“In Elantran, Hope.”
“He believes that Nightshade will attempt to destroy him. He does not believe that Nightshade will succeed—but he says the sword is dangerous to us.”
Us. “Fine.” She bowed her head, and once again concentrated only on Nightshade’s mark, her blistered cheek and the pain it caused. If Nightshade died, the mark would vanish, or so she believed. But the mark of theerennedidn’t convey the same information that the binding of names did. And if it conveyed an echo of the control or compulsion, it was strictly one way. Nightshade was not adorned with a similar mark on any of his own perfect cheeks.
“Tell Teela,” she said, raising her voice without turning, “that I’ve found him. He’s alive. I haven’t figured out how to catch his attention, but I can see him.”
“Noted,” the Consort replied.
The Consort asks that you not take any foolish risks at this time.
Then she shouldn’t have asked me to find him.
“What are you trying to do with the mark?” Hope asked, a thread of concern in the question.
“I’m...not sure.”
“Perhaps you should stop. You are bleeding, and it is, as your attachment to Spike must indicate, unwise to bleed in the deeper spaces.”
“I’m nottryingto bleed.”
“No. I am aware of that. But whatever you are attempting to do is having that effect, regardless.”
She was extremely frustrated.Extremely.Because this mark was worse in all ways than the marks of the Chosen for which she was otherwise known. “Can anyone tell meexactlywhat theerenne’s mark is supposed to do? Because no other binding appears to work here.”
A surge of revulsion came through the name bond she shared with Ynpharion. Revulsion and fear. Kaylin spun, cheek bleeding, in the direction of the Consort; the Consort had not moved. She appeared to be waiting for either Kaylin, or Teela and Severn’s return. Ynpharion, however, had turned toward her; his motions were stiff and unnatural.
As he met her gaze, revulsion and fear gave way to anger. At Kaylin, of course.
What are you doing?
He didn’t answer. He made aneffortnot to answer. Or perhaps he was now fighting on two fronts. One of those collapsed as he approached. “Forgive me,” he said, his words so clipped and conflicted it sounded as if he had failed to correctly translate Barrani to Elantran.
Spike whirred. Kaylin said, “Don’t hurt him. He doesn’t want to be doing whatever he’s doing, either.”
“You are,” Hope said in a tone that sounded suspiciously indulgent, “merciful in a very particular way. I have grown very fond of you. If you change your mind, should we disregard you?”
Kaylin had taken a step back. Ynpharion’s eyes were a deep blue.
You do not have the Lady’s will, he told her,but in this one case, I would appreciate it if you attempted to exert control. His interior voice was rigid with emotion, none of it positive.
Why?
Because, Chosen, you asked that question.The words sounded to Kaylin as if they were being spoken through clenched teeth. He came closer; she stepped back. It was Hope who caught her, his chest pressed against her back, his wings spread to either side of his current form like a wall.
She knew, as Ynpharion stepped in, what he intended, and she locked her arms to keep them by her sides; her hands shook.
Kaylin?Severn. Severn’s voice.
I’m fine. It’s fine.
You are not—Severn stiffened.
Don’t—don’t pay attention. This is my fault.
Something in Severn rose then; concern became fear, fear became anger. She closed her eyes because she had to close them.I am honestly fine, she told him.Nothing is threatening to kill us here. Keep your eyes on the hall. No! I mean it! You can’t leave Teela without a partner!
For one long moment she thought he would ignore everything she’d just said.
