Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,137
the entire class, but in Kaylin’s admittedly limited experience, that was the norm when one asked questions.
“Why?”
“I have more engaged students,” he replied. “I have students who might learn something. They have questions, and some of those questions might lead them to answers that other students in our history have not achieved.”
She frowned.
“So...students are important?”
“Students are the heart of the Academia.” Something about that answer stuck and echoed. “Students, scholars, sages. You are searching, perhaps, for something I lack. You will not find it.”
“Were the students in the classes introduced to you recently?”
“Some of the students in these classes have been introduced to the Academia over a period of decades, in your time. Some, however, never chose to leave; they are not all contained in this classroom.”
“And some are here as students on an off-day?”
“They have not been admitted into the current academic stream.”
“By their choice or by yours?”
He frowned; the frown had texture. It had a physical force that Kaylin should not have been able to feel—but did.
“Admittance was not, in general, my responsibility,” he finally said. “I could, however, insist if I felt a student that had not shown promise in an obvious way, nonetheless had promise.”
“And the current crop of students?”
He frowned again.
Before he could answer, Kaylin said, “Can you tell us where Candallar is?”
“I am uncertain. Lord Candallar,” he continued with emphasis on the title Kaylin felt no need to respect, “has freedom of entry.”
“How?”
“It is a request received by...”
This was the answer Kaylin wanted, but he stalled out, his eye narrowing, his forehead taking on lines of intense concentration. He failed to speak.
Kaylin said, “Karriamis?”
He lifted his face, his neck extending as his gaze sought the admittedly impressive ceiling. His face ran parallel to the ceiling; his neck bent in an angle that no one else in the room could achieve without breaking their spine. Without lowering his face, he said, “I cannot confirm that. I cannot find an answer. You will excuse me,” he added. “I have lost the thread of this lecture, and must continue it or the students will miss their next class.”
* * *
She blinked. The three intruders had not approached the Dragons. The Arbiters stood to either side of Kaylin, possibly because she carried the books. Turning to Kavallac, she said, “Can I give these books to the Arkon?”
“You may give custody of these books to the Arkon,” Kavallac replied. “Where do you intend to go?”
“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 can see that,” 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 carries as books?”
“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