Kaylin had already started a mental cringe, because if Teela wasn’t coming, it meant one of the cohort was. Annarion walked into the room. He failed to meet the Arkon’s glare but offered the older Dragon a perfect obeisance.
Kaylin didn’t argue against his inclusion because there wasn’t any point. And it made sense to her—they needed one member of the cohort present to contact Mandoran and Terrano.
The smart person to leave behind was Bellusdeo, and asno onewas going to win that argument, Kaylin buried it. She had a better chance talking Annarion out of going. But she repented when the second member of the cohort entered the room.
It was Sedarias.
Kaylin left her chair. So did the Arkon and Emmerian.
“An’Mellarionne,” the Arkon said, offering her a slight bow.
“Arkon,” she replied. Her bow was slightly shallower than Annarion’s had been but far more respectful than the Arkon’s. “If you find our company burdensome, we will proceed on our own. It is not to cause grief or a moment’s discomfort that we have determined to return to the site at which we last heard our lost friends.” Her voice was grave, her eyes blue. Sedarias had always had the bluest eyes in the cohort.
The Arkon resumed his seat. “It is my suspicion that you have some familiarity with Arcanists.”
“None from within the Arcanum,” Sedarias replied. “And Lord Kaylin does not appear fond of the Arcanum, so it has not been much discussed.”
“You are aware of the Arcanist Lord Kaylin could see.”
“I have heard of him, yes.”
“Very well. I must congratulate you.”
“Oh?”
“For taking your place at Court.”
Her smile was almost feline. And as Kaylin had worked with Marcus for all of her life in the Hawks,felinehad a distinct meaning that was not pleasant. The Arkon didn’t seem to mind Sedarias as much as he minded Severn. But he didn’t ask Helen if he could use her mirror—in the secure room—either.
Kaylin had the book bundled up in a small blanket—the kind of blanket meant for big chairs, not beds. Caitlin called them throws, for some reason. It helped, but she knew it wouldn’t make as much difference an hour from now. The book radiated cold, and it ate heat and warmth.
It hadn’t been nearly as bad when she’d been at home.
Helen, she thought. And Helen had said nothing; she had just gone about, as she always did, making home safe. Or as safe as it could be, all things considered.
Sedarias was armed. Annarion was armed. Bellusdeo was armored; she had given up on Imperial clothing entirely for the duration of this investigation. The Arkon and Emmerian had not. But they were comfortable with the Emperor’s rules. Watching the fussy old librarian stride down the streets, Kaylin still couldn’t see him as an outstanding, even legendary, warrior.
But the rest of Emmerian’s words made her uneasy. If the Arkon was irritable—and he was, if your name was Kaylin—he was also steady. Solid. Predictable. He was indulgent of Bellusdeo because he understood both where she had come from, and what she had lost to return.
This version of the Arkon was a stranger to Kaylin. She wanted the old one back. And maybe if they could sort this out somehow, that would happen. But she didn’t understand his hoard. She had assumed that it meanttouch this and die, because that, at least, seemed true across all Dragons. What was his hoard, if not the things the library contained that were strictly off-limits?
If the library was his hoard, why was it open to the public at all?
“You’re thinking,” Bellusdeo said, falling in step beside her. They weren’t patrolling, in part because the Arkon’s pace didn’t allow it.
“Are my ears smoking?”
The Dragon smiled. “A bit. We will enter Tiamaris, I believe, and attempt to retrace our path to the Academia. Lannagaros believes that it will be far less of a meandering walk than it was for us.”
“Because of the book?”
“Because of that, yes. He wouldliketo attempt an entry from Farlonne.”
“It wasn’t near Farlonne.”
“Yes. We did point this out, but I believe he has theories he has not shared. Today, however, he is less interested in experimentation and more in locating the building he believes existed in his youth.”
Kaylin lowered her voice. “What do you think will happen?”
