Kaylin didn’t personally consider this a good thing, but kept that to herself.
Terrano let his arms fall away. “What I taught the Barrani who were interested in forging an alliance with us, I taught here. Here in the outlands. It’s not something that can easily be done in your world. I’m certain it can be taught there—but in spaces that draw on, that rely on, the much more malleable and amorphous environment. Places like the Hallionne. Or possibly Helen. Without the outlands, those buildings couldn’t exist.
“Sedarias believed that without the outlands, the Keeper couldn’t exist, either. This place is tied to all places in some fashion.” His expression darkened. “The Shadows appear to be able to move here—but not all Shadows. They can’t as easily leave it, either. But there were buildings in Ravellon that were the equal of the Hallionne, or so history tells us; I’ve never seen one, but even I know to stay away from Ravellon.”
“You can see it from the outlands?”
“Yes. It’s not safe to approach—not for me as I usually travel. It’s a sticky web of strands and barbs, and it absorbs everything it can comfortably grasp.”
“What does it look like, here?”
Terrano shrugged. “What does anything look like, here? I can’t describe it to you because you won’t understand what I see—you can’t see it yourself, and you won’t have the reference points. But if you could, I think even you might recognize it as a city. A congregation of cages, some taller than the Towers. I can,” he added, “see the Towers that bind the fief of Ravellon in place.”
“Right now?”
“Not right this exact minute, no.”
“But you can see the Towers if you’re in a different location?”
“Yes, why?”
Kaylin bit her lip.
“Winston, can you?”
Winston was frowning. “I do not approach the dark lands. None of us do.”
“Because you might be lost?”
“Because we might be trapped and enslaved, or we might be contaminated. Bertolle is home to us; we have no other. That was the choice we made. But Bertolle would not have the flexibility of choice, were one of us to become infected. He would have to refuse us entry. In the worst case, he would be forced—by the words at his heart—to destroy us. We would not do that to him.” He then said, to Terrano, “You should not play games so close to Ravellon.”
“I didn’tknowit was Ravellon to start with, and I never approach anything that big carelessly. And before you ask, no. I haven’t entered Ravellon. Had I, Alsanis would know, and I wouldn’t be here. I’d be dead.” He frowned. “Sedarias, don’t do anything yet.”
“Oh?”
“Winston is right. Something’s wrong.”
“That’swhywe’re considering—”
“I don’t think Kariastos has been compromised, exactly.” His eyes began to spread across his face. Kaylin found such transformations acceptable in Winston and his brother, but found it disturbing in Terrano. And why should she? Terrano was not Barrani, now. He wasn’t trying to be.
“Winston?”
Bertolle’s brother was frowning as well.
And Sedarias said, “Everyone, be silent. Now.”
* * *
In the silence, Kaylin thought. And in the silence, the crowd inside her head took the opportunity to speak when it wouldn’t obviously distract her.
She is dangerous, Ynpharion said. The sentiment was echoed by everyone except Severn, who—as he usually did—said nothing.
Yes, but she’sours.
You are so certain.It wasn’t a question.
Is Terrano right?
