What was healing? What did she do in order to heal?
Touch the body. Touch the injured person. She didn’t trust her powers; she trusted each body’s knowledge of itself. Regardless, touch was essential and there was nothing to touch here.
Sorry to interrupt, Severn said,but we may have a problem.
More of a problem than three Barrani Arcanists attempting to kill us in a library no one else can reach?
Terrano says he’s found a way into the library.
And that’s bad?
Not for Terrano. The rest of us have found the chancellor’s office. We didn’t have to pick the lock; the door was open.
...Someone was in the office.
Something was in the office, yes.
Without another word, Kaylin pushed her awareness behind Severn’s eyes. In theory, the connection between them was built on her name—a name she had picked for herself from the Barrani lake of life—which meant Severn had power over Kaylin if he wanted to wield it. In practice, that had never been an issue.
She swore, apparently with her own mouth. The Arkon said, “What is wrong?”
“Starrante’s a Barrani name, right?”
Silence. The pause held the crackle of lightning and the roar of Dragons.
“Ah. It is indeed a Barrani name—but it is a name that was adopted for ease of use by the students and the academic committee overseen by the chancellor.”
“Starrante’s not Barrani.”
“No.”
“Did you ever actually meet him when you were a student here?”
“Yes.”
“Did he happen to, I don’t know, eat the students when he was in a bad mood?”
“In his time, he was considered the most gentle of the Arbiters; I believe it was Androsse who caused occasional structural damage when disappointed.”
“Fine. Was he a giant, hairy, eight-legged spider-like...creature?”
“Ah. I believe Corporal Handred has found some part of Starrante.”
Chapter 25
Robin had led them to the chancellor’s office, and was peering through the door; Kaylin was aware of his presence because Severn was. The child kept Severn and Emmerian between him and the open door. Annarion had taken up position by the side of Severn that wasn’t occupied by a Dragon.
You should tell Robin to go back to class, Kaylin said.
Severn, however, lifted an arm. Given the proximity of Annarion’s sword, this took courage. “The Arkon says that this is one of the people we’re looking for.”
Given that the creature had not yet attacked, although what might have been a head had swiveled in their direction, Annarion said nothing rude. He didn’t sheathe his weapon but did lower it—without removing Severn’s arm. Emmerian was, in theory, unarmed. Dragons considered swords of nonmagical origin inferior to the gifts granted them by nature. This was because they were.
The creature that looked like a giant spider opened a mouth that was distinctly fleshy. Its voice was a screech of sound, like large chunks of rock rubbing against each other in the middle of an earthquake, but quieter.
No one spoke in response, and the mouth opened again. The creature appeared to be sitting on an impressive desk, and it flexed four of its legs to sidle off the flat surface.
“Arbiter Starrante,” Severn said. “We apologize for interrupting you at your work.” He spoke in High Barrani but spoke slowly. Annarion was willing to allow Severn to speak for them, which probably meant Sedarias was occupied.
