“I can’t think of a better one.”
“Mediate?”
“Fine. Mediate. Helen’s attempt at mediation was to tell them both that it was entirely up to you.” Bellusdeo snickered. “I thought you’d appreciate that. You’re certain you don’t want to go to Evanton’s?”
* * *
Lord Diarmat reminded Kaylin of the very worst of her teachers at the Halls of Law. No, that wasn’t true. It made hernostalgicfor the very worst of those teachers. He was waiting for them in the large room that Kaylin thought of as the war room, his arms folded, a thin stream of smoke coming out of his nostrils. His eyes were dangerously orange. His color seemed off, but he was a Dragon and Kaylin had very little knowledge of Dragons that didn’t come from Bellusdeo. She knew enough about this one, on the other hand, not to offer open concern. He was glaring.
“We’re not late,” Bellusdeo said, her voice the same shade of cool she used whenever she spoke of the Emperor, her tone as critical as Diarmat’s when he was speaking to, or at, Kaylin. “And honestly, your color is terrible. We are not babes in arms; I believe that we could muddle through without dragging you from your warming stones.”
This did nothing good for the shade of Diarmat’s eyes.
“You are not a hatchling; you are fully politically cognizant. You are not, however, in charge of Private Neya. I am here to assess her ability to entertain theruling consortof the Barrani High Court without embarrassment to either the Barrani or the Emperor.”
“I highly doubt the Consort is so unfamiliar withLordKaylin that she expects to be treated as if she were a Dragon Lord.”
Diarmat looked about as unamused as he could, short of breathing fire. Bellusdeo looked condescending. Kaylin probably looked ill.
“The correct form of address for the Consort?” His tone was pointed.
“Consort.”
Bellusdeo winced.
“Sit down, Private. Let me explain what could be at stake for you and your putative career. As a private, you do not extend invitations to the High Lord or his Lady without permission from the Dragon Court.”
“I didn’t invite her as a private.”
“And if you are not a private of the Halls of Law, you may feel free to do as you please. Until then, your behavior reflects on the glory of the Eternal Emperor.” And not to the better, his tone implied. Given his eye color, Kaylin was grudgingly surprised that he left it at implication. “Lord Bellusdeo’s presence within your domicile necessitates surveillance. The Barrani will likely accept this as a matter of course. We cannot, however, stop the Consort and check her thoroughly.
“We would like to have a representative of the Court present at your home.”
“You do. Bellusdeolivesthere.”
“She is not a member of the Dragon Court.”
“She’s a Dragon Lord as far as the Halls are concerned.”
“It is irrelevant what the rank and file at the Halls tell themselves. We are aware that she currently lives with you, but she has not undertaken the responsibilities of the Dragon Court in anything but a cursory way.”
“Lannagaros has kindly offered to oversee the meal,” Bellusdeo said. She didn’t look like she’d breathe fire; she looked like she’d breathe ice.
“Has he?”
“Yes. If you would care to ask him, I am certain Lord Kaylin and I would be willing to wait. We might study the report you seem to have at hand; it looks infuriatingly like the layers of bureaucracy—that is the word, yes?” she added, to Kaylin, who tried not to cringe and failed to reply. “The bureaucracy in which your Court is mired. It is hard to imagine that you actually fought in the Draco-Barrani wars, given your adoption of so many of their peculiarities; I am uncertain how different their victory would have looked.”
Kaylin did not take a step back, but that took serious effort. Had she realized Bellusdeo would be so openly antagonistic, she would have tried to leave her at home.
Lord Diarmat, however, did not breathe fire. Instead he handed the report—and Bellusdeo had not exaggerated—to the Dragon. “I will speak with theArkon. Please feel free to peruse the report.”
“Will there be a test?” she asked sweetly.
“Oh, most assuredly.” He walked out. He actually opened the door first, which Kaylin wouldn’t have bet on. Only when she could no longer hear his footsteps did she turn to Bellusdeo, whose eyes were a simmering orange. “Was thatreallynecessary?”
“His part or my part?”
“Your part. Diarmat isn’t capable of behaving any differently; I think it would kill him.”
