“He could survive those who curried the High Lord’s favor. No one who hunted him returned to the Court. None of his kin, and none of his enemies. I had hoped that the taking of the Tower would elevate my power; I had hoped that I might become like Nightshade. I have not.
“I have gained power, yes—but it is equal to power that has been gained by those who are not outcaste, though in greater measure. I want to leave the Tower—and I cannot, unless I am reinstated.”
“And who will captain the Tower, if not you?”
Candallar’s shrug was a fief shrug. “That will not be my concern. The Tower can hold its own for some time while it searches. But I have nothing to offer you,” he continued. “If I understand what your brother feared, you have nothing to gain. Should you wish to take the Tower, it would be yours; I would step aside.”
That is not how the Towers work, Nightshade said.
Weren’t you supposed to be paying attention to the lecture?
It is over—but I am fully capable of doing two simple things simultaneously.
Kaylin didn’t interrupt the conversation, because it was clear to her that Sedarias didn’t believe they worked that way, either.
“Break off your negotiations with your former allies, and we will consider the difficulty the Tower presents,” Sedarias finally said. “I cannot offer you the reinstatement you desire; it is possible that I might offer protection from those who would otherwise see you dead.”
“What is offered me now—by the allies I have gained—is of far more worth; you will spend your life protecting yourself, and it will not be enough. The enemies you have made at Court are powerful and established; they will not falter in the face of junior Lords such as yourself.”
Sedarias smiled. It was a lazy, slow smile. Terrano took a step back, which brought him in line with Kaylin. “This might get messy,” he said in very quiet Elantran.
“Ask them,” Sedarias said, “whether or not their voices—voices of established, old lineages—are heard by the High Halls. Because, Candallar, mineis.”
He fell silent. He could not ascertain the truth or lie in her claim. To be fair, neither could Kaylin.
“Regardless,” Sedarias continued, when Candallar failed to speak, “you have something of value that is not yours to claim.”
His brows rose. “And you seek to claim it for yourself? You?”
“No,” Sedarias said. “Not for myself. If I understand this place—what this place once was—it is not for me. But it is not for you, either.”
“I have spent decades building it,” he replied, voice sharper again, the nod given to Sedarias and her iron self-control. “I searched for it. I found it. I have attempted, where possible, to repair it—”
“Repair?” The Arkon’s voice was a rumble. “Is that what you callthis?” He lifted the arm that did not hold the three books, tracing an arc that involved the combat in the distance.
“This? It is a library, no more, no less; a collection of books, some of which might have useful information, most of which is fanciful conjecture or history. We have attempted to ascertain where books of use might be found, but it has been cumbersome.
“Think you the library essential? It is not. Killian has coped quite well without access to its dusty, dead contents.”
“You are a fool,” the Arkon said.
“There were three things of value here; we found one, but its retrieval was tricky and it has not been fully repurposed to our needs. You have, apparently, found the other two—but you have no idea how to utilize their potential power. At best, they will remain sentinels in this place—they will have no wider or greater purpose.
“But perhaps, just perhaps, they might form the basis of a true negotiation.”
“Pardon?” Sedarias shifted in place.
“You do not know how to use what you have. We do. We would be willing to teach you what you must do to take control of the books in your possession, and would ask only that you return the book that was in ours.”
“How did you get it out of the library?” This was Terrano. He winced, no doubt from Sedarias’s internal and private rebuke.
“That would be one of the things we might demonstrate. There is no need to fight as you are currently fighting.”
“We are not doing the bulk of the fighting,” Sedarias then said. “If you will take the risk of letting me out of your sight, you might see for yourself who is. If you are wise, you will not, but let me explain. The Dragon and the man who might be one of our progenitors from long ago are fighting three Arcanists who I assume are your allies. They are residents of this library.”
The implication was that they now did Sedarias’s bidding.
“Regardless, you have made a fatal error. You recognize Dragons, surely.”
