“They don’t believe that,” Helen countered. “They are waiting for you, and Allaron is about to leave the room to remind you.”
“Remind me of what? That he’s a giant, overstrong ox?”
“I heard that,” Allaron said. “Look, I don’t care if you don’t want to stay. Sedarias is set on it. I never did understand why the two of you got along so well—you could not be more different.” He lowered his voice as he approached Terrano who was, to Kaylin’s eye, almost sulking. “Youknowwhat she’s like when she’s unhappy. Or maybe you don’t. But she’s been unhappy since you left.”
“I can’t talk to her,” Terrano whispered. “I can’t talk to any of you, anymore.”
“You can. You can’t do it the old way.”
“I can’thear any of youanymore. I don’t have—”
Allaron’s large hand was gentle as he placed it firmly on Terrano’s shoulder. “You did hear us,” he said. “From wherever it was you went, you heard us. You came back for us. Without you, we would have been swept away. We understand. Sedarias thinks you’ve been listening with half an ear since you left.”
“Half?”
“Well, she thinks you never listened before, so half is still impressive.” When Terrano attempted to pull away, Allaron exhaled. “We are not suffering through Sedarias’s deep, personal pain when we have a host of Barrani Lords bent on our destruction. Even if you can’t speak to us and can’t hear us the way you did before, you’re part of our entire history. We’re here because of you. If you’d never started your experiments, we would never have been free. So you’re staying with us until this part is done. Got it?”
“You know you can’t hurt me.”
“Keep it up and I’ll at least enjoy trying. Come on. Everyone’s waiting.” Allaron leaned down, lowering his voice. “Mandoran wants you to teach him not to get stuck in walls.”
“Inwalls?”
“Seriously. He’s gotten stuck twice now. Or maybe three times.”
Terrano laughed, then, his expression brightening. “He’s an idiot. I can easily show him that.” And he straightened his shoulders and let Allaron lead him to their room.
* * *
“Well?”
Kaylin blinked. She had forgotten that Severn was in the room.
“You’re worried.”
“There’s a lot to be worried about. The Consort. The Emperor. The Barrani attempt to start a war. The Arcanists who cooperated with Terrano and the cohort before they’d finally been freed. Candallar.Ravellon.”
Severn nodded, raising a brow. Kaylin had practiced raising a single brow for years, and hadn’t become proficient.
“Diarmat’s report. If it’s not at Evanton’s, he’s going to reduce me to ash.” She would have continued, but Severn wasn’t buying any of it, even if all of it was true.
It’s all true,he agreed. But it’s not what you’re worried about.
It’s what I should be worried about.
Yes.
Severn was right, of course. At the moment, she was worried about Terrano. Terrano, who had tried to kill the Consort on Kaylin’s first visit to the West March. Terrano, who had abandoned his name and left his friends behind when Alsanis had finally released them all.
That Terrano occupied none of her thoughts. But this Terrano? He seemed smaller, frailer, and lonely.
“He’s with family. They won’t abandon him.” He rose and held out an arm. “You need sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, and if we all survive it, the day after isn’t going to be much better.” He hesitated for one long minute as Kaylin stared at his arm. “I don’t know if Helen’s mentioned it, but I’m staying.”
She stared at him.
“Until the cohort leaves, one way or the other.” He hadn’t asked permission, but that would have just been awkward.
Kaylin exhaled heavily, but nodded. She didn’t ask him anything either, for the same reason.
