Moran gave her the side-eye as she entered the room. “If you were any other Hawk,” she said, her voice pitched low enough that it wouldn’t disturb the patient, but not low enough that it wouldn’t be picked up by Teela, “I’d tell you to mind your own business. I have, however, lived with you, and what you define as your own business is almost criminally broad.”
“Teela will be moving in with me for a while.”
“Then she either accepts that you’re going to be involved, or she is extraordinarily optimistic for a Barrani.” Moran did, however, catch her by the arm as she attempted to move past her to evade the rest of the lecture. “I’ve half a mind to ask Helen if I can come for a visit.”
“You just left.”
“And I regret my timing. I won’t tell you not to do what you feel is right. But I really want you to consider the ramifications.”
“So I’ll change my mind?”
Moran snorted. “So you’ll have some warning and be a little bit better prepared. That’s the trick to being a power. It’s also why anyone sane and reasonable doesn’t really want to become one.” She released Kaylin’s arm. “If this kills you or harms you...”
“I’m not going to feel any worse than you would have felt,” Teela said sharply.
“And I know how I would have felt,” Moran replied. “I think she’s probably in less danger right now—but I wouldn’t bet on it, given Mandoran and Annarion.”
“She invited the Consort to dinner. The Consort accepted.”
“Ireallywouldn’t bet on it.”
10
Kaylin did not understand the point of dinner guests. Or rather, of having guests over for dinner. She understood the concept of eating. She understood the concept of eating with friends. Clearly a meal that one was serving, and to which one invited friends, was somehowentirely different.
Bellusdeo, who disliked the fussiness of what was now considered good table manners, was inclined to agree, but without the frustration. Her eyes had shaded orange, but only slightly, when she had been informed of the Consort’s pending visit.
“No,” she said, before Kaylin could suggest it, “I think it highly unwise to have the Emperor and the Consort together at the same dinner table. I would like to meet your Consort, and I admit it might be amusing to watch the two of them in the same room—but in this case, amusement would likely be fleeting, and consequences would not.”
Annarion, on the other hand, was practically hyperventilating. Mandoran, the more laid back of the two—well, technically,themost laid back Barrani she had ever met—was also blue-eyed and tense. Since they occupied the dining room, which was kind of Helen’s equivalent to the mess hall in the office, Kaylin pulled up a chair.
Nightshade had once again been allowed to speak to Kaylin through the shared bond of his name. When Helen was not feeling charitable, he couldn’t—not when Kaylin was at home. Clearly, Helen was feeling charitable. Either that or she thought Nightshade would say something she wanted Kaylin to hear. Regardless of Helen’s motivations, Kaylin wasn’t terribly surprised to hear Nightshade, loud and clear.
The fieflord was not Ynpharion, but he found Kaylin’s entirely casual invitation almost as dumbfounding as the disapproving Barrani Lord did.
She is akin to an Empress, he said, in a chilly internal tone.To the Barrani, inviting the Consort to dinner is only slightly less political than inviting theHigh Lord.
It’snotpolitical.
It is. You did not have political intentions. Your intentions, however, do not matter. I am slightly surprised that the Lady agreed to your request.And not entirely pleased, Kaylin thought. She disagreed. Politics was all about intention.
No, it is not. You are thinking like a Hawk.
Because Iamone.
Very well. Politics of the nature with which you are familiar are about preventing crimes, or rather, preventing their consequences in regard to oneself. Think of yourself as a corpse. Toyou, it doesn’t matter if you died because you caught a disease, got hit by a carriage, or had your throat slit. In the case of the latter, it is probably a much kinder death than the illness. As a Hawk, the only death that matters is the latter.
But you are not a Hawk here. The outcome is the important factor because it is the only one which will be seen. In the case of my example, that is the death. In the case of the Consort, it is her condescension. Her presence. You have extended an invitation. This is not unusual, although in your case, given your race, it would be considered presumptuous.
Of course it would.
She has, however,accepted. In the best case, she will be considered overindulgent and willfully sentimental—you would be seen as a favored pet.
She’d been on the books as official mascot before she was old enough to join the Hawks as an actual officer of the law. She could live with that, and had.
In the worst case, you will be seen as a threat. The Consort’s dignity is above visiting an insignificant mortal who is not even a member of the Caste Court. If she is willing to publicly accept this loss of dignity, it must be because you hold power over her.
Or maybe we’re friends?
