Kaylin exhaled. She believed Ariste because shedidknow Terrano. “I think other Barrani were there. Or Shadows in league with Barrani.”
“You were there as well. It is not a path that you could find on your own. Paths are created, Chosen. Guides exist. But there are reasons you cannot simply walk them as you would your own streets. There is a reason that True Names exist in the form and fashion they do now. Names have power.”
Kaylin’s frown shifted and deepened. “If a Barrani exists without a True Name—if they’ve shed that name—could they do what Terrano can do?”
“Terrano is an extremely unusual case.”
“Not an answer, Ariste,” she replied, as if she were in the suspect briefing room and not in the High Halls.
“Not all answers are simple. They require knowledge that I was uncertain you possessed. You appear to be aware that some Barrani can shed their names in some fashion.”
Kaylin nodded, thinking of her earliest days as a Hawk in the fief of Nightshade.
“It would be far easier for them to walk those paths—but even you do not believe that an entire war band of the Barrani kin could have successfully shed their reliance on the force that defines and sustains them.”
She hadn’t been thinking about the war band. She’d been thinking of the Barrani version of vampires—creatures that otherwise didn’t exist. And she’d been thinking, uneasily, ofthe fact that Terrano had left his name behind once and had returned to it because his attachment to his chosen family was deeper and stronger than his desire to be truly free.
But what he knew, the cohort knew; what he had learned, the cohort could learn. Mandoran could shift planes almost as easily as Terrano. Annarion could, but Annarion’s control was less precise; it was more of a risk for him.
“Yes. Terrano is not in danger of losing himself. His friend is similar. They are who they are; they are firm in that. Anger doesn’t drive them to walk roads they would never walk were anger not the driver. It is one of the dangers the immature present to teachers such as I. I did not judge it wise for Terrano to learn what he did learn.
“But perhaps it is an opportunity. Had he not, we would not have known that those paths are being used by our enemies.”
Our.
“Understand that I wish my brethren to be free, as I am free. But I would not have them wander the High Halls at will until they are. We were not always of one mind, but we shared traits and abilities.” Ariste’s expression was one of both consideration and worry. “The choices my brethren might make would be impaired or controlled. It is entirely possible that they have taken the nameless into their ranks.
“But it is possible that Barrani have summoned—and are using—Shadow as an inert power. There is an ease to the power granted that none of the elements otherwise grant. Shadow is not singular. Its power is subtle. If the power drawn has allowed those without strong will to accomplish their goals, they will seek more power. And that power is not inert. It is not without will. They will lose themselves to the thrall of power; power will be the only thing that matters.
“The Barrani are a perfect, subtle hunting ground in that regard. Abel believes it is time for you to leave.” There wasregret in the voice. “But should you desire it, and should he agree, you may visit at any time.”
Kaylin had a headache. It eased when Hope lowered his wing, but Hope remained upright on her shoulder, his gaze scanning the Halls. What he could see and what Kaylin could naturally see were different; she knew it, but hadn’t thought about it too much. She thought about it now.
Terrano was silent—but visible—as Abel escorted her to the exit. Severn and Teela were waiting. Severn seemed his usual self; Teela’s eyes were murderous blue. There had been far too many things happening all at once.
Nothing was ever simple.
Nightshadecouldbe a target because of a murky connection to the Consort. It was clear they had history.
But Nightshade couldalsobe a target because he captained a Tower in the fiefs. He could be a victim of an attempt to unseat a captain. Absence of a captain didn’t immediately render a fief vulnerable to Shadow—but it started the process, the protections inherent in the Tower slowly giving way. That had happened in Barren before Tiamaris had taken the Tower he’d made his own.
But the Consort herself was under attack—and the attack coincided with the attempted assassination of Nightshade. As a Lord of the High Court, it was the Consort who was the most important problem. As Kaylin Neya, tenant of Helen, it was Nightshade. And Terrano had made things complicated by being himself.
Severn tapped her shoulder, and she shook herself free of the mire of worry. “On the bright side, Teela promised she wouldn’t drive.”
Sedarias was waiting at the front door beside Helen, and one step behind. Her eyes, as expected, were a terrible, martialblue—but her glare was reserved for Terrano. Sedariascouldmake her august displeasure known very clearly through the namebonds the cohort shared—but she was old-fashioned. Fury was meant to be shared in person.
Kaylin exhaled. Helen’s eyes were the human brown she had chosen to adopt; if Sedarias was enraged—and clearly, she was—Helen didn’t consider it a pressing, immediate emergency. Kaylin, in fancy court dress, was of far more concern.
“It is not concern, or not only concern,” Helen said. “You’ve clearly had a trying day. It’s early for dinner.”
“You know I can eat at any time.”
“Will Severn be joining you?” Helen looked past Kaylin to the silent Severn. He hadn’t uttered a word since their departure from the High Halls.
“I have work to do in the Halls of Law,” Severn said. “And I believe dinner won’t be served immediately.”
Helen glanced at the occupants of the foyer. She sighed. “No, probably not. Will you return?”