“No. Annarion would not take the title in that case—but Solanace has all but ceased to exist. Calarnenne could not do what would be necessary in order to reconstitute his family—not while retaining control of the fief itself. And you understand, perhaps better than most seated here, the necessity of that control. Your presence excepted, Bellusdeo.”
“Such Towers, as you call them, did not exist in my world—and yes, had they, I believe things would have been different. We would not, however, have allowed the Towers to so randomly choose their stewards.”
“They are not stewards,” the Consort replied, her voice gentle and respectful, even if the words themselves were contradictory. “They are captains. They are meant to give orders when battle is joined. The Towers are very like the Hallionne, but with strikingly different mandates. Helen, if I understand correctly, chose Kaylin.”
“You are correct,” Helen said.
“Could you have been persuaded to accept a tenant chosen by an external council?”
“If the tenant was the person I would have chosen, yes. The fact that an external council suggested it would not sway my opinion in either direction. But, as you suspect, if that person was not a tenant I would choose, then no.”
“And if they were installed here, regardless?”
A beat of silence. “I do not believe they would remain.”
“Would you kill them?”
“No.”
“Then you differ from the Towers in that regard. Not all who enter escape. Not all who enter desire command. Even if they do, they must pass the test set by each Tower. It is not dissimilar, in the end, from the Test of Name—not in theory. You know what occurs when the Towers are bereft of their captains.”
Kaylin nodded.
“I have never entered one of the seven Towers. I have heard reports from those who have; I have spoken—as you must suspect—with Calarnenne.”
Ynpharion was not happy. Of course he wasn’t. Nightshade was outcaste. The Consort was arguably the most important person in the whole of the Barrani Court.
Arguably?
Fine. Most important. Is that better?
It has the advantage,was the acid reply,of being accurate.He is outcaste. The two should never meet. Nightshade should never darken her presence with his until and unless he recovers from his disgrace.His tone made clear that there was no way, in his opinion, to recover from that disgrace. Reinstatement did not wipe the slate clean.
“Calarnenne therefore understands the concerns—and, to put baldly, the fears—of the High Court.
“But he understands my hope, as well. And it is hope, not fear, that has brought me here. Fear,” she continued when no one spoke into the long pause left in the wake of that last sentence, “made me attempt to cage you all. I did not then—and do not now—intend you harm.”
“You don’t expect us to trust you,” Sedarias said.
“No. But here, it is not your trust that is the issue. Helen?”
“Kaylin was hurt, and because she was hurt, she was angry. But, as you suspect, Kaylin desires trust. She believes you.”
The Consort nodded. No trace of a smile remained on her face, and only the barest hint of green in eyes that were usually the deepest of green in the Barrani High Court. “I don’t expect trust, Sedarias. Not without some sign of vulnerability or weakness on my part. And that, I believe, I can give you.”
She turned then to the Arkon. “We have not had the opportunity to speak, I in my court, and you in yours. And in earlier years, when we were not so confined by our choices and our callings, all speech was the screed of war, of domination. But as you are guest here, and as you are learned, I invite your opinions.”
“I have little to offer; the matters of the Barrani High Court are not an area of my expertise.”
“No, of course not. No more are the matters of the Dragon Court mine, and even were Dragons my area of study, the Imperial Court is not like the Flights of old.”
“You are aware that certain members of your Court are calling for war?” the Arkon asked. He sounded far more amused than Kaylin felt—and she was certain she thought it was hilarious compared to the Emperor.
“Ah, indeed. But the members of the Court are not the High Lord, and the High Lord has not declared war; nor does he have any intention of doing so. There may, however, be extensive use of the laws of exemption in the next few months.”
Kaylin stiffened. So did the rest of the Hawks, although Tain was the only one who looked disgusted.
“We have been petitioned,” she continued, “by Barrani lords of the low Courts of the West March, to have certain members of your cohort declared outcaste.”
