Ive got the usual mortal memory, Kaylin replied evasively. And I might lie, as well.
Mandoran snorted again. Your attempts at lies are so pathetic you should probably use a different word to describe them.
Kaylin glared at Mandoran. Bellusdeo, however, said, He has a point.
Kaylin wasnt certain how she would have answered. She was saved by the appearance of the last of her housemates. MoranSergeant Carafel in the officeentered the dining room. Moran was almost never late for anything, even breakfast.
Clearly, she had some reason for being late now, and it wasnt a pleasant one. Her wingsor what remained of her wingswere stiff and as high as they could get with their protective bindings. Her eyes were blue. Aerian eyes and Barrani eyes overlapped in only one color. Moran was either angry, worried or both.
Kaylin had risen before she realized shed left her chair, which did nothing to improve Morans mood. Moran did not appreciate any worry that was aimed in her direction. Ever.
As you were, Private. She sat on the stool provided for her; Aerian wings and normal chair backs didnt get along well. To Helen, she added, The mirror connection was smooth and solid.
It certainly hadnt started out that way. Helen had a strong dislike of mirrors, or rather, of the mirror network that powered their communication. Regular silvered glass didnt bother her in the slightest. I made a few adjustments, dear. Im terribly sorry that the faulty connections to date have caused so much difficulty for you.
They havent, Moran replied, her voice gentling, her eyes darkening.
Helens Avatar smiled. They have.
The people on the other end of the connection have causedor are trying to causethe difficulty. It has nothing at all to do with you. If the connection had been faultless and solid, it would have given them more time to make things even less pleasant. Im grateful for the respite. Her eyes had shifted to a more neutral gray by the time she reached the end of her reassurance. She looked across the table at Bellusdeo.
Was it the Caste Court? Kaylin asked. Helen frowned at her but said nothing.
Moran glared Kaylin into the silence Helen would have preferred, but then relented slightly. It was two castelords and one Hawklord. Before you ask, none of them were particularly happy. And it is caste business. Aerian business. Is that clear?
Yes, sir.
Good. Moran then turned to Bellusdeo. Are you accompanying us to the Halls today?
Bellusdeos eyes were golden. Of course.
Moran then concentrated on breakfast. Annarions attention had fallen on the Aerian, as had Mandorans. Neither of the boys interacted much with her except at meals, and while Moran was polite, she wasnt highly talkative.
Helen, Mandoran said, what happened?
I dont think she wishes to discuss that, dear.
Thats why Im asking you.
Even Annarion looked pained. Hes gotten worse since he arrived in this city. He used to be capable of actual manners, he said to the table at large.
When they were necessary, yes. Here, no one needs them, and I hate to go through the effort when it wont be appreciated in the slightest.
* * *
Less than ten minutes later, Teela and Tain appeared in the dining room as if theyd been summoned. What was left of the breakfast conversation died as they were noticed.
What, are we not welcome? Teela asked as she sauntered in. She was wearing a sword. So was Tain.
You are always welcome, Helen told her. Any friend of
Yes, yes. Thank you, Helen. Chairs appeared at the long dining table as if by magic. Well, actually, by magic. Teela turned one of the two so that its back almost touched the tables edge. She sat, folding her arms across the top rail and resting her chin on her forearms. To Moran, she said, What kind of trouble are you expecting?
Moran glared at Mandoran. She knew the boys could communicate with Teela the same way they communicated with each other. They knew each others True Names. All of the children that had been taken, centuries ago, to the West March did. Kaylin thought it a bit unfair that Moran immediately blamed Mandoran.
Mandoran apparently didnt. What? he asked, spreading his hands. You asked the Dragon if she was heading into the Halls today. You know it gives Kaylins sergeant hives the minute she crosses the threshold. Youve never asked before. Obviously youre concerned that something requiring brute strengthor magical competencemight happen.
Moran was silent.
There are perfectly competent Barrani here. Ill be damned if I let you depend on a Dragon for heroics. And Teela has to go to the Halls anyway.
The Dragon in question said, Im still going. And in case its escaped your notice, Barrani cant fly.
Some can.
Not naturally.
Mandoran shrugged. If were going to get technical, you cant legally fly, either. Not without Imperial permission.
The word permission touched off a distinct orange in Bellusdeos eyes.
Teela glanced at Moran with some sympathy. I hear, she said, her eyes almost green, the Barrani happy color, that you have a lovely suite of personal rooms. I do hope they make up for the shared spaces.
Moran was silent for half a beat. Yes, she finally said, they do. Theyre very quiet and very peaceful. She surveyed the table with weary resignation. I suppose I shouldnt have expected that the rest of the house would be the sameKaylin lives here, after all.
* * *
Helen wouldnt tell Kaylin the content of Morans mirror-based discussion. Normally, this wouldnt have bothered Kaylin; today, for reasons she felt were obvious, it did.
They are not obvious to Moran, dear, Helen replied, although Kaylin hadnt spoken that part out loud. It didnt matter. Helen could read the thoughts of almost anyone who crossed her borders. This bothered some of the immortals; it didnt bother Kaylin. Helen was not judgmental about anything. You understand that she is older, of a higher rank, and has handled far larger responsibilities than you currently officially have?
Yes.
She did not come here to put you in danger.
I know all that, Helen.
She does not wish you to worry. And, Kaylin? While this is your home, Moran is a guest here. Her privacy and her concerns are important to me. Had she no privacy, this would not be a home to her; it would be a prison. An imposition. That is not what you wished for her when you invited her to stay.
But Morans worried about her physical safety!
Yes. But she is not in danger while she is here.
Shes not staying here, Helen. Shes going to the Halls of Law.
Yes. That is also her choice.
The small dragon squawked in Kaylins ear. When shed ignored enough of this, he started to chew on the stick that kept her hair out of her way. Fine.
Are you coming? Mandoran shouted.
Yes, yes, Im coming. Kaylin was at the front door of the foyer before the implication of his question sank in. Where do you think youre going?
Nightshades supposed to visit today. Im going to the Halls with the rest of you.
Mandoran
I dont have trouble masking my presence. Annarion still does. But hes going to spend another several hours shouting at his brother. Or being coldly disappointed in him. Im not sure which one is worse. Being here while hes doing either, however, sucks. He grinned, his eyes almost green. And it sounds like youre going to be having far more fun today than I would if I stayed here. I wouldnt miss it for the world.
Mandoran
I dont have trouble masking my presence. Annarion still does. But hes going to spend another several hours shouting at his brother. Or being coldly disappointed in him. Im not sure which one is worse. Being here while hes doing either, however, sucks. He grinned, his eyes almost green. And it sounds like youre going to be having far more fun today than I would if I stayed here. I wouldnt miss it for the world.
Kaylin sent Teela a mute glance.
Dont labor under the misapprehension that I can tell Mandoran what to do.
Shes already tried, Mandoran added cheerfully. Ive been using some of your favorite phrases in private.
Given what Kaylins favorite phrases were, the private part was probably for the best. She offered Moran a very, very apologetic glance. Its not always like this, she told the sergeant.
No, Moran replied, her eyes a steady blue. Its frequently worse.
* * *
Stepping outside the open gates that formed the demarcation of Helens territory, she felt her skin begin to tingle. Kaylin had what she called an allergy to magic, at least when she was trying to be polite. It made her skin ache. The stronger the magic, the greater the ache; in the worst cases, she felt as if her skin had been sanded off the rest of her body.
She looked down at her arm; the marks that covered two-thirds of her body werent glowing through the long sleeves she always wore. When they did, they took on a particular colorusually blue or gold, sometimes gray. It was never precisely a good sign.
Teela noticed her glance immediately, and her eyes lost their green, the Barrani happy shade.
Bellusdeos eyes were orange. Mandoran had annoyed her enoughor had reminded her of how annoyed she should be. The Dragon glanced at Moran, who was silent, her eyes a blue that almost matched Teelas.
Mandorans, on the other hand, remained green. Once you get used to the smell, he said to no one in particular, the citys not so bad. They had turned onto the more crowded streets; people multiplied, and carts, wagons and carriages began to demand room. Or at least their ill-tempered drivers did.
No one appeared to hear him.
Kitling? Teela said.
Kaylin nodded. Its getting worse. And it was. Her arms now ached. Magic sensitivity wasnt exactly directional, but Kaylin looked up. The skyabsent a few patrolling Aerianswas crisp, clear and empty.
The small dragon jerked to a full sitting position. He opened his mouth on a very, very loud squawk.
Teela cursed, drawing her sword.
Corporal? Moran said quietly.
We have visitors.
Kaylin reached out and grabbed Moran by the arm. In the Halls of Law, it would have been safer to cut off her own handand probably ultimately less painful. The marks on her arms flared; she could see the dim glow of their outlines through her sleeves. That cloth rubbing against her skin was hideously painful.
Moran didnt fight her. Thats what she would remember with wonder later. Moran let herself be drawninstantlyinto the tight circle of Kaylins arms. Kaylin barely had time to close her eyes as the world directly in front of them exploded.
Chapter 2
Stone shattered as if it were brittle glass, fanning out from the spot where Moran had been standing. None of the resulting shards hit Kaylin or Moran; they were protected by a bubble of shimmering gold, courtesy of Kaylins familiar. But Darrow Lane wasnt empty at this time of day; the shards hit pedestrians, wagons and fences. It was the pedestrians who screamed. Other voices picked up the sound as fear turned to panic and people began to flee, often into other people.
Kaylin looked up, scanning the windows of the buildings to either side of the road. Some were open. An old woman and a young child peered down at the street. While it was possible they were responsible for the magical attack, Kaylin doubted it.
Private.
Kaylin immediately loosened her grip on Moran. She didnt completely release her. Dont move from here, she told the sergeant. We have no idea if that was the only attack.
Moran looked at the broken stone inches from her feet. I need to clear the area.
You dont need to clear the area. Youre the target. If you attempt crowd control here and theyre not done yet, youll just get people killed. It was a small miracle that no civilians had died, and Kaylin knew better than to bank on another one.
You need the streets cleared? Bellusdeo asked. She turned toward Kaylin. The front of her very practical clothing was smoldering. There were more holes in it than there was cloth. Bellusdeo had not been within the bubbles radius. The Dragons eyes were very, very orange. If eyes were windows into the soul, Bellusdeos was on fire.
Kaylin nodded.
Good.
* * *
Bellusdeo roared.
In the middle of the crowded Darrow Lane road, this caused even more panic, which was probably why Dragons were technically forbidden to speak their mother tongue in public places. But the roar, unlike the explosion, continued for enough time that people could identify its source and get the hells away from it.
Kaylin then looked for the rest of her companions.
Mandoran was untouched; Tain wasnt in immediate sight. Teela was. In her left hand, she carried a naked, runed blade; it was glowing brightly. Something about the metal of that blade reminded Kaylin of Severns weapon chain, which could combat magic if wielded properly.
Mandoran, Bellusdeo said, youve been picking up Elantran at an astonishing rate. Youve perhaps heard some of their colloquial phrases?
Far, far too many. Why?
Im wondering if youve encountered this one: its better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.
Mandoran looked at Bellusdeo, his perfect brow rippling in minor confusion. I dont think either of our peoples are much given to begging for anything. Why do you ask?
Bellusdeo roared again. The first roar had pretty much cleared the street around them for a good ten yards, although it had also panicked horses. Her smile was almost feline. She didnt bother to shed her ruined clothing; there was no salvaging it. She dropped to her hands and knees and began to shed her human appearance, as well.
Kaylin found the transformation between two solid shapes disturbing; she always did. Flesh wasnt supposed to be liquid; it wasnt supposed to twist and expand, changing in both color and texture. Bellusdeo grew golden scales, the largest of which could have served as a very good shield had it been detached; she gained both height and length. And wings.
* * *
Kitling? Teela shouted, not bothering to glance back.
Were good, Kaylin replied.
Moran?
Im fine. The road isnt, the sergeant added, looking down at the blistered, cracked and shattered stones at their feet. If you let go of me, will I still be safe?
Depends.
On?
On whether or not Teelas going to do something with that sword other than pose.
Mandoran laughed. He was the only one who did. Shes going to have to move fast, he said.
Mandoran, dont
I wont hurt your precious citizens. Well, not all of them, at any rate.