Why would there be distortions?
He shrugged, although in theory she couldn’t see it. “Bellusdeo, question.”
The gold Dragon, who had fallen in beside Kaylin, nodded.
“Severn says Emmerian found subtle differences in the rooms in the endless halls. Distortions, maybe. Do you remember anything? I mean, beside the damage we caused.”
Since the stone halls appeared to be as endless as the halls that had repeating rooms, Bellusdeo was willing to put serious thought into the answer. She had almost perfect memory; the lapses were lapses of convenience—at least for Bellusdeo.
“No,” she finally said, frowning.
“They’re out, now—Severn said the door opened to stairs. Do you think that’s good or bad?”
“I’m still thinking about distortions. This hall seems endless; there’s no reason that we couldn’t be in the same loop, but without a door of any kind to break the monotony. I believe it’s similar to what the Hallionne do if they wish to stop intruders. They fail to reach their destination. Or any destination.”
“I don’t think Killian intended that for us.”
“But?”
The Arkon rumbled and picked up the pace, which seemed pointless to both of the people following him, but Bellusdeo could think while she walked. “He recognized Lannagaros, but not immediately. He did see you. He saw you the first time, as well. What do you think Candallar is up to here?”
“He’s Barrani.”
“Not all Barrani are as fractious as some have proved to be.”
“Probably because we haven’t met them yet.”
“That’s remarkably cynical of you, Corporal.”
“Clearly Sedarias hasn’t been lecturing you about the evils of her people.”
Bellusdeo chuckled. “No. Mandoran might, if he thought the way she did. She is both grateful to me and uncomfortable around me.”
“Sometimes with the Barrani, it’s the gratitude that causes the discomfort.” But not this time, as Kaylin knew. Bellusdeo was a Dragon. Neither Mandoran nor Annarion cared now, although they had when they’d first taken shelter in Helen. The history of the two races, their wars and their immortal memories made peaceful coexistence difficult on a gut level.
Sedarias had a reason to fear Dragons. All of her known history was pushing her away from Bellusdeo. But Sedarias was pragmatic at heart. When she’d spent enough time with the gold Dragon, Kaylin was certain she’d arrive in roughly the same place Mandoran now occupied. Nothing Kaylin said was going to change that; nothing was going to make it happen faster.
She didn’t try. “I want to know how Candallar knew to look for this place. I can’t imagine that he stumbled across it by accident.”
“Why not? We did.”
“Because I don’t think Killian gouged out his eye on his own, and I think the location of that portal eye isn’t coincidental. Also: Arcanists. And human lords. And Candallar’s possible involvement in the breach ofRavellon’s border. He said he wants to be reinstated. He wants to return to the High Halls. It’s something that even Sedarias believed. The Barrani of the High Court would believe it. Those who never took the Test of Name would believe it.”
“And you would not?”
“I hate the High Halls, and I hate the High Court. I could believe that someone else wouldn’t hate them—but I could also believe that someone else wouldn’t care. Nightshade doesn’t care.” Before the fieflord could interrupt her on the inside of her head, she added, “I don’t think he’d say no if somehow he was reinstated, don’t get me wrong.
“But I don’t think he’d go out of his way tobereinstated. He’s a fieflord. Even as an outcaste it’s always been clear that the Consort likes him. The death that awaits outcastes is purely theoretical; they won’t kill him while he’s a fieflord because they understand that the Towers are necessary. So, hmmm, maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way.”
“We?” the Arkon said.
“If you have something constructive to add,” Kaylin began.
“I do not fault your provisional conclusions, but neither Bellusdeo nor I are members of the High Court. I understand that motive is frequently necessary when determining murderers. But murders without motives that you would understand also exist. It is the murder, not the motive, that is of interest now. Figuratively speaking. You have asked one good question: How did he find Killian? I invite you to consider the possibilities.”
“You know, you could help out here. You know more about sentient buildings than either of the two of us. Sure, Bellusdeo understands Shadow better than anyone else in the Empire, but I don’t think this is about Shadow.”
“He allowed someone to retrieve a Shadow fromRavellon,” Bellusdeo pointed out.
