Kaylin snorted.
You will not be patrolling the warrens again.
Sir. Does that mean were back to Elani?
The duty roster is otherwise in the hands of the sergeant. I expect the difficulties with the Barrani to be resolved before the writ arrives. Did Candallar give any indication of what he wants from his involvement in this murky affair?
No, sir.
The Hawklords eyes narrowed.
He did, however, point out that while hes outcastehe is outcastehe still retains citizenship in the Empire. His oath of loyalty to the Eternal Emperor has never been retracted or disavowed. And he probably understands the Imperial Laws at least as well as I do.
Interesting. Is there a reason this was relevant to your discussion with him?
She was threatening to arrest him and drag him back to the holding cells, Bellusdeo replied. He pointed out that this would be an unlawful detainment.
Very interesting. He is correct in this case. I assume no such attempt was made?
No, sir.
Good. Dismissed.
* * *
Teela was, according to Caitlin, still in the infirmary. Tain, however, had drifted back to his desk, where he sat stiffly, blue-eyed and grim. Grim wasnt necessary; Kaylin had seen Barrani with eyes of midnight laughing. But not often.
Is Teela still in the infirmary? she demanded.
Youre expected to head out to Elani. Which meant yes.
Kaylin folded her arms. Tain was seated; she could look down at him. It was Bellusdeo who spoke. Teelas enemies in the High Court are better prepared than you expected.
Characterizing them as Teelas enemies is not, or was not, accurate. Sedarias is cunning, ambitious, and political in a way the High Court understands. She is not of the High Court; none of the cohort are. But were she, she would become a power to reckon with. Perhaps not in your lifetime, but perhaps at the end of itand that would be meteoric in Barrani terms. But if their opposition is prepared to orchestrate an attack in the Halls of Lawwhere there are other races as possible collateral damageits not a good sign. This wont be the only assassination attempt; its merely the first.
You think theyll attack Teela again? Kaylins hands were fists.
Teela is better prepared than the cohort. If the cohort arrives intact, it will be a small miracle. Or a large one. If they werent staying with Helen, Id ask you to stay out of it.
You think shed stay out of it if they werent staying with her? Bellusdeo asked.
I think the chances that we could keep the worst of it from her would be much higher, yes.
Oh, and assassination attempts in the Halls of Law would completely go over my head. Kaylin folded her arms. She had never liked being treated as if she were stupid. And Teela was important.
No one expected that. Tain hesitated, which was unusual for Tain.
Including Teela, Bellusdeo then said, finishing the thought. Who must be something of a political force herself if she can both retain her power at court and serve as a Hawk. Kaylin knew Teela was a Lord of the High Courtbut even that knowledge had been gained in the last year or two. She thought of Teela as a Hawk, and as a friend; sometimes as an older sister.
Tain did not reply.
The Dragon cleared her throat. I believe I will visit Moran. Im a Dragon, and I served as her bodyguard during the worst of the friction with the Aerian Caste Court. She will have a much harder time shutting her door in my face. Her smile had long teeth in it. I have Imperial permission to be in the Halls of Law. Moran is not my commanding officer. She can neither threaten nor command me.
Kaylin wasnt certain she wouldnt bet on the Aerian, but said nothing.
* * *
Tain remained at his desk. Severn remained at Tains desk. Both suggested, with varying degrees of subtlety, that Kaylin remain there as well. Kaylin didnt have time to argue, because when a Dragon made a decisionor when Bellusdeo did, at any rateshe acted on it immediately. The private had to scurry to keep up. If she followed in Bellusdeos wake, shed be allowed in.
The old infirmary was still being rebuilt. In the weeks that had passed since a bomb had reduced it to splinters of wood, stone and glass, new floors and new walls had been installed, as if by magic. It wasnt magic, of course; not yet. Magic would come later, when Moran had approved of the base rooms.
The conference room which had been the largest space available for emergency operations had been reclaimed by the Halls, but the infirmary itself had taken up temporary residence in a smaller set of rooms that were seldom used and more functional than a room that was essentially created to house a huge table and a bunch of chairs. They were less easily accessible, in part because they had been used as general storage. Kaylin didnt ask what had happened to whatever was being stored here; that was the quartermasters problem.
The door was closed. The door was warded. Bellusdeo lifted golden brows in Kaylins direction, but touched the ward herself. Kaylin wasnt entirely surprised when the door opened. She wasnt surprised when a bristling Aerian with high, spotted wings stood almost in the frame. Nor was she surprised when the bristling wings folded as the Aerian caught sight of the Dragon. Slightly envious, but not surprised.
Morans eyes were Barrani blue. Her expression took a turn for the worse when she looked past Bellusdeo to see Kaylin.
The private is my escort, Bellusdeo said, in a perfectly friendly, perfectly bland tone.
There is nothing here that requires the privates attention, and a great deal that does not.
Kaylin opened her mouth. Closed it. It was smarter to let the Dragon do the talking because Moran couldnt do anything to the Dragon. Small and squawky, almost forgotten, lifted his head and batted Kaylins cheek with the top of it. He looked bored.
Teela appeared in the door frame behind Moran. Why are you here? she asked.
It was here, Bellusdeo replied, although Kaylin was pretty sure the question wasnt aimed at the Dragon, or the East Warrens. Kaylin couldnt see Bellusdeos expression, but the bland, cheerful, neutral reply was like a red flag.
Severn had probably made the smarter choice. Tains desk was safer. But Kaylin had really wanted to see Teela for herself. Shed wanted to be certain that Teela was whole.
It was the sergeant, not yet retired, who said, The East Warrens. Marcus sent Kaylin to the East Warrens. Clearly she had not been informed, and while the duty roster was not her responsibility, she knew it was a Barrani beat. Her glare traveled down the hall, as if she were considering offering Marcus a few choice words herself.
I was, of course, with her.
Moran folded her arms. Come in, she told the Dragon brusquely. She ignored Kaylin entirely and Kaylin followed like a shadow.
* * *
You met Candallar. In the warrens. Teela was now lounging on a chair so bare it should have been uncomfortable. To her left, in one of three beds in the small room, a Barrani Hawk slept. Since Barrani didnt need sleep, he was probably unconscious. Or wishing he were.
It was Canatel. He was, like Teela, a corporal. Hed been part of the Hawks for as long as Kaylin could remember, which really only meant about eight years. In Barrani terms, that was a blink of the eye.
This is well above your pay grade, kitling. It is not for you.
How many people are descending on my home in the near future?
If I have any say in it? Teela exhaled and stood, losing the studied nonchalance of chair lounging. Youre certain it was the fieflord?
Ive never met him. Severn was certain.
More Leontine followed, but it was soft. Clearly Teela trusted Severns opinion.
Why is Candallar involved? Kaylin asked, as Bellusdeo said, Candallar is outcaste, yes?
Teela only answered the Dragons question. Yes.
Does he happen to be related to any of the cohort? Because Ive got one furious fieflord visiting my home at least three times a week, and I think I could do without another one.
You would rather he visit your home than encounter him elsewhere. Candallar noted your mark?
Nightshades mark? Yes.
Good.
Kaylin thought shed take the nearest seat, she was so shocked. Good? You still hate him for putting the mark there!
Yes. But it will serve as a warning to Candallar, if a warning is required. He is not Nightshade.
Nightshade is more powerful?
He was, before he was removed from the High Court. There is a reason he possesses one of The Three.
And a reason, Kaylin thought, wanting to smack herself, that Teela possessed one as well. Three swords created to fight Dragons. They were called The Three; the capital letters were practically pronounced. Had she never really considered that they werent just handed out randomly?
Candallar is younger?
We are all ancient compared to you. Candallar is younger. He was of the High Court. He took, and passed, the Test of Name.
Why was he turfed out?
Teela pinched the bridge of her nose. Bellusdeo suggested Kaylin speak in Barrani, or High Barrani. Which part of above your pay grade isnt clear? I can repeat it in all of the languages you know, and three you dont. I am certain that Bellusdeo could repeat it in her native tongue
Thats illegal without permission
And suffer few ill consequences.
East Warrens was Canatels beat. His and Tagraines. Candallar was thereinvisibly, by the wayto meet them.
He said so?
He said he was visiting friends.
Of course he did. Teela cast one backward glance at the unconscious man on the cot. It was not a look of loathing; it was not a look of anger.
What happened? Kaylin asked.
Tagraine and Canatel had an argument. They came to blows in the office. I invited the Barrani to the West Room to discuss, among other things, self-control. In retrospect, this was unwise. Her smile was grim, but genuine. It was clever, she added, as if to explain her expression. Only Barrani were present, as they must have known would be the case. I did not get far into my ill-tempered lecture before Tagraine attempted to kill me. With a dagger, she added.
What was Teela not saying?
Canatel attempted to stop Tain from interfering. Canatel was injured. Tagraine died. Both her voice and face were devoid of expression.
This was not exactly the story Kaylin had heard. She knew better than to trust gossip for accuracy, but... Canatel didnt try to kill you? He didnt help?
He attempted to come to the aid of his partner. Teelas glare was ice and steel.
Bellusdeo cleared her throat. Candallar.
Thats not the direction I expected the politics to travel. I have limited access to fieflords. In theory, so does the rest of the Courtbut the rest of the Court does not serve as Hawks, with the legal boundaries necessitated by that office. I was...unprepared for that avenue of pressure. Did you attempt to engage him?
She threatened to arrest him, if that helps, Bellusdeo offered.
Teela covered her forehead with her left hand. Of course she did.
He seemed surprisingly conscious of Imperial Law, the Dragon continued, and entirely unintimidated by it. He did not ask Kaylin for either information or concession; I believe he was distracted.
By the presence of a Dragon?
By the confirmation of the presence of a Dragon within the Halls of Law.
That was not the same thing, and Teela knew it.
On the other hand, if his contacts were Hawks, it is not entirely surprising he would have that information. Nor are the Hawks the only way that information might reach him; the Hawks themselves might speak with members of the High Court, and the High Court is, of course, very aware of my existence.
You are much more likely to survive involvement in my life than Kaylin is, Teela said. But the arcane bomb that would have ended your life was thrown well away from both the Halls and the High Court.
I would not be certain that my involvement in your affairs would be the cause of another assassination attempt. Nor, she added, as Teela opened her mouth, could the Emperor be. How much of a concern is Candallar?
Hes a concern. Whatever pressure he put on Tagraineand I wont know until Canatel wakeshes just a lever.
Do you have any idea who might be pushing that lever?
Some vague suspicion. I know Canatels family. Candallar was made outcaste for purely political reasons; he did not attempt to harm the Consort. Nor did he engage in illegal activities involving other racesat least not until he was forced to flee and found himself at home in the fiefs.
And he wants?
I would guess he wants to be repatriated. He wants to be forgiven.
But
Both the Dragon and the corporal turned toward Kaylin. But? Teela asked.
But its the High Lord who decides, isnt it?
In theory, yes. In practice? No. I do not believe the High Lord is behind Candallars movements.
You say that like you have some idea who is.
No, kitling, I dont. I have some idea of who isnt.
Why would they do this?
Tagraine? Canatel?
Kaylin nodded. At heart, this was the only question she needed answered. The politics and malice of Barrani who were not Hawks was like rain or heat; it existed outside of the Halls.
I cant speak for Tagraine. I cant speak for Canatelhe cannot speak for himself at the moment. And I should not tell you even this much. But Canatel has a sister. She is older, and she is a Lord. She is, however, a very, very minor lord whom most feel survived the Test of Name because the sheer terror of it drove her to mindlessbut ultimately pragmaticflight. She is surrounded by Lords of greater age and far greater power, be it economic, political, or as is generally the case, both. Had she never taken the Test, she would not now be in danger.
Kaylin raised a brow, and Teela exhaled. They would have to find her. Many of the Barrani who are of the High Court do not make their homes in the city.
And the ones who arent do? This made no sense to Kaylin.
It is frequently where the landless poor among the mortals dwell.
Teela, if rumor has any truth to it, Canatel tried to kill you.
Teela said nothing; her eyes were a shade of gray blue.
Bellusdeo exhaled smoke with a bit of actual heat in it. Kaylin, she said, to make clear that her target of annoyance was not Teela, you can be forgiven your ignorance; it is remedial. It can be alleviated. Teela, however, has enough to deal with. Corporal, Sergeant, my apologies for intruding while you are so clearly busy. We will take our leave now, as Kaylin is expected to begin her interrupted patrol on Elani.