14
“Were neither of you listening to what Ariste actually said?” Mandoran demanded, stomping across both floor and carpet with human grace, which was a distinct downgrade from Barrani norms. “You almost died, you idiot!” This was meant for Terrano.
Terrano’s reply was a shrug.Almostmeant nothing to him. “We’re within Helen’s borders. She’s aware of what happened, andwhere. I wouldn’t suggest it—and I’d like to point out thatit wasn’t mewho did—if we weren’t here. I’m not sure I’d try in the High Halls unless I was in the actual Tower.
“But if Kaylin thinks she might be able to reach—and heal—Nightshade standing on that path, what’s the harm in trying? Either it’ll work, which gives us information, or it won’t, which still gives us information. And I’m not moving her myself, which means she’ll be safer. You’ve already done it once.”
“To save your life, and I’m having serious second thoughts about that.”
Terrano grinned. “No, you’re not.”
Annarion turned away from his brother to face the oncoming Mandoran; Kaylin could only see Annarion’s back from her vantage in the chair. But she could see Mandoran’s expression as outrage drained from his features; his eyes remained darkblue. Mandoran and Annarion were close, even among the cohort, and there was no way Mandoran—who could clearly say no to Terrano—could deny Annarion’s silent request.
“Do you really think it’ll help?” Mandoran asked as he approached Kaylin and placed a hand on her shoulder—the one that didn’t contain Hope’s head.
“I don’t know.” Kaylin saw no point in lying. But she saw no point in explaining that if what ailed Nightshade could be resolved, it would save the Consort—and the Lake that was the Consort’s highest duty. Nightshade was the test case.
But Nightshade’s assassination attempt had taken placeafterthe Consort had begun to lose her ability to interact with the words in the Lake. It hadn’t happened gradually.
... or had it?
Maybe Nightshade was a test case on two fronts: Kaylin’s, and whoever had orchestrated a very subtle attack on the Consort. The question remained: why Nightshade? Why Nightshade at this time?
But he had no answers to offer, and no information. Andellen might have information about meetings that occurred between Nightshade and Barrani Lords—but until Nightshade actually woke up, he probably wouldn’t share any of it. He was also absent.
“I believe he is investigating,” Helen said. “He understands there is conflict between Annarion and Nightshade, but he trusts Annarion with his lord’s physical safety. His presence is not required here—but the information he will not share with you is information he can act on, should it prove germane. If you are worried for Lord Andellen, I will not tell you that your worries are misguided. But Teela is in communication with Andellen, and Teela is also investigating, not as a Hawk, but as a powerful Lord of the High Court.
“Sedarias’s information network is a fledgling network; the information that comes through it must be assessed—and theassessment is necessary. She must compare and contrast information and decide, when that information differs between two sources, whose is closest to truth. People lie for reasons. If she encounters lies, she attempts to discover the possible reasons. She is canny, and she is observant; she is also highly suspicious in nature, but among the Barrani, that would be considered both logical and rational.
“Teela’s sources have been vetted. Those that offer her lies often fail to offer further lies in the future—but the High Court is well aware of Teela’s somewhat punitive nature. She killed her own father. This is not uncommon among the Barrani—but she killed himanddestroyed his historical, familial line. That was not to her advantage. It was seen as folly, in the best case. But it was also seen as a dire warning: revenge was far more important to Teela than power. Her utter destruction of the old, historical line is a warning to other Barrani. There is nothing she will attempt to preserve if you cross her.”
“So... there’s no political rationality that they can expect from her if they cross her.”
“Indeed. I believe it has been very effective. Even if it is known that Teela is attached to the cohort—Mellarionne in particular—attackingTeelaguarantees the end of the entire attacking family if they fail. She has not claimed Sedarias as her own—at Sedarias’s insistence—so attacks on Sedarias do not guarantee the same outcome.” Kaylin didn’t believe that. “And I digress. Teela and Sedarias both feel that it is necessary to seek information not because they trust it, but because they can see the patterns emerge from conflicting information.
“Disinformation is information. But it is not information that can be as easily weeded out. Teela has had centuries. You have had a decade. Do what youcando. Understand that you are not alone.”
Kaylin frowned. This had come out of nowhere; she almost had whiplash. “I haven’t been feeling alone or isolated.”
“No—but you believe, because youcanheal, that the weight of Lord Nightshade’s survival falls squarely on only your shoulders. It is a mistake. I hope to prevent you from acting on it.”
Terrano stepped in, which surprised Kaylin. “She’s like me, Helen. She doesn’t know for certain what shecando. She stumbles into answers; she holds on to the ones that might be useful. It’s like it’s herjobto keep stumbling—and no one does that as well as Kaylin. You know that.”
Severn was both amused and concerned; he didn’t speak, but she could feel his response to a conversation he was monitoring at a safe distance.
“She wants to try this, and we’re going to let her. It might lead to nothing. It might lead to something. But I’m watching, Mandoran is watching, and you’re watching. And even if we weren’t, she’s Kaylin—she’s still going to take the risk.”
Helen’s nod was grim. “If she fails here, it is not the end. I merely wished to remind her of that. It is not a failure she must own; it is an expression of lack of information.”
“Mandoran?” Kaylin said. Helen and Terrano could continue their not-quite-argument without her. And without Mandoran. Kaylin couldn’t make the attempt without the last. His eyes, blue, were narrowed in concentration.
Annarion dragged a second chair over to Nightshade’s bedside. He looked at Kaylin, his eyes the same shade as Mandoran’s. “Will you be okay?” He spoke Elantran.
Kaylin nodded. “I don’t alwayslikeyour brother, but he’s saved my life a handful of times. The only way I get him out of my house is if he’s healthy and strong enough to walk out on two feet. So I’m not doing this for you.”
“You are so bad at lying,” Annarion said. “Terrano is right.”
“Terrano has other issues.”