Kaylin exhaled. “Because seven years ago, I would have done the same damn thing. Margot owes me nothing. In theory, it’s my job to protect her from people like her customer. Law’s great on theory, but it’s not perfect in practice. We do our best. She could justify what she was doing until the cows came home.”
“I don’t understand why you use that phrase,” Mandoran said—in Elantran. “I mean, have you ever owned a cow?”
“A cow wouldn’t have survived half a day in the fiefs.”
“And has anyone you’ve ever met owned cows?”
“No.”
“So why ‘cows come home’?”
“Can you ask Teela that? I mean, privately?”
“I did. She doesn’t know, either.”
“Now is not the time,” Kaylin began. Margot’s voice started up again, demanding silence from her audience. Figured. Margot’s interruption couldn’t have cut off Mandoran instead. Of course not.
“I didn’t tell him everything I saw. You’ve clearly had some experience with Oracles. You know that nothing I saw was literal. Most of it won’t make any sense without enough context—and I don’t have the context. You do.” She cleared her throat, looking—to Kaylin’s surprise—nervous.
“So I’ll tell you what I managed not to tell him. When I said I saw you in the city streets, I lied. I saw you in the air.”
Kaylin started to ask a question and stopped. This wasn’t a live communication. Margot had recorded it and sent it on to Helen.
“You had wings. You were flying. If I weren’t so familiar with you, I would have assumed you were one of the Aerians. You’re not. So it’s possible none of the Aerians in the vision were actual Aerians, either. Or the Dragon. Whatever I said had some meaning to my visitor.
“I’m not about to chase down context for you. But I owe you for saving my life—and my life’s worth a lot to me. I’m not about to give up my livelihood because you don’t like it. I’m not about to give up my ability to live as I choose. But I owe you.” She smiled. It was feline. “Tell you what. If you ever feel the need to have your fortune told, I’ll do it for free.
“And before you ask: your wings were pale and speckled, too.”
* * *
Dinner was not quiet, but the topic of conversation was not Moran, Margot, or the leave of absence Kaylin had been requested to take. Although these were foremost in Kaylin’s mind, they carried little weight when compared to dinner guests. Or rather, to a particular dinner guest.
Tomorrow night, the Emperor was coming for dinner. As long as there were no unexpected emergencies—and given the nature of emergencies, they were very seldom expected—they were about to play host to the Eternal Emperor, in his civilian disguise.
As disguises went, it was pretty crappy. He exuded arrogance and power. But he divested himself of the Palace Guard, which Kaylin appreciated. They set her teeth on edge.
“You aren’t planning on dressing likethattomorrow night, are you?” Mandoran demanded, when he realized Kaylin wasn’t clear on the gravity of the situation. Kaylin exhaled. Absent assassination attempts and Shadow magic, the Emperorwasthe current emergency in the eyes of her household.
“Not exactly like this, no. But it’s supposed to be informal. It’s not like he hasn’t seen me in my normal clothing before.”
“If you’re talking about the night of fire and death, that doesn’t count. You were on duty.”
“I wasn’t, but I happen to think the clothing we all wore on the night of ‘fire and death,’ as you call it, is worth more respect.”
Annarion cleared his throat. Loudly. When Kaylin glanced at him, he said, “We’re trying to get him to shut up. It’s working about as well as it usually does. He doesn’t speak for the rest of us. The Emperor is intelligent. He knows what you’re like. I don’t think inappropriate clothing—your version—is going to be an issue. Mandoran and I will remain in the training room for the duration of the meal. Teela promises to avoid the dinner if at all possible, as well.”
Helen appeared to be taking notes.
“What are you going to wear?” Kaylin asked Bellusdeo.
“Clothing.”
The familiar squawked.
“I intend to be perfectly civil,” the gold Dragon snapped at the small translucent one.
Kaylin thought about the prior interactions between Bellusdeo and the Emperor and winced. “Keep in mind that the rest of us need our hearing.”
