Lord Lorimar, Ynpharion said,is the man who carried Spike out ofRavellon. He is Lord Bressarian’s father, An’Veranelle.
Chapter 16
“I always wanted a brother,” Kaylin told Helen on the morning of the cohort’s introduction to the High Halls. The Consort had sent clothing for each of the cohort, save only Teela, and although there had been no measurements taken, all of the clothingfit. Which should have been impossible.
Sadly, the cohort were not the only people to be sent suitable clothing. The Consort had earmarked a dress for Kaylin, as well. It was that dress that she now grumbled her way into.
“Or a sister,” she added as cloth cleared her face and she tried to settle into the shape of the dress, which—with her luck—she’d put on backward or inside out.
“You’ve changed your mind?” Helen’s glance was almost critical as she began to adjust the dress.
“Annarion and Nightshade can barely sit in the same room without coming to blows, and Annarion is in pain for days afterward. But Sedarias...” She grimaced.
“Lift your arms, dear. The fabric is bunching up because you’re folding them so tightly and I can’t quite make adjustments unless you relax.”
“Her sister tried to kill her. Her brother sent assassins. I’m beginning to think that my daydreams of siblings are just that—daydreams.”
“Not all brothers or sisters are murderous in their fearful ambition,” Helen replied.
“No. Nightshade wouldn’t kill Annarion. He’d never even try. I don’t think there’s anything or anyone he values more.”
“But?”
“But it doesn’t stop him from causing pain. Or from feeling pain.” She looked at herself in the mirror that Helen had thoughtfully brought into her room; it was much, much larger than any mirror Kaylin had owned, or did own. “And I think I thought...”
“That love doesn’t cause pain?”
“Something like that.”
“It doesn’t have to cause pain,” Helen said. “I think the skirt may be a little long if you insist on wearing those shoes.”
“They’re practical, they don’t hurt my feet and, given the number of people who’ve already tried to kill the cohort, I may have to pick up these skirts and run. I’m not wearing the other shoes.” She exhaled. “This is Barrani clothing. The skirts are wide enough to run in, and they don’t seem to cause their wearer to trip. If they didn’t scream Barrani, and if I were rich, I’d probably never wear any other dress.”
“I believe the Consort intended you to wear the shoes. Are you certain she will take no offense if you leave them behind?”
Kaylin bit back words that would have vehemently declared how little she cared, because if there was vehemence, they probably weren’t accurate.
“It is possible that the Consort will be judged by the cohort’s appearance,” Helen added, her preference quite clear.
“Fine. But I’malreadya Lord of the Court, and that means I’m not her problem. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t wear the dress at all, and if you’re going to make the shoes the all or nothing sticking point, I’m not wearing the dress. Look, at the moment, I’m concentrating on not punching Sedarias’s brother in the face.”
“You are not.”
“I am. But what I’m really wondering is what kind of a family Sedarias grew up in. Because she didn’t seem at all surprised to see her sister, and she had no problems—at all—killing her. She also said it wasn’t the first time her sister had tried to end her life. I just...” Kaylin exhaled. “I think it’s a bloody miracle that she’s part of the cohort at all.”
“I think,” Helen said gently, “that the giving of True Names was the only way that she could bring herself to trust anyone. And, Kaylin?”
“What?”
“If you want to see evidence of happy Barrani families, perhaps the last place you should look is the High Court.”
“What are you wearing on your feet?” Sedarias demanded as Kaylin joined the cohort in the foyer. “Were you not sent appropriate footwear?”
Everyone except Teela and Terrano were present and waiting. Severn had somehow been overlooked in the mass gifting of formal dress, and Kaylin tried hard not to resent this. It implied that the Consort considered Severn’s ability to dress himself a nonissue.
“I already own appropriate footwear. I’m wearing it. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t run on my toes, which is practically all of my foot that’ll be in contact with floor if I wear the things she sent. Is Allaron going to wear that sword?”
“I think the sword far more appropriate than those boots.”
