Why?
Because he actually believes those constraints are genuine. Even were he to agree to accompany us to the office, he believes that the rules that govern you would protect him. Is he right?
Kaylin kicked a stone. Probably.
How many Barrani do you know who would believe that?
Almost all of them.
Until recently, she only knew Hawks, Severn reminded the Dragon.
Yes, well.
And the Barrani Hawks believe in the law, Kaylin added.
The Barrani Hawks uphold the law. I would not, however, be surprised to hear that they consider it a gamemuch like the card games you play on breaks. Yes, they accept the various rules, but theyre looking for ways to game the system to win. Breaking the rules forfeits the game.
No one dedicates their lives to playing cards. Kaylin frowned, considering the petty crimes divisions. ...Almost no one.
No, probably not. But I wouldnt put it past Mandoran.
What are the odds weve done business with Candallar before? Kaylin suddenly demanded. Of Severn.
He raised a brow.
We know that Nightshades been contactedor at the very least had his contact returnedby someone in the Halls. Is it that unlikely that Candallar is similar?
It was Bellusdeo who answered. To the Barrani, if I understand Teela correctly, both Nightshade and Candallar would be consideredare considerednecessary evils. They hold the Towers. The Towers keep Ravellon and its Shadows from spilling out into the rest of the world and destroying it. There was a moment of bitter silence. In my world, Towers such as those did not exist. Had they, I would not be here.
The reminder of the enormity of the Dragons loss kind of killed the rest of the conversation, and it didnt resume again until theyd reached the Halls of Law.
4
Caitlin seemed relieved when Kaylin entered the office and stopped at the choke-point of her desk. Im glad to see youre safe, she said. She didnt bother to pitch her words in a whisper, which was the only way Kaylin knew she was not happy with Marcuss decision to send them to the East Warrens.
Im not sure were done yet, Kaylin replied. But were fine. Nothing, aside from the legally questionable use of invisibilitynot on our parthappened. But weve got some news to report in. Is Teela in?
Teela is in the infirmary.
...Where Moran said no one who was not half dying was allowed to be.
She is not, as you put it, half dying, dear. But she is not, strictly speaking, very happy at the moment. I havent seen her this upset since Caitlin stopped, reddening slightly. And thats neither here nor there, and I shouldnt be gossiping. If youve got things to report, you should report them. Dont mind me.
* * *
Marcus was already in a foul mood. Kaylin approached his desk and was left standing at attention while he regained control of his seemingly permanent growl. He couldnt, however, keep Bellusdeo standing at attention, not that she actually bothered. She wasnt part of the office hierarchy, wasnt beholden to it, and had been given permission by the Emperor to disrupt that hierarchy as she saw fit.
For some reason, this didnt bother Kaylin. Possibly it was because Bellusdeo was a Dragon. Possibly it was because she didnt particularly consider life to be fair. Dragon female trumped almost everything, as far as the Emperor was concerned.
But no, a little voice said, that wasnt true. The empire trumped everything. Bellusdeo was considered important to the race, but that race didnt really care about the empire, except in the abstract. It was the Emperors hoard. You disturbed it at your ultimate peril.
It was Bellusdeo who cut through rank and file behavior to tell Marcus that they had met the fieflord of Candallar in the East Warrens.
Marcuss eyes couldnt get any redder without spilling into the Leontine Frenzy color. Bellusdeo failed to mention either Mandoran or Teela. She spoke respectfully, but spoke as if to an equal. In the end, Marcus mirrored Hanson. He had a direct line to the Hawklord, but hadnt chosen to use it, which meant that this wasnt considered an emergency.
There was no difficulty with the fieflord?
If you mean did he attempt to harm me, no.
Did he attempt to harm the officers?
No. Had he, what was left of him would be in the holding cells.
The Hawks would not
Yes, I realize their hands are tied. But Im not a Hawk, Sergeant Kassan. Im a displaced person. A Dragon.
Some of the red bled out of Marcuss eyes then. It was easier, he said, in the old country.
For you, too?
Yes. We could rip out the throats of our enemiesand our enemies seldom pretended to be our friends before we did.
Ill suggest it to the Emperor, Bellusdeo replied, with a sunny smile.
Marcus growled.
Ill suggest it on my own behalf; I shall utterly fail to mention your comment. You see, we alsoin the old countrycould rip out the throats of our enemies. Or their wings.
Kaylin coughed. I lived in a place where you couldif you had the powerkill your enemies with zero consequences. It was an awful place, and I dont recommend it. The Emperor created the laws for a reason, and I think the reasons are good.
You would, though, Bellusdeo said. Youve thrown your life into them, and no one wants to waste their life.
Dragons.
* * *
Hansons reply came about fifteen minutes later. Or rather, the reply to the message Marcus had sent to Hanson did. The respondent in the mirror, however, was the Hawklord. Marcus didnt seem to be surprised. He did seem disgusted. Youre wanted upstairs, he told Kaylin.
Given the part the fiefs had played in Kaylins childhood, she wasnt surprised, either; the surprise would have been no response, or a rote one.
He wants the Dragon as well, Marcus added.
The Dragon, Bellusdeo said, unfazed, wouldnt miss it for the world. At Marcuss lowered browline, she added, He has no right of command where Im concerned, no. But Im not so petty that I would deprive myself of something interesting simply to spite him.
Marcus said nothing. Loudly.
* * *
When they hit the middle of the tower steps on their way to obey the Hawklords command, Kaylin said, Could you maybe try not to antagonize him?
Severn was silent, and almost invisible; it was a neat trick. Kaylin wondered if hed learned it while training with the Wolves. Or if hed always had it. Hed survived the fiefs for a lot longer than she had, after alland had it not been for Severn, she was uneasily certain she wouldnt have survived at all.
Your sergeant makes no effort not to antagonize me. Bellusdeo snorted. He dislikes the Dragon Court.
Youre not part of the court.
Fine. He dislikes Dragons.
Because it was the Dragon Court that pretty much decided I should be put down. As in executed. I was thirteen. Bellusdeo stopped speaking, although she continued to walk. Kaylin, aware that she was being petty, said, Im sure Ive mentioned this before. Hes got a long memory when you threaten his kits.
And he considers you one of them.
Well, his first wife does. You want a terrifying Leontineits her. Hes never going to forgive the Dragon Court. But youre not them, and hell eventually accept you. Justhes got a long memory.
At that, Bellusdeo chuckled. Nowhere near as long as the memories of my kin. It rankles, but I must also remind myself: I am not ruler here. This is not my country.
* * *
The Hawklord had done Kaylin the kindness of opening the doors, which otherwise operated by wards. He was standing to one side of an inactive mirror; Kaylin could see herselfand Bellusdeo, and a silent Severnas they approached.
It was no surprise to Kaylin that the Aerians eyes were a martial blue. He tendered Bellusdeo a very correct bowwhich in Aerians involved wing motions and stiffness in the right orderand rose. My apologies, he said. Sergeant Kassan sent Kaylin on patrol in the East Warrens. It has been struck from her duty list for the time being.
For the time being, meaning, if I am to accompany her?
The Hawklord said nothing.
I believe, Bellusdeo said, because it wasnt her job or her dreamed-of promotion on the line, that the reason Sergeant Kassan chose to send the private and the corporal to the East Warrens at this time was because I have been given blanket Imperial permission to accompany her. He expected difficulty of a type that the Barrani Hawks, and only the Barrani Hawks, could easily handle.
There were other teams he could have chosen.
Yes. But none of those teams happen to have a Dragon as a shadow.
The Hawklord was not Leontine. Yes, a remarkable coincidence, since I am confident that no one under my command would knowingly put you at risk in an encounter that might involve strange or dangerous magics. His tone was bland. Having made that coincidental decision, he has been informed that it will not be made again. We are all, I am certain, much happier. He turned to Kaylin then. Although hed offered Bellusdeo the very respectful bow of an inferior to a superior, he had no intention of allowing the Dragon to commandeer the discussion. He had made a decision. It was not hers to argue.
You claim to have made contact with the fieflord of Candallar.
Kaylin nodded.
You are certain. His glance moved to Severn.
Yes. Severn answered the question, but offered nothing else. He did not, however, bristle.
Was he in the warrens to meet with my Hawks?
He was to meet, he said, with friends. In my opinion, yes; without corroborating evidence
The Hawklord held up a hand, which stopped Severn. You have heard that there was difficulty this morning.
Yes.
Youve heard, no doubt, that a political storm is brewing in the Barrani High Court.
Actually, Kaylin said, we hadnt. Until this morning.
Candallar may well be part of that. What is the word in the office?
About?
This mornings incident.
That Moran will make certain we belong in critical care if we show up in the infirmary for any other reason than that we already need it, sir.
The Hawklord almost winced. Sergeant dar Carafel is never going to leave the infirmary at the current rate of emergency.
Kaylin, who still felt that Morans entire race had treated her horribly, couldnt see this as a bad thingfor either the Hawks or Moran. Clearly the Hawklord had a different opinion, and she managed to keep her own to herself. Or at least to keep the words that would express it that way. Teela is in the infirmary.
I was not informed of her presence there, was the bland reply. It implied that he wished to remain ignorant. Ignorance, after all, had its uses. At ease, Private.
Given his eyes, ease was impossible, but she did relax her stance.
What is happening?
Im not Barrani, sir.
He turned, then, to Bellusdeo. Lord Bellusdeo, I am aware that you are not Barrani, but you have experience with both politics and assassination attempts. In your opinion, what has caused this...conflict among my Barrani Hawks?
Bellusdeos eyes had shaded into a more natural gold. Orange deepened the color, but she was not struggling to contain Dragon rage. You are aware, she said, of Teelas companions.
He nodded.
I believe the political difficulties involve them.
Kaylin wanted to kick her. She also wanted to continue to breathe. She said nothing, but, because she was Kaylin, was not entirely silent about it.
And the fieflord?
After a much longer pause, Bellusdeo replied. I admit that I do not understand your fiefs or their lords. I understand their function; I understand why they are considered a distasteful necessity. I do not, however, understand why the lords of the Towers themselves are left to almost random chance. Were this my city, we would have chosen those Lords ourselves, and we would have had strict criteria by which to do so.
Judging by expression, the Hawklord agreed. He was not, however, he Emperor. I am not a scholar. My understanding of Shadow and its nature is pragmatic, but it is not deep. If you wish to discuss the nature of the Towers, it is to the Dragon Court you must look. But in my superficial and meagre understanding, the Towers have a sentience of their own. It is said that the Towers choose. Private Neya and Corporal Handred were present when the Tower of Tiamaris adopted its newest Lord; perhaps they will shed some light on the subject. But not now, his tone implied. Corporal Danelle was not forthcoming when questioned.
The assassin in question
The incident in question involved the corporal, yes. She is not, I am told, in the infirmary to finish the job she started, or is said to have started. The Barrani in question is technically alive.
Technically, sir?
I expect we will receive a writ of exemption at any moment that will excuse his attempt to assassinate one of my Hawks. I have been told that the mirror network has been somewhat compromised, and not all of our messages are currently arriving. And no, Private, you are not considered an expert in the mirror networks; we have put in an official request for the oversight of an Imperial Mage.
Thatll take three days, sir.
It is a pity that the Imperial Mages are so heavily overburdened with official business that we are required to wait, yes.
You expect a writ of exemption? Bellusdeo said. It was on the tip of Kaylins tongue, but she bit it. She could practically taste blood.
I expect a writ and a demand for remand of custody, yes.
Kaylin had expected a writ of exemption. She had not considered what most frequently happened when such writs were exercised: the criminal ended up as a conveniently packaged corpse on or near the steps of the Halls of Law. She paled. So...we have three days to figure out what the hells is going on?
Given it involves Barrani, politics and a fieflord, I would guess that three days will not be nearly enough time. Three days is also not an exact measure. There is some possibility that the Imperial Order of Mages will, in fact, consider the demands of the Halls of Law a serious emergency, and rearrange their pressing schedules to accommodate us.
Kaylin snorted.
You will not be patrolling the warrens again.
Sir. Does that mean were back to Elani?