“To our knowledge, yes. The Consort would likely have better and more accurate information.”
“The loss of the palace shown in the Arkon’s visual reenactment occurred after the first war. The current High Halls was built over a number of decades in the aftermath of that loss. The Tower, and its test, have existed since that time.”
Ynpharion wasnothappy.
“Were the historical reasons for that alteration preserved?”
“No. Very few who survived that war frequent the Court—but as you must suspect, it is not the Barrani way to share secrets or information. Not when they pose a threat to us. And as you said, many of the greatest harms done to either Dragon or Barrani were donebyDragon and Barrani. We are both peoples with long memories and an ability to bring a plan to fruition over the passage of centuries.”
The Consort glanced at the Arkon, and then turned fully to face Sedarias. It was why she had come, after all.
“Alsanis said that you are—all of you, with the exception of An’Teela—much altered by the green and captivity within the Hallionne.” Kaylin expected Sedarias to interrupt her, and was slightly surprised when Sedarias waited, as if knowing more would come. “He does not fully understand what lies beneath the High Halls—but his understanding is at least equal to the Arkon’s in this regard.
“He understands what happens to those of us who face the creature and falter: we die, but we continue; our names do not return to the Lake. He does not know if that would happen to you; he believes your reliance on the True Names that woke you as infants is now vanishingly small. He implied that only one of your number chose to shed his name—to leave it behind. He is not certain what you could or would become should the creature at the base of the High Halls overwhelm you—but he fears the possible consequences.”
“Then why are you here?” It was Terrano who asked. Terrano who had shed his name and reached for a much wider universe than Kaylin could—or would ever be able to—perceive.
“Because he also believed that you might have the resilience to face, fight and destroy that Shadow.” She hesitated for the first time. “He is fond of you. All of you, but especially Terrano, who he called the most troublesome, difficult, truculent—Ah, apologies, Terrano. I forget myself.”
Like hells.
Teela’s gaze had sharpened to a knife’s edge; her eyes were midnight-blue slits. “Lady,” she said, the address loaded with courtly respect. Kaylin couldn’t quite understand how that level of formality could be considered far worse than cursing, but apparently it was, at least to the Barrani.
“An’Teela,” the Consort replied, returning formality for formality.
“Alsanis suggested that the timing for a possible attempt of such a dangerous mission was fortuitous.”
“Indeed.”
Tain had tensed. Bellusdeo, accustomed to Teela, was now sitting in a way that implied “at attention” was the new informal posture.
“Did he perhaps suggest that the timing was critical because the Chosen was taken, by the water, to the West March?”
“Yes.”
Chapter 12
For one long moment there was nowhere else Kaylin would not rather be. She knew that Teela’s argument with the cohort involved her; knew that Teela had almost demanded that they wait the pathetic handful of decades allotted to the merely mortal, because Kaylin was mortal, and Teela didn’t want Kaylin put at risk.
No one spoke; the Consort’s reply seemed to echo in the stillness.
Kaylin cleared her throat. As host, she knew it was her responsibility to smooth over difficulties between guests.Whyit was her responsibility remained a mystery; her current guests were so far above her pay grade it made etiquette seem like suicide.
“I’ve already taken the Tower’s test,” she now said. “I can’t go with the cohort.”
“You cannot take their test, no,” the Consort agreed. “But you must have seen for yourself that those whohavepassed the test can find their way to the heart of the prison. I have been there. Lord Evarrim met you there, as did my father.” She hesitated, and then exhaled. “Lord Andellen found you, when you came to attend An’Teela—and with him was a man who had not taken, or passed, that test. The Tower will allow you to pass through to its depths without exacting any further measures to determine your fitness.
“You could not accompany the cohort, no. But you could be where the danger is greatest when they arrived to face it. I am certain An’Teela has every intention of doing the same.”
So much for breaking the tension. And since that had failed, she surrendered. “Why does Alsanis think I’ll make a difference?”
“Because you are Chosen.”
“Does he even understand what that means?”
The Consort smiled. “No. To Alsanis, to the Hallionne and possibly even to Helen, the marks of the Chosen have a weight, a possibility, a suggestion of power, that is almost miraculous. Alsanis understands that you do not believe this; he has hope that as you grow in wisdom, you will grow into the power granted you. He believes that that power was granted for a reason.”
“Did he happen to share what the reason is?”
