Then again, everything felt like an emergency right now.
Kaylin swung her legs out of bed, fumbling in the dark before Helen brought the lights up and she could see her way to her clothing. She dressed in her normal work clothing, took enough care to make sure the buttons and buttonholes weren’t mismatched, and headed down the stairs. Hope grumbled but allowed himself to be picked up and dumped on her shoulders.
Mandoran was waiting for her in the foyer. Terrano was with him, and to her surprise, Fallessian was also present.
There was no sign of Sedarias or Teela, no sign of Torrisant or Karian.
“We’ve all got wicked headaches,” Terrano said as Kaylin opened her mouth. “We’d appreciate if you didn’t add to them. In case it’s not obvious, we’re going to the Academia with you. If you don’t want us, Sedarias and Teela will accompany you instead.”
“That’s probably the best threat I’ve ever heard you make,” she told Terrano.
“It’s not making my headache any better,” he replied—but he smiled and winced at the same time.
Kaylin didn’t want to argue with the cohort. If Sedarias and Teela were in agreement, she had three of the cohort as escort. Helencouldkeep them in the house, allowing Kaylin to escape, but it wouldn’t last. The attempt was the last thing Annarion needed.
“We’re to avoid the border zone,” Terrano said.
“The border doesn’t lead to the Academia.” She frowned. “The streets that lead to the Academia are solid; they’re not border-tinged. And in theory we can get to the Academia from any of the fiefs—using non-border streets.”
Terrano nodded in confirmation, as if he’d checked this personally. He probably had.
“Does that make any sense to you? I mean, the Academia exists in the fiefs—but how does it exist? It’s geographically almost impossible. If we tried to place it on a normal map, it would sit across two of the fiefs—and it doesn’t. If we don’t take the streets designated as Academia streets, we’d never reach it at all. We’d hit the border zone, and we’d cross it into the next fief.
“Seriously, you guys aren’t the only ones with wicked headaches. Let’s go. I’m sure Serralyn is waiting for us.”
“She is—but so are the Arbiters. Serralyn says they’reveryconcerned.”
Kaylin glanced at Mandoran. “Why are some days like this?”
Mandoran shrugged. “Nightshade is alive. The Arbiters mayhave useful information. A bad day is what we reach if none of those things remain true.”
“...meaning I’m whining again.”
“You are,” Terrano said, far more cheerfully. The front door opened. “I personally think a little bit of whining is good for you. I mean, it works wonders for me.”
Mandoran rolled his eyes behind Terrano’s back, not that that hid anything.
Severn stood in the open door. He looked more awake than Kaylin felt—but she’d always hated mornings.
Helen’s disembodied voice said, “There were incoming messages while you slept.”
Kaylin froze on the threshold. “Are any of them from the midwives’ guild or the foundling hall?”
“No. There are no emergencies from either quarter.”
“Then who?”
“The new Arkon, the new Arkon again, the former Arkon. And one that is new to me. The messages will wait. I have informed all but the last one that you are not in residence at the moment.”
“Who is—or was—the last one?”
“It is not the Consort, if that is your concern. I do not believe she trusts the mirror network—and I approve of her suspicion.”
“Helen?”
“An’Tellarus,” Helen replied. “Now, please, hurry. The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll return.”
Kaylin’s head was less quiet the moment she crossed Helen’s property line.