaction to Annarion.Teela’s reaction. It’s not just one thing. Teela’s been interested in Barrani Lords for a lot of her life, but this feels... different. I don’t think her prior interest was connected to Nightshade, the fiefs, or the border zonesuntilNightshade was attacked.” She hesitated again.
“Go on.”
“I want to know what Shadow did in your world that led to its fall.”
Bellusdeo nodded, which wasn’t the reaction Kaylin expected. “Shadow attacks are chaotic and unpredictable—and I am uncertain that some of those attacks were noted until it was too late.
“You’re aware that Shadow can transform the living.”
“The one-offs.”
“Yes. I am not certain what the rules that govern that transformation are. I was trapped in, enslaved by, Shadow—but I was not changed or transformed by the duration of my stay. My Ascendant, Maggaron, was not transformed by it either. I am... uncertain whether that was providence or the Outcaste’s influence.”
Kaylin frowned. “I know Shadow tries to transform what it touches—but I know that I could carry Spike.”
“Spike?”
“Remember Spike? The ball? I’m talking to one of the sisters, aren’t I?”