“If I had to guess, he would have tried—but Nightshade lives in a Tower. They’re not functionally the same as Hallionne; they might be worse. It would have been a risk to approach Nightshade, if it were possible at all; the Castle might have killed him or trapped him for a century or two. Iberrienne wasn’t a fieflord. Or a Hallionne.
“Which is all beside the point. Terrano probably won’t remember most of the names. It’s Sedarias we need.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Bellusdeo offered. “I’m just hoping the boys stay put.”
“That’s not why we’re here. We’re here because the water picked us up and dumped us in a Hallionne—without our consent, I might add.” And without any explanations, because panic definitely didn’t count.
“Are you afraid of Terrano?”
“I’m afraid that Mandoran’s practice at walking through walls—which often has hilarious results—will seem boring and normal in comparison.” Kaylin exhaled. “I don’t think he’ll deliberately harm us, but I’m not sure I’ll care much while I’m dying.” She glanced at the wardrobe by the far wall of the room in which they’d been deposited. The door, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be locked.
And given that Bellusdeo was with them, it probably should have been. The Emperor was going to reduce Kaylin to ash—probably after he’d eaten half her limbs. She wanted Bellusdeo to stayinthe room while she went in search of the fountain by which she’d once conversed with the water.
Bellusdeo folded her arms, which meant no—and Kaylin hadn’t even asked the question yet. She started to. No, shedid. But the sound of her voice was entirely drowned out by a roar that Kaylin would have thought came from the Dragon, if the Dragon’s mouth hadn’t been a shut, compressed line of denial.
Kaylin headed to the door instantly; she heard shouts and cries, but they were distant, almost attenuated, until she yanked the door open. Then they were a little more voluble. She drew a dagger, which probably wouldn’t help her against anything that was causing the Barrani to panic, but Bellusdeo caught her arm.
The Dragon was smiling, and if the smile was rueful, it was genuine. “You won’t need that,” she said, “and given the Barrani state of mind at the moment, it might start something you don’t want to start.” She had to raise her voice to be heard, even though she was attached at the arm.
“What is it?” Kaylin had a sinking feeling that maybe, just maybe, the Dragon Court had arrived. But there was no way—even by direct flight—they would be here yet.
She headed down the hall toward the shouting.
Bellusdeo followed; the Dragon’s eyes were a martial orange, which certainly didn’t imply there was nothing to fear. Then again, as she approached a cluster of Barrani guards—swords drawn, shields raised—she tensed herself. If her eyes ever changed from their very normal brown, this would be the time to do it.
But...her marks were flat, invisible beneath the sleeves of her shirt. Whatever was attacking, it wasn’t the kind of magic that kicked natural defenses into gear.
Take Bellusdeo back to your room, the Lord of the West March said.Now.
I think it’s a little late for that.And also, Bellusdeo wouldn’t go. Any argument they had would just attract attention.What is it? What’s causing the panic?
These are fully trained and experienced guards. They arenotpanicking.
Another roar.
Several shouts. The men disappeared down the hall with barely a backward glance. That was probably today’s miracle—although Kaylin privately felt well-trained guards would have noticed theDragonin their midst.
She turned to Bellusdeo, who was still gripping her dagger arm. “Let go and I’ll sheath it.”
Bellusdeo complied. Her eyes, however, had shaded to an orange gold, which was as gold as they were likely to get. Kaylin looked at her suspiciously.
“You don’t recognize his voice,” the Dragon said.
“And you do?”
“Somewhat. He is not, however, attempting to converse at the moment. I think he is...afraid.”
“Who?” Kaylin almost shrieked. She headed in the direction the guards had taken.
“I think you’ll recognize him when you see him.”
* * *
Kaylin could not strangle a Dragon, although she was seriously tempted to try.
Lirienne, what do yousee?
I think it best that you come in person.
