The meeting of the Dragon Council was two hours in the making, largely because the Emperor had appointments that could not be broken with ease. Had the city been on literal fire, he might have been justified in canceling—and to be fair, he was Emperor, and he could damn well do what he liked. But he was aware, as Kaylin had become aware, that there would be a future cost for that, and he chose which costs he was willing to pay.
The Dragon Court, with Bellusdeo and the two Hawks in attendance, met in a throne room that was empty of all save a handful of select Imperial Guard. Tiamaris, as a member of that Court, was also present. Kaylin was surprised, and it showed; the youngest member of the Court grimaced, the expression smoothing into a genuine, if chagrined, smile.
Kaylin cringed just before the discussion started because it hadn’t occurred to her until that point that it would be held in their native tongue; the ceilings here were acoustically unforgiving. But aware of the eyes of the Imperial Guard, she made no attempt to cover her ears or otherwise preserve her hearing.
The discussion reverted to Barrani when the Emperor had questions; he asked those of Severn and Kaylin. But for the most part, the discussion was for, and by, Dragons. Hope joined in on one or two occasions, and the Dragon Court accepted his input without comment or resentment.
The Arkon then withdrew a box from the folds of his robes—a box that shouldn’t have fit there. It was familiar to Kaylin; she’d seen it before. He didn’t open it this time; he approached Sanabalis and, to Kaylin’s surprise, knelt.
She understood, then: Sanabalis was to become the Arkon.
Sanabalis, Imperial mage, Dragon who had not yet found his hoard. She wondered why the Arkon hadn’t chosen Diarmat, a man whose sense of duty and responsibility defined him and sucked all the humor out of his life—but perhaps that was answer enough.
Sanabalis didn’t bow. “You are certain?”
“I am certain.” The Arkon rose to his feet. “As in all decisions of note, there are lingering shadows, lingering desires. I have been Arkon for most of my life, and I am aware of the burden it places upon your shoulders. I am not caged or confined as chancellor; indeed, it will be my responsibility to find students who will benefit from the Academia and what it has to offer; if I do not, we will continue to remain trapped in a history so ancient the Empire has never even heard of its ending, never mind its beginning.”
His eyes were gold as he turned to face the Emperor. “I remain, as young Tiamaris does, a member of your Court and a member of your Flight; in times of danger and war, the chancellors were not exempt from the demands of their kin.”
The Emperor’s nod was regal, but not remote. “I am...happy for you, old friend. In all of the futures I imagined we might face together, this is not one I had ever considered a possibility. It brings me peace to know that in the heart of my Empire, you have found your way back to the heart of yours. Take what you have gathered with my blessing.
“You will, however, be tasked with personally overseeing the transport of your collection. I expect all of the people you choose to aid in this endeavor to survive more or less unscathed.”
Which was a pity, because given how touchy the Arkon was about his personal collection, Kaylin didn’t.
As if the Emperor could hear the thought even Kaylin knew better than to put into words anywhere within the palace grounds, he chuckled. “I have oft been accused of unreasonable expectations by Lannagaros; I am certain this will not be an exception.”
He then turned to Sanabalis. “Arkon,” he said.
“Your majesty.” Sanabalis bowed, box in hand. “I believe the empty interior of the palace currently occupied by the Arkon would be a suitable haven for the symbols of the office I have accepted.” He glanced once at the former Arkon—Kaylin was going to have a hard time with the names going forward—and tendered him a bow.
His eyes were gold, as were Emmerian’s.
Diarmat’s were gold, which was far more of a surprise. Kaylin could not recall Diarmat’s eyes ever lacking a tint of orange.
Bellusdeo’s were luminous and shining. She eschewed Court decorum in its entirety, and not, this time, to annoy Diarmat. She threw both arms around the older Dragon’s neck and caught him a bruising hug that would have cracked bones had she done it to Kaylin.
Wordless, he returned the hug. “You will visit.”
“I will continue to bother you, yes.”
“Good.”
“I shall remind you that you said that.”
Epilogue
Kaylin felt she hadn’t been home for days. Weeks, maybe. She was stiff and sore, but Helen had made certain she was no longer hungry. Her room was dark, and the halls beyond it almost unnaturally silent.
“You are worried.” Helen’s voice was gentle.
Kaylin said nothing.
“If you don’t wish to speak about it, I will leave.”
“You never leave.”
She could almost feel her house smile. Like the voice, it was gentle.
