“It is not fact, but theory; it is not something I am certain is useful.”
“I listen to a lot of facts that are completely useless. I’maskingfor your opinion.”
“Very well. You are Chosen. You have been Chosen since you were eleven or twelve. The marks that cover a large portion of your body are True Words. I believe your ability to hold, to hear and to contain the True Names you’ve taken or received resides in the power of those marks. It takes a certain amount of power to speak a name. Not to speak a social variant, but the name itself.”
“Severn can speak mine.”
“Can he? Has he truly tried?”
“Yes. Once.”
Silence. Kaylin held up a hand, although Helen did not seem immediately intent on breaking it. “He tried once, and then was angry enough at himself for even trying that he wouldn’t speak normally—to me—for days. It was awful. I barely noticed the attempt.”
“You did notice.”
“Yes—but, Helen, if I had been Severn, if he’d been in my position, I’d’ve done the same thing. I’d’ve tried. And if I think I’d’ve done what he did, I can’t be angry about it.”
“He shouldn’t have tried.”
“No, probably not. But I shouldn’t be late, shouldn’t swear when dealing with the public and shouldn’t damage regulation wear. I also shouldn’t take shortcuts through private homes when I’m in pursuit of people, and I definitely shouldn’t accidentally knock Margot’s damn sign over when I’m in a foul mood. If I have to be angry about every mistake someone makes, wouldn’t I have to start with me and work outward?”
“I think those are minor indulgences in comparison.”
“They are. And we weren’t talking about that; we were talking about the fact that Severn can hear me and can speak to me, andhedoesn’t have a name.” She didn’t want Helen to be angry at Severn. She didn’t want Helen to judge him. Kaylin could fight her own battles, and Severn had done nothing to harm Helen, ever.
“I am not an expert on the Chosen,” Helen finally said. “I am only an expert about my tenants, and each tenant was individual. But in your case, I believe that the power that binds you to each other, and the power that is given to Severn, comesfromyou. He could make the attempt to use the name because you understood, on some subconscious level, that that’s how True Names work.
“Terrano, however, is not Chosen. Without the name he chose to abandon, he doesn’t have the link to the rest of his friends. And no,” she said before Kaylin could ask, “I do not believe that you could, with your powers, rebuild that bridge. You don’t understand how to use the powers you have. Ah, no. You understand how to use them in certain ways. Your healing magic comes from the marks. But you have never deliberately attempted to experiment with the powers those marks might otherwise grant.”
“This is why I’m taking magic lessons.”
“I note that you have not had an actual class with Lord Sanabalis in some time.”
“Diarmat thought etiquette was more important.”
“And it is just possible that tonight you will be able to evaluate that for yourself. Ah, but before the guest of honor arrives, I believe you have other guests. Don’t forget,” she added, “to wear the medallion the Arkon sent you.”
What Kaylin liked about this particular dress—which was white and loose and elegant—was its practicality. It had been magically made by something that might have been elemental. It did not tear. It did not catch on anything. It did not impede movement—she could run in an all-out sprint and it didn’t get under her feet or force her to shorten her stride.
What she hated about it was the fact that it was so revealing. Her arms were mostly bare, as was part of her back. She’d spent all of her adult life in long-sleeve shirts or dresses, attempting to hide the marks that adorned over half of her body. This dress did not achieve that concealment in the same way. Helen had offered to make adjustments the last time Kaylin had worn it, but adjustments could not, in the end, be made.
The alternative, which Kaylin did accept, was a jacket that was extremely soft and comfortable, but whichdidcatch on things like doors. It was a lovely black—Kaylin’s favorite color for clothing because it was practical—but Helen made clear that the minute Kaylin stepped beyond the gates at the front of the house, the jacket would disintegrate or vanish.
Kaylin had arranged the medallion so that it was, if not prominent, then at least obvious; she had Helen knot the chain at her neck so the medallion itself rested between her collarbones. Helen didn’t approve, but didn’t offer to shorten the chain instead of knotting it.
“Are you ready?” Helen asked softly. Any attempt to create jewelry for Kaylin had met with sullen resentment; Kaylin wore only one ring—but to the Consort, that ring would be significant. It had been given to Kaylin by the Lord of the West March, and it declared Kaylin family.
No. Kyuthe.Ynpharion corrected her with a touch of anxiety.
Is she on her way? It’s way too early for her to be on her way.
She is preparing, just as you are.
“The first of your guests has arrived,” Helen added.
Kaylin almost shrieked. “Dinner’s two hours away!”
“Yes.”
