“I don’t intend to leave—but the Arkon has a far better chance of protecting the books if it comes to a fight.”
The Arkon was already carrying the book that Larrantin had ordered Kaylin to convey to Killian. He accepted the weight of the two she added to that pile. As he did, both Kavallac and Androsse said, “Wait.”
He stopped instantly, the books still in Kaylin’s hands.
“What are you carrying?” It was Androsse, voice sharper, who spoke first. He wasn’t a Dragon, and the respect necessary for the Arkon wasn’t his concern.
“A book,” Kaylin said before the Arkon could answer.
“Yes, we canseethat,” Androsse snapped, never taking his eyes from the Arkon.
“Can you?” the Arkon asked. “The only person present who sees a book when they look at this is the Chosen.”
Androsse turned immediately to Kaylin, who stopped herself from shrugging. “I see a book. I saw a book when Larrantin handed it to me. The book has a rune on its cover. It’s similar to yours.”
Both of the Arbiters exchanged a glance. This time, when the silence was broken, it was broken by Arbiter Kavallac. “Tell me, Arkon, do you see what the Chosen carriesasbooks?”
“The two, yes.”
“You said Larrantin had what you currently carry in his possession?”
Kaylin nodded.
“...And it does not look like a book to anyone but you.”
She nodded again.
“That is very unfortunate. If we are not mistaken—” and her voice allowed no probability that they were “—that is Starrante’s summons.”
Chapter 24
“I don’t understand,” Kaylin said.
“Chosen, this book was in Larrantin’s possession?”
She nodded.
“How did he come by it?”
“It didn’t occur to me to ask him,” she replied, which was the truth. In her experience with people like Androsse, truth was irrelevant when what he wanted was specific information. He proved true to type.
“It did not occur to you to ask him why this book was in his possession and not within the library that is its natural environment?”
“I knew nothing of Arbiters or summons. It was a book, to my eye, with a single word emblazoned on its cover. I thought if I delivered it—as requested—to Killian, it would have some effect on him. A positive effect,” she added, in case this wasn’t clear.
“Larrantin should not have been able to remove it.”
“It’s possible that he didn’t. He might have recognized it for what it was—but I think it’s now clear that Starrante is not in the library.”
“We have no simple way of opening the library without his presence.”
“Is there a complicated way?”
“Demonstrably.” Androsse’s eyes were midnight blue, which added color to his otherwise ghostly countenance. Kaylin wasn’t particularly surprised to see that Kavallac’s eyes were dark crimson, either.
“Could Killian find Starrante?”
“I believe you made clear he could not. If something has changed in the interim, it would be to our benefit.” She heard echoes of other words as he spoke. They were worried for Starrante.
