“Mandoran wants to know what you expect Teela to do about it.”
“Did Teela ask that, or is he just being a coward?”
“I believe the latter, dear. Oh, never mind. Annarion just told her.”
“And?”
“Annarion says she says she will intercept. She has Tain. If—I’m terribly sorry, dear, but I am just repeating what I was told—she sees you there, she will break your left leg.”
“She reallyisin a mood.”
“Mandoran feels vindicated, dear.” Of course he did. “Annarion apologizes for his interference—but given Teela’s reaction, he feels that it was nonetheless necessary. Will you be coming home?”
“Yes—I want to make one quick stop before I do.”
“I don’t think Teela was joking, dear.”
“She said ‘if she sees me,’ right?”
Bellusdeo leaned into the mirror. “I will bring her home. She will not go anywhere near the East Warrens, which is where I assume Teela is heading. And if the boys know,don’trepeat it until we’re home. We may be late,” she continued, glancing at Kaylin’s mutinous expression, “but if we’re late it will be because we have stopped by Evanton’s. The Keeper requested Kaylin’s intervention with the wild water.”
“Oh?”
“It’s about the Hallionne.”
“Oh. I suppose you would like me not to mention this to the boys?”
“I don’t particularly care if you do—you’re the one who’s going to have to deal with their reaction. But tell them iftheyattempt to leave in pursuit of either Teela or Kaylin, I will personally melt the hair off their Barrani heads.”
Helen’s Avatar opened her mouth.
“I will. You can protect them when we’re all at home, but you can’t if we’re not—and if they leave the house, they won’t have you to back them up.” The entire sentence was offered in Elantran.
Helen smiled. “I will pass the message on. Mandoran is going to be annoyed.”
“Mandoran is always annoyed.” Bellusdeo lifted a hand and cut the mirror connection.
“The Emperor would be annoyed,” Lord Sanabalis told her. He had waited until the only witness to the comment was Kaylin herself.
“And that will be his problem.”
Kaylin winced. Sanabalis’s eyes were a pale shade of orange. He turned to Kaylin and offered her a slight nod. “It’s been a while since our last lesson, hasn’t it? I’m sure you’ve been practicing in my absence.”
“I...uh, I’ve been really busy.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“The Arkon’s coming to dinner with us.”
“That had escaped my attention. I’m sure the Emperor will be relieved.”
Bellusdeo snorted smoke. “Come on,” she said, grabbing Kaylin by the arm. “If I don’t get out of the palace, I’ll burn a wall down—and then hate myself for my lack of self-control in the morning. And in the morning, I’ll be in our house, not here.”
“...Where the rest of us will have to deal with it.”
“Exactly.”
“Leaving now.” Kaylin turned, bowed deeply to Sanabalis—and properly, judging by the way his brows rose in surprise—and allowed herself to be bodily dragged from his rooms.
