Kaylin hung back.
She knows what youre doing, Mandoran said cheerfully.
Great. Can you tell her that I enjoy being worried about as much as she does?
Yes, Teela said, before Mandoran could reply, and when youve got centuries of experience under your belt, Ill stop.
Which, of course, meant never, because Kaylin wasnt immortal and was, in all likelihood, never going to see one century.
She kept seeing Clint without wings. It was his wings she had loved first. Everything else had followed, as wingsand what they meant to Kaylinmade way for the person to whom they were attached.
And yes, that probably meant Teela was right. The Aerians were people, just like any other people; the fact that they had one physical characteristic that was at the heart of Kaylins many, many daydreams and longings was Kaylins problem, not theirs. They didnt owe her her dreams. They didnt have to live up to them.
To Helen, she said, Can I use the mirror?
Now, dear?
Sarcasm came and went. Kaylin managed to keep it to herself, but Helen, who could read the thoughts of almost anyone who entered the house, heard it all. Helen, like Tara, didnt mind hearing it all.
Why is now bad?
Lord Nightshade is still speaking with his brother.
And?
I still dont trust him. It requires a diversion of attention in order to properly contain the intrusion of the mirror network.
I honestly dont think hes going to do anything damaging or stupidat least not to you.
No. But Annarion is at his least stable when his brother is visiting, and it takes some effort to contain the possible danger of his instability, as well.
Kaylin exhaled, nodding glumly.
* * *
Moran did not come down to dinner. Bellusdeo and Maggaron did, the former dressed in something other than her armor. Kaylin was certain shed be hearing about the armor sometime in the morning, and tried not to think about it too much.
The entire dining table fell silent when Annarion joined them, because Annarion brought his brother. Both he and Nightshade were blue-eyed, and it wasnt the resting state of caution and natural superstition; it was dark.
Annarion bowed very formally and very correctly; Mandoran snorted. Loudly. While both Teela and Tain had stiffened into the type of formality that signaled the possibility of upcoming death, Mandoran lounged. He nodded at Nightshade as if the fieflord were mortal.
Helen set a place for the unexpected guest without being asked. But Helen, like Teela and Tain, had an air that was distinctly more martial. The dining room became, with the insertion of Nightshade, a small battlefield. On the other hand, the cutlery didnt turn into daggers or swords.
Nightshades seat was not beside Annarion; nor was it beside Kaylin. It was between Bellusdeo and Teela. A dark, perfect brow rose as he glanced at Helen; his lips folded into something too sardonic to be a smile. An acknowledgment, perhaps. Her suspicion did not offend him.
No, Kaylin thought with some surprise. The only thing in the room that appeared to do that was the younger brother he had come to visit.
Chapter 5
The table was silent for a good five minutes. This was almost miraculous for a house that contained Kaylin and Mandoran. Kaylin was willing to swallow words; she was too ill at ease to speak without thinking, and her thoughts were so tied up in the Aerian problem she didnt have any left over to waste on not offending Barrani.
You will not offend me. No one but Kaylin could hear Nightshades voice, a reminderprobably deliberatethat they were bound by his True Name. She started, flushed and met his gaze. His eyes were much greener, but given his seating, not green.
You have this thing about dignity and proper respect. All of you do, except Mandoran, Kaylin replied.
I was long considered overly tolerant among my own kin.
How many of those that believed this are still alive?
His eyes widened. Shed surprised him. And amused him; the two expressions chased across his face, easing the lines of tension slightly. A few. At least one of them is at this table now.
He could only mean Teela. Kaylins gaze swiveled toward her, and veered at the last minute. Too late. This amused Nightshade, as well. It had never been Kaylins lifes ambition to amuse Lord Nightshade.
I hear, he said gravely, that you had an eventful morning.
She nodded, glaring at Mandoran. Mandoran shrugged his lazy, bored shrug. It was too long, too indolent, and too graceful to properly be the fief shrug that he was trying to copy. Annarion was worried.
Dont try to shift blame, Bellusdeo said. You were bored.
Well, I was until the street cracked, Mandoran replied with an unrepentant grin. Pursuit was interesting, as well. Everything else has been a letdown.
Nightshade glanced at his brother, who was glaring at Mandoran silently, but not, Kaylin was certain, wordlessly.
Annarion said only that there had been an attack, a possible assassination attempt. Did he not refer to Lord Bellusdeo?
Mandoran snorted. No. Id understand it if someone tried to kill her.
Maggaron was destroying cutlery in the sudden tension of his grip. His very large grip. No one spoke.
Interesting. Who was the target? Nightshade asked Kaylin.
She really hated Mandoran at the moment.
And that is interesting. You lie even when no one else can hear you.
Someone can always hear me, she shot back.
I have been somewhat occupied of late. Your Helen does not trust me at all. She is willing to tolerate me, but only for Annarions sake. She does, however, bear obvious fondness for him. I am therefore guarding myself on two fronts, and even this conversation is likely to annoy her immensely.
He was probably right.
I cannot hear your thoughts when you are in your home.
You can hear them now.
Yes, and that is unexpected. I am not certain why she allowed my words to reach you. Perhaps she hoped that it would make the rest of the discussion less awkward.
What discussion?
He chuckled, although his face was perfectly composed. You did not answer my question.
Not mine to answer. She thought of Moranjust a brief flicker of awareness of how little Moran wanted to be the subject of any discussion. And of course, that stray thought was enough.
But she hadnt expected the stillness that spread out from Lord Nightshade. Shed thought him still and composed when he sat; shed thought him still and composed during the opening salvos of what promised to be a less-than-comfortable dinner. He was frozen now, for one long minute that threatened to spiral out of control, taking what little sound and light there was entirely out of the room.
What, Nightshade said, are you doing housing the lllumen praevolo? Have you lost your mind?
* * *
Kaylin wondered, briefly, why hed asked the question out loud.
I thought it best, Helen replied. I am somewhat occupied at the moment, and I did not feel that dinner conversation would become difficult. I apologize for my lapse in supervision.
Kaylin realized two things then. First: Nightshade would no longer be able to speak with her through the bond of True Name; Helen had killed that avenue of private discussion. Second, and more troubling, that Helen had allowed it to begin with. Kaylin didnt believe that the lapse, as she called it, was accidental. Nor did she think that Helen truly believed that the conversation would not be difficult, given the way she clearly felt about Nightshade.
Kaylin wondered, briefly, why hed asked the question out loud.
I thought it best, Helen replied. I am somewhat occupied at the moment, and I did not feel that dinner conversation would become difficult. I apologize for my lapse in supervision.
Kaylin realized two things then. First: Nightshade would no longer be able to speak with her through the bond of True Name; Helen had killed that avenue of private discussion. Second, and more troubling, that Helen had allowed it to begin with. Kaylin didnt believe that the lapse, as she called it, was accidental. Nor did she think that Helen truly believed that the conversation would not be difficult, given the way she clearly felt about Nightshade.
Her house had lied to her. What she couldnt understand was whyand just in case Helen was listening in, she made it clear that she didnt need to understand why right this very second. Later would do, if they all survived the meal.
What did you say? she asked Nightshade.
I asked if you had taken leave of your senses.
Before that.
Illumen praevolo?
They were the exact words Lillias had spoken. Lillias had been fragile, nervous, afraid. Nightshade was none of those things. Yes, that. What does it mean?
It means nothing to humans, he replied. His eyes were a glittering blue, hard as sapphires as they absorbed the rooms light. It means much to Aerians. Was it the Illumen praevolo who survived the assassination attempt?
Yes.
They do not belong here.
Thanks, but its my house. My castle. I get to decide that.
Did you know, before you offered shelter?
Kaylin was irritated. What do you think?
I think you were ignorant.
Good. Now that weve got that out of the way, tell me why you think she doesnt belong here.
She?
Damn.
How did you even come to meet her? I suppose I should not be surprised; you are certainly acquainted with the Lady and with Lord Bellusdeo.
Shes not like the Lady, was Kaylins flat and certain reply. And shes not like Bellusdeo, either.
No. She is not, but she occupies a central, singular place for the Aerians, as the Consort does for the Barrani, or Lord Bellusdeo for the Dragons. It should not surprise me, he said again, but it does.
Do you know what her role is?
We will trade information, perhaps. How did you encounter her?
There was a beat of silence before Kaylin exhaled. She works in the Halls of Law.
His eyes shifted from blue to a very surprised gold, a color she very seldom saw in Barrani. You must be mistaken.
I think I know the Halls of Law, and I think I know a sergeant when I see one. She works in the Halls.
A...sergeant. He closed his eyes; when he opened them again, they had reclaimed the color blue. It was a lighter shade than Teelas. So was midnight sky. No wonder they tried to kill her. This has happened before?
Not while shes been a sergeant. Kaylin set her cutlery down and folded her arms, tilting her chair back on two legs. She wasnt hungry, and while that didnt usually stop her from eating, she wanted to concentrate.
Never?
Not that I know of, no. But Id say never covers it.
Ah. And before that?
Its not in Records. She stonewalled. He couldnt read her mind now. He couldnt see her thoughts. Why would you expect that this wouldnt be the first attempt?
He smiled. Because she is living here, Kaylin. Perhaps you do not understand why this is a crime in the minds of the Aerians.
Some of the Aerians.
As you say. Why does she not dwell with her kin? Why does she choose menial employ? She is Illumen praevolo.
And Im the Chosen, Kaylin shot back. But I need to eat.
The Chosen does not mean to humans what your Aerian will mean to the Aerians. Perhaps it should.
It certainly should, Bellusdeo interrupted. She is not treated with nearly the respect her burden is due.
Kaylin lifted a hand in Bellusdeos direction, and the Dragon fell silent. She probably wasnt happy about it, but Kaylin didnt check; she was watching Nightshade as if he were the only person in the room.
Do your Aerians not speak of it? Nightshade asked her.
No. And I cant ask them.
And she does not explain?
No. She thinks its not safe for me to know.
He smiled; it was winter, but beautiful. And so you come to me.
I didnt She exhaled and regrouped. Yes. Yes, Im asking you.
Has it occurred to you that your companion may be correct? No, dont answer. You will say yes, but mean no. It is vexing. If you wish to know how I come by this information... he began.
I know how.
Ah. I forget. Yes, you probably do. The praevolo is not a position like the Consort within the Barrani. To become Consort, there are tests. Tests of the Tower. Tests of the Lake. Failure does not always mean death, but the closer one comes to success, the higher the possibility of death becomes. We are not, like humans, a people to whom children come quickly or easily; the risk of death can be a strong deterrent.
But it is the lines risk to take. Your friend did not have the distinction of determination or choice. She was born to it. It has been an essential part of her nature since that birth.
Kaylin nodded, trying not to be impatient. Or not to be obviously impatient, at any rate. I understand that part. I dont understand why its significant. I dont understand what it means.
As I have said, to humans, it means nothing.
Shes not a human, and shes living here.
How much do you feel you have a right to know? he asked, almost gently. It was gentleness from Nightshade that she didnt trust. His violence, his arrogance, his intimidation were things that were obvious threats. If she does not wish you to know, and it is her secret, her life, how much do those wishes count to you?
There was a disgusted snorta sergeants soundfrom the doorway; everyone looked up. Moran stood in the frame, arms folded, eyes a blue that almost matched Teelas in shade. Lord Nightshade, I presume.
He raised dark brows.
You were the Barrani who marked Private Neya?
Kaylin almost stood; Annarions expression had drifted from mild interest into disgust and anger and disappointment.
It is not one of my many titles, came the cool reply. He was staring at her, at the rise of her wings, or her one wing, at the bindings that kept the other more or less safe and in place. Is it you?
Dont ask questions when you already know the answer.
Among my kin, it would be considered polite.
Were not among your kin here. She glanced at Annarion. Were in Kaylins home. And Kaylin has never entirely grasped the intricacies of manners. She entered the dining room as a placewith a stoolmagically appeared for her at the table. It was beside Kaylin, and required some minor shuffling.
I asked you, Moran told the private, to stay out of this. She didnt sound enraged. She sounded disappointed, which was worse.
They tried to kill you.
Believe that Im aware of that.