“Does that mean we shouldn’t try?”
“Mandoran,” Annarion said. Mandoran fell silent. Annarion exhaled. “To those who have pledged allegiance to my brother, he is a good lord. Ask Andellen. But the people of the fiefs make no pledge to him; he makes no pledge to them. He protects the fief over which his Tower presides.That’shis responsibility.”
“...and finding you.” Kaylin’s voice was soft.
Annarion’s expression crumpled.
15
“He never mentioned me, did he?”
Kaylin shook her head. She exhaled slowly, considering the fractured familial relationship between the older and younger brother. She understood that Annarion had always looked up to Nightshade. The Erenne mark had broken that, even if Kaylin accepted it and forgot its existence most days.
What would Nightshade do to find and free his brother?
Glancing at the unconscious fieflord, she thought the actual answer wasanything. Anything at all. He cared enough about Annarion that Annarion’s fury, his anger, his unfortunate accident in Castle Nightshade could all be forgiven. Easily forgiven. He demanded none of the respect that Barrani seemed to demand from their relatives.
He was pained by Annarion’s anger. Andellen had made that clear.
He had loved, and still loved, Annarion.
“He couldn’t talk about you, could he?” Annarion frowned as she continued, “He’s outcaste. You aren’t. You were a victim. You were sent to be lost to the green—or empowered by it. You could return—if you could be saved—to your people. You could stillbeBarrani.”
“He destroyed much of our family line.”
Kaylin shrugged. “Teela destroyed all of hers. But her family was murdered by other parts of her family. Nightshade was probably thinking far enough ahead that he wished to preserve whatever life you might have among your own people. He certainly didn’t expect the cohort—but I don’t think anyone did. Except Teela.
“I’m not Nightshade’s family. But I think, sometimes, that the Erenne mark was a symbol of ownershipbecauseit conveyed—to people who understood what it meant—protection or at least consequences. Not that that would stop Barrani from trying to murder me, but they’d be less likely to do it casually.
“And I think he thought—for reasons that aren’t clear—that I might beuseful.”
“Useful?”
“You’re free of the Hallionne, aren’t you? And you’re here. And you’re now a Lord of the High Court.”
Annarion swallowed.
Kaylin winced at his expression. “I’m not saying it’s your fault. It’s not like you told him to rescue you. It’s not like you were trying to take advantage of him—” She stopped. She understood some part of his guilt, and she wasn’t making it any better by talking. Not like this. She shook herself mentally.
“I’ve asked Serralyn—”
“I know.”
“But the fact that I was bleeding, and the fact that the Erenne mark wasn’t actually present, must mean something. I couldn’t heal Nightshade—not the normal way. But I don’t think thatisthe only way, now. I don’t quite understand yet, but I’m working on it. Ummm, Mandoran?”
“Yes?”
“When you said ask any questions that I have as soon as possible, could you add one?”
“Sure.”
“Everything about how the Erenne markfunctions. Not itssocial significance—I think I understand that pretty well right now. But... how it works.”
Annarion froze.
Mandoran’s hand found his friend’s shoulder. “She’s right. You know it. This might be the only pathway forward if we’re going to save your brother. She’s not angry about it. We understand why you are—you’ll never know how much we envied you.”
Kaylin almost snorted. How could henotknow?