“Oh?”
“Annarion’s having trouble maintaining physical form.”
Kaylin frowned. Terrano’s trouble was voluntary. Annarion’s, a little less so.
“Because of his brother?”
“It involves his brother, yes,” Mandoran replied. It made hisyessound a lot likeno.
“Where are you going?” Sedarias snapped.
“...or not.” Mandoran turned. “Kaylin has an appointment with the Consort this afternoon. She’s spent the morning running around the fiefs and saving Terrano from combat injuries. She doesn’t have a lot of downtime.” He glanced in her direction as if to ask ifdowntimewas the right word; she nodded.
“She can’t possibly expect to visit the High Halls after what happened this morning?”
Kaylin would have instantly wilted if she were a flower. She turned to Sedarias. “I didn’t, no. But I’ve been informed that I, as a Lord of the High Court, amexpected.”
Terrano’s gaze traveled between Sedarias and Kaylin—but he moved closer to Annarion as it did.
“Serralyn’s been doing research,” Mandoran said as if Terrano hadn’t moved, which was fair, and as if Sedarias hadn’t spoken, which was, given the color of Sedarias’s eyes, almost suicidal. “Ah, no. She asks me to tell you that she’s been talking with Starrante, and he’s been scrambling to find something inthe library that might address whatever it was that happened with Terrano. And you.”
“Did he find anything?”
“No. But he feels the lack of information comes down to two things. First: you’re Chosen. The Chosen didn’t often keep journals, but they kind of muck things up. Second: Shadow has always been an agent of change. Had Shadow been more like fire,Ravellonwould never have fallen. In Starrante’s opinion.
“He feels that Shadow is involved, but possibly in what might be its base state.”
Kaylin said, “Later. It’s going to be really bad if whatever it is I’m carrying comes to light in the worst possible way. Does he think it’s safe?”
“Serralyn points out that you carried Spike—a sentient Shadow—to no ill effect.”
That was true. Kaylin exhaled some of the worry. Worrying was pointless because worry or no, she still had to attend the Consort. “Is there any way to get rid of the whole ‘lord of the court’ thing?”
“Yes.”
“...that doesn’t involve me dying?”
“Oh. Probably not. You could ask the Consort to ask the High Lord to have you made outcaste.”
“Which is dying.”
“Nightshade is outcaste, and he’s not dead.” The unsaidyetlingered in the air.
Sedarias had fallen silent, but she approached Kaylin and Severn as she did. It was beneath her dignity to shout across a room just to be heard. “I am a lord of the same court,” she said. “Caution should be practiced, here. If the Consort wishes your presence, it might be better for her to visit you.”
Ynpharion was instantly enraged.Tell her that she is beholden to the Lady, as you are; it is not her duty or position to offer the Lady advice for which she has not asked.
But you agree with her.
I might have, once. But your Helen is not the equal of the High Halls; what your Helen considers a low risk is an acceptable risk to the Lady.
“Not going to happen,” Kaylin replied, getting a face full of almost midnight eyes as Sedarias leaned in. She exhaled. “I don’t know what the Consort wants to discuss,” she added, slipping from Elantran into High Barrani. “But given the current circumstances, I think some of it is related to Nightshade, if tangentially.”
Annarion now joined the discussion, moving Terrano out of the way to do so.
“And I want to discuss what happened in the fiefs today, as well. There were two full war bands—that we know of. There might be more.” Before Annarion could speak, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “The Consort has called your brother by name in the hearing of Lords of the High Court. Inasmuch as she can, I would guess that she has always supported him.
“If she has information, and we want to preserve Lord Nightshade, we need it.” She glanced toward the bed and the unconscious Barrani lying on it. To her surprise, Annarion had carefully covered him with blankets.