To Kaylins surprise, he turned to her. I am the Warden of the West March, he told her, and he offered a bow that was almost identical to the one hed offered the Consort. The rest of the tension left the Consorts body then. Kaylin grunted as she took the rest of the Consorts weight. Barrani, while tall and slender, were not exactly weightless.
We are in your debt, harmoniste. He held out his arms.
Kaylins closed automatically around the Consort, and a black brow rose. So did the corners of his mouth.
The history of the West March and the High Halls has not always been peaceful, but she is the Lady; she will come to no harm while my kin reside in the greenhome.
Shes already come to harm, Kaylin replied. She spoke in less formal Barrani.
The Wardens smile faded. You are mortal. Rumor traveled that a mortal had been chosen by the green; it was only barely given credence. There are those who will not be pleased, Lord Kaylin. I would have been one of them. But I am grateful now that I came in person to greet the Lady, for if I had not I would not have seen...what we have witnessed this night.
The Lady is welcome in the greenhome. She is welcome in its heart. And you, Lord Kaylin, have my welcome and my gratitude. I am in your debt.
The Barrani hate debt, she replied.
He surprised her. He laughed. But he held out his arms again. I will bear your burden with honor and dignity; you may travel as witness, Lord Kaylin.
Kaylin knew she couldnt carry the Consort. But she was fairly certain Teela could. Teela?
Every Barrani from the West Marchthere appeared to be eightstiffened at the sound of the Barrani Hawks name, and their eyes instantly lost most of the emerald-green the sight of the giant birds had placed there.
Chapter 3
There were good career reasons why Kaylin had never been considered a diplomat. Since she had no desire to be one, it had never mattered much. There were also good career reasons why Kaylin was not the on-duty Hawk at investigations that involved the upper echelons of the Human Caste Court.
But not even Kaylin could miss the sudden chill in unfamiliar Barrani eyes. She gave the Consort a tiny shake; the Consort did not respond. More than a tiny shake was impossible, given the sharp intake of breath the tiny one had caused.
Lord Barian said, Lord Kaylin.
Teela proved that there were reasons why she was also seldom the on-duty Hawk in delicate investigations, besides the usual racial ones; the Human Caste Court didnt like being questioned by arrogant immortals. She stepped forward, moving without haste and with her characteristic, arrogant grace.
The two Hawks now bracketed the Lady.
Lord Barians eyes narrowed. AnTeela, he said.
I am Lord, Teela replied. The customs of the West March differ from those of the High Court, but surely not so greatly. Or perhaps you neglect the title as a subtle way of claiming kinship, cousin?
Severn joined them.
The West March Barrani couldnt have failed to notice that he was mortal. Theyd noticed everything else. But...Severn unsheathed his weapon blades for the first time since theyd stopped running, and as Kaylin watched the Wardens eyes darken, she lifted her chin. It was either that or cringe.
Evarrim came to stand beside Teela; Teela failed to notice him at all. Instead, she exhaled. Kitling. She turned to the Consort, and slid arms around the back of her neck and her knees. Kaylin supported some of her weight as Teela shifted her grip. She wouldnt drop or desert the Lady while she lived.
When Teela carried the whole of the Consorts weight, she turned to face Lord Barian.
The heart of the green has never denied me, she told him. It had the feel of a ritual phrase, but also the defiance of an insult. She glanced at Kaylin, frowned, and added, If you have forgotten your promise to Lord Sanabalis, I have not.
Promise? What Oh. I should have stayed home, Teela, she said, in Aerian. The Exchequer cant be worth this. But she reached up to grasp the links of the heavy gold chain she wore around her neck; the links were skin-warm. She pulled the chain out, revealing the amulet that Sanabalis had given her. She wouldnt have taken it at all, but hed made clear that she wasnt going if she didnt. And that she was to wear it prominently at all times while she was a guest in the West March.
Arrows left their quivers and bows were pulled. The Barrani of the West March clearly didnt live in a cityor an Empireruled by a Dragon, but they knew what the amulet meant.
I really hope youre not enjoying this, Kaylin said out of the corner of her mouth.
How uncharitable, Teela replied. Her eyes were the same blue as Barians, but her lips were now curved in a hard, tight smile. Lifting her voice, she switched to High Barrani. I introduce Lord Severn. He has passed the Towers test, and the test of name; he is a Lord of the High Court, and he has come to affirm his claim in the heart of the green.
Impossible.
Yes, in theory. But the harmoniste, as youve noted, is mortal; she is a Lord of the High Court, and she wears the blood of the green. Unless you wish to claim her robe to be a clever and nefarious counterfeit, the choice is no longer in your hands. And, Warden, I think not even you would be so arrogant.
It is not Lord Kaylins inclusion that is under discussion. She is, of course, welcome.
Teela smiled. And Lord Calarnenne?
There is no Lord Calarnenne.
That, Warden, a familiar voice said, is harsh.
Teela didnt move. Neither did Severn. Kaylin had to turn to look over her shoulder. Nightshade approached the silent Barrani, at the side of the Lord of the West March. The tiara across his brow was unmistakable; the emerald at its peak was glowing. On his forearm sat one of the two eagles; the other accompanied the Lord of the West March.
The Lord of the West March didnt comment. Instead, he approached Kaylin. Bird on arm, he offered her a perfect bowa bow she couldnt duplicate, no matter how many hours she spent taking lessons under Diarmats foot. Kyuthe, he said. Kaylin. AnTeela. You carry my heart in your arms.
I know, she replied. Her voice lost its hard edge. Even were she not, she is the Lady. I will allow no harm to come to her while I still draw breath.
I know, she replied. Her voice lost its hard edge. Even were she not, she is the Lady. I will allow no harm to come to her while I still draw breath.
He nodded as if no other answer was possible, but he did not attempt to take Teelas burden from her; nor did he command her to deliver the Lady into Lord Barians arms. Instead, he spoke a single word Kaylin couldnt catch before he touched the Consorts brow. She didnt wake.
Lord Barian clearly considered the Lord of the West March above suspicion. She intercepted three, he said gravely.
Three. His lids fell, the sweep of dark lashes like bruises against his skin.
There were five, Lord. The harmoniste intercepted two before they could reach the Lady.
Yes, was the soft, tired reply. He opened his eyes; they were blue. I am aware of her intercession. She is mortal, Barianand impulsive in ways the young are. And for the moment, I am grateful for that impulse. Remember the results of it, he added, in a slightly stronger voice, and forgive her lack of familiarity with our customs.
The other mortal
He is hers, the Lord of the West March replied. Lord Kaylin will not allow him to be driven off; she will certainly object to his execution. Lord AnTeela did not lie; Lord Severn survived the test of name. He glanced at the blades in Severns hands, and his eyes darkened; for a moment Kaylin thought he would say more.
The eagle on his arm said, He is to be granted passage and hospitality while either remain.
Lord Barian bowed.
Come, Kaylin, AnTeela. We will repair to my domicile.
Kaylin wasnt certain what to expect. The first Hallionne shed encountered had been a tree. A huge, ancient tree, truebut nothing about it had screamed building. Yet its interior was large enough to house the entire Barrani contingent, plus the two mortals who were caught up in the pilgrimage. Easily.
It occurred to her as she walked by the side of the Lord of the West March that the entire West March might be the same: any one of these trees could be buildings as grand, mysterious and architecturally impossible. There wasnt a pressing need for something as mundane as a passable road if you had a building provided for all of your equally mundane needs.
But the High Halls had drives. Palatial drives. And the Lords of the High Court spent money in the city, given the way the Merchants guild fawned all over them. The Hallionne were, to all intents and purposes, like the Towers or Castles in the fiefsand as far as Kaylin knew, there was only one Tower in each fief.
We are at the outskirts of the green, the Lord of the West March told her. The Hallionne of the West March has not been habitable for centuries. It is not there that youor any member of the Consorts entouragewill stay. But no; there are few roads that lead to the West March, and we did not travel by any of them. My people do not require paths of heavy stone to smooth their way. His answer reminded her that he had, as Nightshade had, offered her his True Name. If she wasnt careful, he could hear her thoughts.
The carriages?
There is a road, he replied. It is not easily traversed by your kind because they cannot easily find it. His smile was almost gentle. Kaylin tried not to take offense when she realized he was treating her as a child; in strict years, she was. Understand that AnTeela is an unusual member of the High Court. By birth, she belongs to two worlds.
Like you?
Very like. She is of the West March and she is of the High Court. There are very few who have her lineage.
But shes not trusted by either.
She is trustedinasmuch as any Barrani Lordin the High Court. But her history makes her position in the Court of the Vale unusual.
Youyou have your own court here?
His brows rose, and his smile deepened. His eyes were a shade of emerald-green; shed amused him. Yes, he said, and there is very little in my life that does, at the moment. I consider it a gift. The West March has its court, the Court of the Vale; it always did. You will find that any gathering of significance does.
You are aware that my title is Lord of the West March. Are you aware that the High Lord is also called the Lord of the Green?