“But here we are. Ah. I did not answer your question, did I?”
You noticed.She didn’t say this out loud.
“I do not know. When I first arrived, I assumed it was a choice made—or suggested—by the governing council, those who taught and researched within the campus itself. That august body of intellectuals seemed the pinnacle of all knowledge; as I said, I was young.”
“Larrantin?”
“He was a member of that council, yes. If you mean to imply that the message—or book—he tasked you with delivering is somehow a demand or command that Killian grant that power to you, I do not believe you to be correct.”
“But you won’t surrender the item, just in case?” Bellusdeo’s voice was teasing. Her eyes were orange, but they had gold in them, not the red of danger or rage.
“I cannot think why I did not reduce you to ash in the Aerie.”
“You would have had to leave your room.”
He snorted. “I assumed—I believe we all assumed—that Killian accepted the decision of the council with regards to the position of chancellor.”
“And now?”
“I am less certain. I believe a chancellor is required.”
“Our location now implies he still has some flexibility, and at least the ground isn’t threatening to break beneath our feet. Where do you think we are? Did your old school have dungeons?”
“Killianas was a building. My old school, as you so disrespectfully call it, had whatever rooms the chancellor deemed necessary. It is a miracle—not a small one—that anything survived at all.”
Kaylin nodded.
“Why did you assume he was a building?”
She’d already answered this question in the palace, but after a pause to think about new facts, said, “Because he knew my name. Or what I’m called. I had to poke him to get out of the trap of endless halls. But...no, not just that. If he’d created a normal portal, I’d still be fighting not to throw up. When we first entered the room with the wall, it was a smooth transition. I didn’t notice a difference. I mean—I noticed we weren’t outside anymore, but...” She frowned.
“But?”
I believe your answer to this question is relevant,Nightshade said.
“It didn’t feel different,” she finally said. “It didn’t feel different from the border zone itself. We see streets we expect to see when we crossed into it. The cohort didn’t. They saw fog or clouds, which seemed to me more like parts of the outlands—the ones you reach by the portal paths the Hallionne create. The Hallionne have some control over the look and feel of the paths, at least up to a certain distance away. But without that, things are much more formless.
“As I said, it’s not what I saw. It’s not what anyone but the cohort saw.”
“Are you taking our names in vain?” a familiar voice said.
It was, of course, Terrano.
Or at least it was his voice. Since she didn’t know his True Name, he had always been forced to speak normally. But the light shed by her mark didn’t reveal his physical presence at all.
“She is not,” the Arkon said. “Can you see us?”
“I can certainly hear you. Give me a second.”
“What are you attempting to do?” The Arkon’s voice had sharpened, the volume rising.
“Incorporate,” he replied. “I’m the only person here. Mandoran is trying to follow me, but he’s not quite up to the task. Sedarias and Annarion aren’t even close.”
“I think he means why are youhere,” Kaylin said.
“We were having a little bit of a problem with the lecturer in portal phenomenon.”
“I don’t think the Arkon wants to hear that.”
