Dress, remember?
Ah. You mistake me. There is not a Barrani here who will attempt to dispose of you while you wear that dress. But the moment the telling is doneif you survive ityou will not be wearing the dress.
She froze. You wont be wearing the crown, either.
No.
And youre Outcaste.
I believe I am aware of that. I understood the risk, Kaylin. It is my opinion that I will be in far less danger than you yourself will be. The Barrani are not Dragons; Outcaste is a political statement. It is only relevant if the Outcaste in question has no powerbut it is rare indeed that those without power are made Outcaste. Think of what you will tell the Court of the Vale when they bid you to speak. Think of how you will handle their accusations.
They havent accused me of anything.
Not yet. But if you falter, they will. It is the nature of Courts.
Its the nature of carrion creatures, she snapped.
He chuckled. But he entered the hall without comment from anyone, and Kaylin scurried after Teela and the Consort.
The interior of the buildingthe parts that were visible in a straight walk from the door to a large suite of roomswas distinctly different from the High Halls. There was far less stone here, and the wood was warm and bright; the floors were pale, but hard, the frames and lintels of doors carved out of the same wood. There were small trees, small fonts, andas Teela stepped through a wide set of open doorsa large, circular courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard was a fountain.
Kaylin stopped walking. The Barrani at her back didnt run into her, but they did move pointedly to either side. Teela, however, stopped. The Lord of the West March, sensitive to his sister, returned from the head of the procession. Kaylin was aware of them both, but she couldnt take her eyes off the fountainand she wasnt even certain why.
Fountains werent exactly common in Elantra, although they werent unknown. Where they existed in crowded, well-traveled, public areas, they accumulated dirt, dead leaves, small sticks, and an assortment of pebbles. They also generally sported small children who were likely to get their ears boxed in the immediate future.
The water here was clean. It was clear as new glass. It reminded Kaylin of the height of summer, not because there was anything about it that suggested seasons, but because it promised blessed relief from the heat. The only noise in the courtyard was the fall of water and the slight weight of footsteps. Barrani didnt have thunderous, heavy steps unless they were making a point.
What do you see? The Lord of the West March asked.
Water. As answers went, it defined inadequateit was a fountain. Of course it had water. She was aware of the basin into which the water fell; the fountain was not the heavy, worn stone she was accustomed to seeing. A layer of what she assumed was gold-leaf gilded the basin, and writing, again in gold, the base into which it was set.
I see the bridge, she said, after a long pause. And mist or fog.
The Lord of the West March nodded, eyes narrowed. AnTeela?
I see a fountain, she replied. Water is, apparently, falling from a small rift in the air above the basin.
You dont see a bridge. Kaylins voice was both flat and resigned.
No, kitling.
And I shouldnt, either.
It is not a test, the Lord of the West March said with a tight smile. There is no correct answer.
Kaylin glanced at Severn.
I see what Teela sees.
Damn it. The small dragon squawked and pushed himself off her shoulder.
Kitling, Teela said sharply. Remember what happened the last time your pet was near water.
The Lord of the West March lifted a handin Teelas direction. What does he intend?
Kaylin, however, reached for the small, winged rodent. She caught his legs and pulled him down as gently as she could; he wasnt amused and let it be known. He sounded like an enraged chicken.
His previous interference, Teela said, forced the Lady to wake Hallionne Kariastos.
Brows rose over green-blue eyes. Is he as he seems?
A familiar? Teela shrugged. If he is, legend proves unreliable in its particulars. But it is clear that Kariastos understood him in some small measure, and he proved himself useful on the forest paths.
Hed done more than that, but Kaylin didnt argue. What, she whispered, is the problem?
The small dragon nipped her hand. He was still annoyed, but not so much that he tried to take a chunk out of her. A cat would have, by this point; he was trying to lift the wings over which her palm was cupped. He chose to squawk instead. She heard his voice, and mentally adjusted her description. He sounded like a crow.
She couldnt make out words; she wondered if Teela was right. Hallionne Bertolle had seemed to understand him, and hed certainly said something more complicated than hungry or sleepy or get lost. Maybe she wasnt listening the right waybut she wasnt an ancient, sentient building. She wasnt even immortal.
The small dragon caught her hand in his jaws. He continued to squawk while doing it, but the sound was muffled. Sighing, she lifted her head and froze.
The bridge was gone, as was the mist; water fell, but it fell in a sheet, and the sheet had the shape of long, flowing robes. Teela, Kaylin whispered. Has the fountain changed?
No. Not to me. You no longer see a bridge?
Kaylin shook her head. I see the Thaalaan. Lifting her face, she stepped toward the water elemental on her pedestal.
Kaylin.
She reached out with one hand; the small dragon seemed content to spread his wings without leaping immediately into the air.
You are far from home.
Tell me about it. She hesitated. Water rose in the shape of a transparent limb and an open hand. Kaylin slowly raised her palm. When the twoflesh and waterconnected, she heard the voices of the Thaalani. Touching the Thaalaan was always a shock, but never unpleasant; it was like finding an unexpected bonfire on the winter streets of the fief. It promised safety, warmth, and a place to rest. Even if she didnt belong by birth, she felt welcome when someone else opened the door. She was a guest, here, in a place where there were no secrets and little judgment.
AnTeela, come. If our kyuthe wishes to marvel at the fount, I will not deny her, but we have the responsibility of the Lady, and we must see to it.
I have to go, Kaylin whispered. Will you be here?
If I understand your question correctly, yes. I am bound to this place. It is not a harsh binding, she added, when Kaylin inhaled sharply. But I seldom hear mortal voices.
Do you hear any voices at all?
Only one.
She was certain then that the water spoke of the Lord of the West March. Do you speak to him?
He does not hear my voice. Sometimes, I hear his. It is not the voice of my people, but I do not fear it.
Do you hear any voices at all?
Only one.
She was certain then that the water spoke of the Lord of the West March. Do you speak to him?
He does not hear my voice. Sometimes, I hear his. It is not the voice of my people, but I do not fear it.
Kitling?
Coming. Sorry. She lowered her hand while the small dragon leaped up onto her shoulder and whiffled.
Chapter 4
Beyond the fountain was an open arch that led into a cloister. At the end of this cloister was a door. Kaylins arms started to itch on approach. Magic generally had that effect on her skinbut shed seen so much magic that hadnt in the past weeks she almost welcomed the familiar sensation. The fountain, which was clearly magical in nature, had had no effect at all.
Neither had the Hallionne, or the cold, gray mist in the outlands.
She had a few dozen questions to ask her magic teacher when she made it back to his classroom.
Your room, Lord Kaylin, is beyond these doors. Lord Nightshade has similar rooms. Before she could speak, he added, They are the rooms occupied by the harmoniste and the Teller respectively, when we are fortunate enough to have them chosen.
Severn caught her arm before she could ask the most obvious question.
You will not find my domicile similar to the Hallionne. The Hallionnewhen awakeare not comfortable residences for my kin. They are all awake now, he added. We have not seen such excitement since the close of the last war. You will have to touch the door ward.
Do I have to bleed on it?
His brows rose, and then he chuckled. I forget my own youth, it is so far behind me. The Hallionne exact a price for their hospitality that the Barrani do not; they also provide security that the Barrani do not. You have spent time in the High Halls; you will find my abode similar in many respects.
The fountain
He shook his head. There are fountains within the High Halls.
They werent the same. Kaylin approached the door and laid her palm against the ward engraved on its surface; her arm went instantly numb at the shock of it. The door ward did not, however, set off alarms in any other way, which made it less painful than the wards in the Imperial Library.
The Lord of the West March nodded and the door rolled open. It was not a small door; the Norannir could comfortably fit through its frame. Kaylin felt dwarfed, but expected as much; the Barrani built everything to make visitors feel small and unworthy.
She felt Nightshades amusement and noted that he didnt likewise have to touch the door.
No, Lord Kaylin. This is not the first time I have visited the West March, you may recall.
Lord Severn, your quarters are not within this wing, but if you will accompany us, I would speak with you.
Severn inclined his head. He was watchful, but cautious. She wondered if hed sleep at all as a guest in these halls. On the other hand, she was fairly certain that no other hall would be open to him.
The Ladys room was at the end of a hall so wide and vaulted it looked like the nave in one of the great cathedrals. The doors at the end of that hall were closed, but they suited the hall; they were taller and granderor at least their arches werethan the exterior doors. She turned to look over her shoulder and was surprised to see that most of the Barrani had departed; to where, she wasnt certain.
This allowed her to relax, inasmuch as one ever did in Barrani Halls. She understood why the Barrani disliked the Hallionne, but she missed them. The Hallionne were tasked with preventing harm from coming to their guests, and they took their responsibilities seriously. Given that most of the harm that could befall their guests came from their other guests, it worked out well for Kaylin. She wasnt stupid enough to take on the Barrani in all-out melee, and she wasnt clever enough to slip poison into their food or drink.