Bellusdeo grinned; it was an almost foreign expression on a familiar face. “Right.”
“My Bellusdeo’s okay with it?”
“What an odd use of the genitive. You would consider her the dominant personality, but yes, she has allowed me to speak. She was the warrior queen—the last of us to fall. I was more of a scholar and a mage, magic being useful in the growing war. Given the extent of the war, she wasn’t required to learn many of the finer arts—there was no time. What she refined was combat.
“But we had Ascendants supporting us, and we had the Norranir as our vanguard. I see they survived; it is good to hear the drums.” Her smile dimpled. That was definitely not Bellusdeo’s smile. “I was very proud of those drums.”
Kaylin stumbled as the full import of what this sister was saying sank in. “Youcreated the drums?”
“I did. Interested in talking, now?”
“Not yet, but I will be. But I need to know your name. I mean, the name you were called before you...”
“Died?”
Kaylin swallowed. “Before that, yes.”
“Logia. I was called Logia.” Her smile deepened. “I was called many other things in my life, but I don’t believe they would be considered polite in any company.”
“Not even with Dragons?” It was Mandoran who asked. He, like Kaylin, often liked to learn new curse words.
“Especially not Dragons. I would like to visit. I would like to see Mrs. Erickson and thank her again. And I would like to speak with Helen about her former masters. Not her tenants,” she added, as if that needed to be said. “But the people who controlled her before she broke free.”
“I’m sure Helen would love that.”
“I’m not,” Mandoran muttered.
Ihave toagree with Mandoran, Severn added.
Why?
Bellusdeo was always straightforward. Get to know her sisters before you offer them the same trust Bellusdeo earned.
Kaylin actually turned to look at his expression; it was friendly rather than neutral; it didn’t entirely match what his thoughts conveyed.
What should have happened was a melding of experience into a single personality. What did happen was different. Bellusdeo is now like the cohort; she carries distinct personalities on the inside of her head. Youprefer some members of the cohort over others; you’re naturally cautious around Sedarias, and completely relaxed around Terrano, Mandoran, Serralyn. This isn’t going to be different.
You don’t trust Logia.
I seldom trust anyone.
You trust me.
Iknowyou. Trust, for Wolves, is predicated on knowledge. It’s less about trust as you use the word, and more about predictability. What appears as trust to you is knowledge: I know what to expect. I don’t know what to expect of Bellusdeo’s sisters.
Kaylin nodded.They died during the war; they’ve lived a long time as themselves, in theory.
Exactly. Bellusdeo is not an indicator of her sisters. She loved them; they loved her. But think of them as the cohort, except in one body.
Do you think Bellusdeo has control of her own body now? I mean, do you think the sisters can wrest control from her?The question made Kaylin uneasy.On the plus side of that ledger, Logia didn’t seem to have the same knee-jerk rage Bellusdeo exhibited when confronted with any new information about Shadow.
“I will not visit today—and I will attempt to inform you before I arrive. If you could gain Helen’s permission in the meantime, I would be most grateful.”
Definitelynot Bellusdeo. Kaylin nodded.
The Consort wishes to meet with you today, Ynpharion said, his tone very stiff.
You told her what happened?