“If my work allows it, yes.” He smiled. “Kaylin is safe here. Terrano is safe here. Lord Nightshade is safe, or as safe as his injuries allow.”
“Your presence is not necessary, no.” Helen smiled, the smile tinged with something sad. “But company is not simply a matter of threat and necessity. I am certain Kaylin would be pleased if we fed you.”
Teela snorted. “I’m not sure she’ll notice given the current level of tension.”
Teela crossed the space to stand in front of Sedarias, leaving the question of Severn and dinner aside. Kaylin was certain Severn would take that opportunity to head out, but she was now paying attention to Teela and Sedarias.
“I know he’s frustrating,” Teela said to Sedarias. “But I believe you will regret it should you actually kill him.”
“He doesn’t seem to care whether or not he survives—andif I’ve managed to prevent myself from committing very justifiable homicide for centuries, I don’t see why anything else should have the privilege.”
“I didn’tdoanything this time.”
“You have clear, demonstrable evidence that stepping into certain places can—and will probably—get you killed. What were youdoingtrying it in the High Halls?”
Oh.
“Sedarias,” Helen said, her voice serene. “Our guests cannot enter if you remain in the doorway.”
Sedarias stepped back before Helen had finished the sentence. Sedarias expected the respect due the ruler of Mellarionne. She had to expect it, had to carry herself as if it was her rightful due. She had to punish those who declared themselves her enemy by failing to tender that bare minimum of respect.
She never did that at home. She wasn’t even doing it now. It wasn’t respect and obedience she wanted from Terrano—it was his survival.
Kaylin exhaled. “Exactlywhywere you trying to walk a plane you alreadyknewour enemies are using?”
“Wouldn’t you?” Terrano asked.
“What does that mean?”
“You’re a Hawk, right? Hawks investigate crimes. Crimes have clearly been committed.”
“Nightshade is considered outcaste. If a very rich, very powerful lord wanted to send an army of war bands into the fiefs to kill him, it wouldn’t be considered illegal.”
“I don’t really care what the Emperor—or the High Lord—considers a crime. Barrani are walking that particular plane. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have been able to injure me. If they were, there’s a reasonable chance that their activities also involve Lords of the High Court. Are you telling me you wouldn’t revisit the scene of a crime to assess how the crime occurred?”
She opened her mouth. Shut it. Opened it again. “...he has a point,” she said to Teela.
Teela rolled her eyes. “If a murder occurred in the warrens—”
“If?”
“And it was somehow reported, would you rush off without your partner to investigate the scene of the crime?”
Kaylin sighed and turned to Terrano. “Teela also has a point.”
“It happens to be the better point,” Teela said. She’d folded her arms as if she were wearing Hawks’ kit and not extremely expensive noble clothing. “Sedarias didn’t tell you not to investigate at all. We understand the importance of at least knowing the contents of our enemy’s arsenal. But there’s areasonHawks operate in twos.”
“I thought that was so one of the two could be a witness if things went south?” He then frowned. “Why south? Wouldn’t west be better?”
“It’s so we have physical backup. We’re not isolated. The Emperor doesn’t consider our partners to be reliable witnesses if we’re accused of committing crimes as Hawks.”
Terrano snorted. “So it’s better for two people to be endangered than one? No, this is a stupid analogy. Icaninvestigate. Of the cohort, I’m the only one who has Abel’s permission to poke around. The only other person who might safely investigate is Mandoran, and he wants nothing to do with the Lords of the High Court.”
“He wouldn’t be seen by them.”
“It’s the principle.”
Sedarias smacked the back of Terrano’s head.