“I doubt anything you could do or say could materially alter his perception of you.”
“I don’t,” was the glum reply.
I can be there without being present, if that’s what you want.
She shook her head. What she wanted was her partner by her side when she went in to face danger. “It’s just—the Hawklord’s going to be there, as well. I’m due that promotion, and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“You can’t.”
“I can. I’ve done it before.”
Severn shook his head. “Yes, if you want. I’ll come to dinner. But I’m not coming dressed like this. I’ll meet you at home.”
“Do you have better clothing?”
“Yes. So do you.”
“Not better,” Kaylin said. “Just different.”
* * *
Moran and Bellusdeo were waiting just outside the infirmary doors.
“You’re late,” the Dragon pointed out.
“No, you’re early.”
Moran nodded. “We are. But you and Lord Bellusdeo have an important guest this evening. By all accounts, he’s visiting as a private citizen.”
“A private citizen who is probably punctual to within seconds.”
“And can destroy a city block just by breathing on it, yes.” Moran’s smile was slightly strained, but Kaylin thought it was genuine. The Aerian Hawk removed her tabard, folded it carefully, and set it on her desk. She removed the regulation belt that came with it, transforming herself into the bold, colorful woman who had walked with so much confidence and purpose toward the Halls of Law in the morning.
“How were things here?”
“They were very quiet,” Moran said, grinning. “Apparently the Aerian Hawks have been superbly careful in their drills—as have the applicants for the Sword division. You’d almost think they’re afraid to come to the infirmary. At all.”
“I doubt it’s fear,” Bellusdeo said, stepping into the hall.
“No?”
“Shame. Guilt. Self-loathing. But fear? No. And before you ask, I have no issues with that. I think they should be ashamed of themselves.”
Moran shook her head. “You don’t know what it’s like.”
“No. But I know enough to know that their behavior is execrable. Don’t bother defending them. Don’t bother giving me reasons. They swore an oath to the Emperor’s Law—and their failure to uphold their oath is unacceptable.”
“Back in your day, they’d be dead?”
“If they broke their personal oaths to me? Yes. And ash, so Shadow couldn’t use their corpses against us.”
* * *
By the time Kaylin made it to her own front door, the familiar was chittering like an angry parrot. She couldn’t understand him, and would have just ignored him—but he didn’t like it when she ignored him because she was too absorbed in other thoughts. To be fair, he didn’t like it when she ignored him on purpose, either, but this was different.
Helen was waiting for her at the front door. She had, in fact, opened it. But Helen’s actual physical body started at the gatehouse, not the building; she was of course aware of everything Kaylin was thinking the minute she passed the fence line.
“You have two hours, dear.” To Moran, she said, “I think you look lovely. You won’t be joining us for dinner?”
