And not why you did?
No. I see Ynpharion is here. Did you capture him the same way you captured us?
Not the exact same way, no. And before you ask, I didn’t want him, either.
You have powerful friends.
Some. Powerful enemies, too.
Yes.Something in the single word gave her enough warning that she could brace herself. Averen was not Edelonne; he was more subtle, less up front. More dangerous because of it. She stumbled, bringing her hands up to her head, a gesture that was both instinctive and useless. The sudden, stabbing pain was entirely on the inside of her head.
It stopped instantly. Kaylin looked up, lowering her hands. Teela had slashed Averen. She had not removed his head from his neck, but it was his neck that was bleeding; as she watched, he lifted a hand—both hands—to the wound. He had eyes for Teela, and only Teela; the attack on Kaylin vanished as if it had never happened.
As if he would never be stupid enough to make it happen again.
“You have no value to me—at all. Lord Kaylin does. She is young and she instinctively preserves life where that is an option. She iskyutheto me, Lord Averen. You are a traitor. In deference to Lord Kaylin’s preference, you are not dead. Do you understand? She is mortal. If you wish to throw your eternity away because you cannot bear the humiliation of a few paltry decades, I would be more than pleased to oblige. Choose. Choose now; you have wasted enough of our time.”
He said nothing as Kaylin straightened. To her surprise, she felt a tinge of satisfaction from Ynpharion, buried beneath strong approval. Of Teela, of course.
How did Teela know it was Averen?
An’Teela clearly pays attention at Court, he replied.
Edelonne had reached the same conclusion as Averen; her fight, her struggle, was now a series of uncomfortable twitches—visceral, instinctive reactions.
Kaylin was not entirely familiar with the internal laws that governed the Barrani High Court; she assumed, as she had always assumed, that power was the rule of law. The Consort, however, did not seem at all troubled by Teela’s attack. Nor did Teela’s threat seem to bother her, although her eyes were now the regular shade of Barrani blue.
“Lord Kaylin, could you have killed them?”
Kaylin nodded.
“Perhaps, if we encounter their companion again as we traverse these halls, you might consider that the safer option.”
“Lady,” she replied as she bowed. She rose before she was granted permission, although she rose stiffly. Before she could speak, the Consort did.
“I understand that you spared them because we required information.”
This wasn’t true, but it was a good excuse. Not that a Hawk shouldneedan excuse not to murder people.
Teela and Severn once again took point, heading down the hall in front of the Consort’s party. Nightshade, no surprise, chose to position himself at the rear. Spike, in his larger floating-spiked-ball form, hovered to Kaylin’s left, drifting there as if anchored.
Hope was at her right, his wings once again folded. It was Hope who pointed out that the integrity of the hall was in question, but Spike who detached himself. “You’re talking about the Shadow?”
“Yes. If we had closed in combat with the transformed, it would not have been as simple a combat as the one Teela faced in the Consort’s chambers. These Ferals could draw upon the power of that Shadow, and would have done so until it was depleted.” His tone made clear that he thought that depletion was a long, long time in the future.
“And now?”
“They are no longer connected to it. Its power exists in potential, but it has no outlet.” He paused, and then added, “Yet.”
“So we’re going to see more Ferals?”
“I doubt that, given what you have just accomplished. There is, however, one that escaped. And there are many other ways to use that power.” Spike clicked loudly; Kaylin could feel it, although he was no longer at her side. “Spike says the creatures you referred to as spiders were not attached in the same way. The halls here are not subject to the same protections as the Consort’s personal chambers. But he is concerned.”
“Because he thinks the last Feral is the dangerous one?”
“No, Chosen. Because there are Shadows who could make very effective use of that power, on this plane. He does not understand how they might be here—but...he is here, and he should not have been able to leaveRavellon, either.”
Kaylin turned toward Edelonne.What were your orders?
