Looking around the tablewhich she could politely doshe realized that shed lost that anger. Somehow, when she wasnt looking, it had frayed, and shed done nothing to stitch it back together to keep it going. She was no longer certain that the people around her had had easy lives. Yes, they lived forever if left to their own devices, and yes, they were, to a man, stunningly gorgeous and graceful.
But given the chance, Kaylin would live none of their lives. True, she daydreamed about being born Aerian. But Barrani or Dragon? Never. War and death defined the Immortals; they lost eternity to it. If they had friends, they didnt claim them in public; friendship, affection, even love appeared to be the ugly stepchildren of their races.
Lord Kaylin, someone said, and she blinked. It was Lord Barian, the Warden of the West March. His eyes were blue. The eyes of everyone at this table, with the exception of Nightshade, were now blue. She had a sinking suspicion shed missed something.
No, Kaylin. But you must pay attention now, the Lord of the West March said.
Whats his title?
You may address him as either Warden or Lord Barian. Neither will give offense.
Lord Barian. She inclined her head. Her hair felt like a helmet.
You have joined the High Court only recently.
Yes.
I am curious. To become Lord of that Court, one must take the test of name; when one does not possess such a name, how is one tested?
She found the embers of her anger then. You have no doubt journeyed to the High Halls to take that test yourself, Lord Barian.
Careful, kyuthe.
Lord Barian met, and held, her gaze. He did not answer.
The Barrani seldom speak of the particulars of their test. They dont announce its results. Either they survive, or they do not. I am not, as Im certain youre aware, Barrani. My test did not involve any customary ritual; I was given no preparation. Nor was I told not to speak of the experience. Or at least, not all of it. But I assume the Lords of the Court hold their silence with cause.
If you have seen the Tower, you know what waits there. To become a Lord of the Court, in the case of the two mortals who bear the title, all that matters is survival.
Will you speak of what you saw? Another Barrani, farther down the table, said. The woman spoke softly, but clearly, and as silence seemed to have descended on both of the other tables, the rooms acoustics easily carried her words.
Kaylin glanced at the Lord of the West March; he watched her, his eyes slightly narrowed. She looked to Nightshade, whose eyes were emerald; they were probably the only green eyes in the building at the moment.
Yes.
If shed thought the room quiet before, she discovered how wrong she was.
Mortal memory is not, as youre all well aware, reliable. Its not perfect. Elements of what I witnessed have faded. If any who have seen what I saw wish to correct me, I will take no offense. She thought she heard Teela snort. I wasnt raised in the High Halls. I was a visitor there, but the building is immense. I was searching for the courtyard, and I found the Tower instead.
There was a word on the Tower wall. I could see it. The Barrani who had passed the Towers test could see it; the others couldnt.
You...could see the word.
She nodded. And I understood that it was both an invitation and a command.
Nightshade said, It was an invitation. None can be commandednot even by the Towerto take that test. But those who choose to abide untested will never gain a place in the High Lords Court.
Is this your story, or mine?
It depends. If you ask your Corporal, he will assuredly claim that I had some greater hand in its writing.
I chose to enter the Tower. Lord Severn chose to accompany me.
The Tower allowed this? The womans eyes rounded slightly.
Yes.
At the base of the Towerand arriving at that base was not a simple matter of descending stairswas a hall that was much rougher hewn than any of the halls Id seen in the High Halls. At the end of that hall was a cavern. She fell silent for a long moment, considering her possible words with care.
The Hallionne were built for a reason, she finally said. The Towers in the fiefs of Elantra were built for a reason. The High Halls existin the heart of an Empire ruled by a Dragon she paused to allow ice to seep into the silence, but did so without apologies; it was true for a reason. I met that reason. The test of name is purely a test of resolve, and if you fail your name is lost to the Lake of Life; it is lost until the moment that the creature in the cavernous basement is destroyed.
What he takes, he holds. I She stopped.
The woman who had spoken seemed paler now. How?
Pardon?
How does he take what he holds?
I dont know. Im sorry.
Do they suffer?
Kaylin wasnt certain how to answer the question, it was asked with such intensity. Honesty, with the Barrani, wasnt always the best policy; it was less risky than slitting your own throat, but not always in a good way. No one came to her rescue; no one gave her advice on whator more germane, what notto say.
Yes, she said. They know where they are. They know theyre trapped.
Humansmortals, reallyhad pretty clear concepts about souls, not that they always agreed with each other. Kaylin had never been clear on the Barrani life and afterlife. Had the trapped people been mortal, it would have been clearer, for a value of clear that left nothing but bitter, helpless rage in its wake.
The woman fell silent for a long moment. Thank you, Lord Kaylin.
Kaylin shook her head. She almost reverted to Elantran, but she didnt recognize this woman as one of the party that had traveled with the Consort, and she wasnt certain shed be understood. I hated it, she said, voice low. I couldnt understand, at first, why the test existed at all.
But I understood it during the Leofswuld. No one who intends to rule the High Hallsand the Barrani, even if at a distancecan be vulnerable to the forces trapped beneath it. This was not entirely truthful, but the theory was absolutely sound. The High Halls houses something ancient and monstrous at its core; its meant to stand as a wall against that darkness. Those who have faced it and walk away can hold fast. If someone untested took the seat, whats leashed there would be free.
And you consider that a significant danger.
Kaylin was nonplussed. I do.
To our people or your own?
Both. The hands that rested in her lap began to ball into fists. I understand bitterness at the loss. Believe that I understand it. But no one is forced to take that test.
Are they not? was the cool reply. The woman glanced across the table, and her gaze fell squarely upon the Warden of the West March.
No.
Teela cleared her throat; it was audible because no one else spoke. Kaylin dared one look at Lord Barian, and regretted it.
Perhaps, the Barrani woman continued, mortal customs are different. Or perhaps your knowledge of the Barrani is inexact. You were not required to take that testindeed, I imagine that there are those present who would have argued strenuously against such an attempt. But for my kin, there are positions and privileges which accrue only to those who have taken that test and emerged.
My knowledge of the Barrani people is, as you suggest, inexact. My knowledge of my own people isnt. There are positions within society which Im unqualified to hold. Ill never be part of the Human Caste Court, and Ill never be wealthy. I was born in the fiefs, and spent all of my childhood there. She did not look at Nightshade, because she was angry. Had she wondered where her anger had gone?
But I choose the work I do now. If I had been told that my job depended on taking this testand had I been informed that pass or fail was a simple matter of survivalI would have two choices. She emphasized that last word. I could have taken the test, in the hopes of keeping my job, or I could have found a different job.
And if someone was more than qualified for greater duties, but did not, for the same reasons, choose to undertake such a risk?
Then hed have to find a different job. I understand that you feel theres not much choice in that. Butits a choice, even if its a bad one. She hesitated, and then said, The Lady has what we would consider an extremely important job. Mortals dont have True Names; we dont require a Lady of our own. But not everyone can see the Lake of Life. Not everyone who does see it can hold their own name in abeyance; the desire to join what is there proves too strong.
Kaylin, how do you know this?
She didnt answer the Lord of the West March; she concentrated on the Barrani woman.
Someone who cant pass the test of name wont survive the duties of Consort. If the Consort fails, a search will begin for someone new. But every single one of those women will be tested. I imagine the search wont even extend to those who havent passed the test, because Her brain caught up with her mouth, and she shut up.
And if someone was found who could touch the words, but had not taken the test?
The words would kill her if she werent strong enough to face what is caged in the High Halls. Im sorry.
Can I assume that most of the people in the West March dont take the test of name?
Yes. That would be a safe assumption.
And that youre ruling as Lord of the West March precisely because you have?
A glimmer of amusement touched Lord Liriennes inner voice. Indeed.
And last, that the Warden is qualified in all other ways to be Lord, except this one?
Very good.
Is she his wife?
He laughed, although his expression was all graven sobriety. No. She is his mother.
Kaylin felt a moment of discomfort as she readjusted her frame of reference. But...none of the Barrani ever looked like a mother, to Kaylin. She couldnt, when it came right down to it, imagine that they could be. Shed never been asked to attend a Barrani birth and wondered idly if they carved their babies out of stone and hauled them to the High Halls only when they felt they could protect their artistry. Birthof either the Dragons or the Barraniwas not one of the things covered in racial integration classes.