“Fine. Just let me write this up and hand it to Marcus, and we can go home and eat something.”
Bellusdeo had, of course, lied. She had no qualms about that. The Imperial Court had not sent her into the heart of the fiefs, and the Emperor would probably breathe fire in random directions if and when he found out she had been there on her own.
The fact that she’d been there with four other people would not mollify him. Those people were not Dragons, and when it came to brute force and dangerous combat, it was the Dragons he trusted. To be fair to the Emperor, in his position, and assuming he could choose the composition of Bellusdeo’s guards, he’d go for the Dragons every time. Except Diarmat. Diarmat was likely to cause an entirely different kind of conflict, and no one wanted Dragons in combat in the middle of the city.
Kaylin was not looking forward to the Imperial discussion about Bellusdeo’s current investigation. She had hopes that she could avoid it in its entirety. The conversations she wanted to be part of always seemed to occur when it was impossible for her to join them. Like, say, Hawks patrolling Tiamaris.
Helen was waiting for them when they reached the front doors—doors which were open. “Welcome home,” she said. Her eyes were normal eyes, and her clothing was also vastly less militaristic than Bellusdeo’s current armor.
“Have things been quiet at home?”
“For a value of quiet. I believe the cohort is currently having a debate.”
“A debate or an argument?”
“Only three of them have been confined to the training room while the discussion continues.”
Definitely an argument.
“I’m beginning to understand them, or at least understand how they respond to emotional duress. Mandoran and Terrano are home,” she added.
“Sorry. Sedarias seemed to want to talk to Candallar, and Bellusdeo wanted to inspect theRavellonborder. The entireRavellonborder.”
Helen offered a sympathetic cluck of sound. “I considerRavellonto be the greater threat. I’m not certain the Emperor will be pleased.”
“The Emperor is never pleased. At least not with me.” Bellusdeo had headed up the stairs. Kaylin hoped she was far enough away that she hadn’t heard theEword. “What, exactly, is the cohort debating?”
“Among other things? Candallar. Annarion, and therefore Solanace. Mellarionne. And also the gathering of the High Court. Some of the cohort feel that Bellusdeo’s presence will cause an all-out war on the premises of the High Halls.”
“Not likely. The desire for all-out war? Absolutely. But...the High Halls is more like a Hallionne now, and there’s no way all-out war would even be possible in a Hallionne.”
Helen coughed. Kaylin grudgingly conceded the point, given their flight from the West March and their rescue of the Hallionne Alsanis.
“Mandoran is attempting to avoid the entire discussion because he feels some pressure to return to his line, as well.”
“He said he was orphaned.”
“He has said many things, dear. And he’s Mandoran. If it allows him to avoid unpleasantness, he is likely to say anything regardless of inconvenient facts. Sedarias understands that a return to power necessitates allies and people in positions of strength.
“Serralyn has suggested that a focus on Mellarionne first would be the better plan.”
“Let me guess. That’s not Sedarias’s intended strategy.”
“As I said, there has been some heated debate.”
Dinner, served slightly earlier than usual on account of Kaylin’s lack of lunch, was sparsely attended. Mandoran and Terrano joined Kaylin at the table, but Annarion did not. Bellusdeo was apparently indisposed—Kaylin thought this might be because of the discussion with Maggaron, but didn’t ask.
The fork was halfway to her mouth when the entire room shuddered.
Mandoran dropped his head to the tabletop.
Terrano groaned.
“Do I even want to know?” Kaylin asked.
“You really, really don’t.” Terrano replied. “I’m sure I thought coming back was a good idea. Do you remember why?”
“You did miss them.”
