“Kaylin is correct.”
The Arkon seemed disinclined to accept Bellusdeo’s opinion. “Corporal?”
“It is also what I heard.” As he so often did, Severn chose to speak in Barrani when speaking with the Dragons.
“Heisin need of intervention.”
Hope sat up, shifting position in one fluid motion that involved more than the usual amount of exposed claw digging into Kaylin’s collarbone.
All of her companions fell instantly silent as Hope raised a wing to cover Kaylin’s eyes.
“We need to get out of the street,” Kaylin said, her voice low, the words urgent. “Come on. We need to movenow.”
No one argued—not even Sedarias. “Which building is likely to be real?”
“That one. The one closest to us.” It was the building she thought of as Larrantin’s, although when—and if—it had been a normal building, it had been occupied by far more people than a single Barrani.
They moved quickly, and only when they reached—and opened—the doors did the Arkon speak. His words clashed with Sedarias’s, but the Barrani High Lord immediately gave way.
“What did you see?”
“People,” Kaylin said. “Invisible people. Until Hope lifted his wing, I saw an empty, flat circle of grass with a bunch of trees on it.”
“Were any of these people the two you saw behind Killianas?”
“I didn’t take the time to really look. I can go back out in a bit—but I’m fairly certain we were spotted. We’re not exactly being stealthy; we didn’t approach using the buildings for cover.” She wanted to strangle Terrano because she was almost certain that whatever it was that allowed these people to be here in this form was directly or indirectly his fault.
Oddly, it was Ynpharion who answered what wasn’t a question.It was. But Terrano was a child. A dangerous child, yes. He did not care about the effects of his teachings on any but the cohort, as you call them—and the cohort were safe.
They weren’t so safe when Alsanis was attacked.
The Arcanists have always been ambitious. He planted a seed, and they grew it. I do not know, he added, a hint of worry in his tone,what has grown from it, or how large it has become.
We’re probably about to find out.
I doubt you will see all of it.He paused, and then added,Survive, Kaylin.This was surprising enough that she almost missed a step. On flat ground.
“I need to put this down,” Kaylin told the Arkon. “I can’t fight while carrying it.”
“Physical combat should not, at this point, be your concern,” was the Arkon’s reply. He turned to Bellusdeo. “Do not even think it. This hall was not meant to accommodate your Draconic form, and you cannot easily fight what you cannot see.”
It was Sedarias who said, “We can.”
“You did not see them, either.”
“No. It’s Helen’s fault; she has been teaching us—somewhat unkindly, I feel—to navigate the streets ofyourcity. We are allowed out into those streets now, but there are strict commands about what we can and cannot do. Terrano and Mandoran appear to be exempt from this; Helen feels that they are flexible enough to understand the effects of their power and form.
“But it is my guess that the Barrani—and humans—who have learned to be somewhat more flexible in their base state have not had Helen as a teacher. There is some danger in what they do.” Her smile grew an edge. “But they have neither our experience nor our base power.” That smile gentled slightly. “If you feel the need to put down the thing you are carrying, do so. It is possible that your familiar will see dangers that we cannot if we are fighting.”
Kaylin turned to the long desk that fronted familiar stairs.
Coming down those stairs now was an equally familiar Barrani man. Larrantin.
She froze, her perpetual reluctant inner student coming to the fore. Beating her down, she offered Larrantin a bow. It wasn’t a bow that would have pleased Diarmat, but she was cold and shivering.
Larrantin’s expression was mildly peevish. “Have you failed to deliver a simple message?”
“It wasn’t safe, at the time.”
