Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,44

had come to Candallar to have. She had not, in fact, intended to have much in the way of discussion at all. That plan had changed because Bellusdeo was present. As mortals, no matter how they were dressed, they were not significant to the Tower. A Dragon would be. But everything about this discussion sounded exactly like Sedarias; this was a matter for the new An’Mellarionne.

“True. You are not, perhaps, aware of the experiences that drove me to take the reins of Candallar.”

“No, indeed. We have been entrusted with an invitation; The An’Mellarionne wishes to better make your acquaintance in these troubled times.”

His brows rose slightly, and the color of his eyes shifted. He was surprised. Surprised and delighted, judging by his laughter. Kaylin hated that the laughter itself was melodious and compelling because she disliked it intensely on principle.

“Lord Sedarias is indeed bold, as ancient rumors have suggested. I did not myself have experience of her before her sojourn in the West March, and I have not yet had the privilege of making her acquaintance since her ascension at Court. I have, however, been apprised of the astonishing changes that have occurred in the High Halls in very recent days. She is aware of my current status?”

“She is aware that you are outcaste, yes. Given your activities, or your implied activities, before we were invited to take the Test of Name, she believes that you were made outcaste for political reasons. And also that you have some interest in a return to legitimacy.”

Kaylin bent to Terrano’s ear—or as close as she could come given their differences in height. “This is not what we’re supposed to be doing here,” she whispered.

It is far more effective at present than bumbling across the fief searching for information that might somehow incriminate Candallar in an Imperial crime. It was Nightshade who now spoke. Kaylin could feel the sudden weight of his presence behind her eyes. She is, indeed, bold, but she was always feared. She is ruthless, Kaylin. She is not to be trusted.

She’s living with me.

Yes. And while she is resident within Helen’s domain, you will come to no harm. But Helen herself was not certain that she could contain the cohort should they decide to cause harm to either her or you. They are not what we are.

Do you think she means harm?

Almost certainly. But not to Helen, not to you, and not to Annarion. The last was his only real concern.

“And does she believe—she who was only barely able to take the Test of Name—that she might have something of value to offer a man in pursuit of that legitimacy?” There was a distinct edge in the words; the eyes were the color of suspicion, one barely touched by hope.

Mandoran’s smile was pleasant and chilly. Kaylin found it enormously unsettling, because it was Sedarias’s smile on the wrong face. “Have you seen the High Halls since the Test was taken?”

“I have seen them, as you must be aware, at a distance.”

“That occurred, not coincidentally, after we had taken the Test and confronted what lies beneath. You have seen it yourself; you were once Lord of the High Court.”

Silence, then. Sharp, cold; the colors of Candallar’s eyes shifted in the ice of his face. He spoke a word that Kaylin did not understand.

“We do not know what aid was promised, what power offered; nor do we know what you offered in return for possible future favor. But we will ask you to consider your future—and your future alliances—with care. You have allies of a sort in the High Court; we are aware of a few. You will, of course, ascertain the truth of our words from those sources. But should you choose to ally yourself more wisely in future, there are discussions that must be had.”

“You will not find reinstatement a simple affair,” Candallar then said. “We are all aware that your happy return is a polite fiction, and etiquette hides many things.”

Terrano was becoming impatient. Kaylin dropped a hand on his shoulder; he stiffened, but didn’t move away.

“You are here because you believe I have an advantage to offer in what is likely to be a war fought on many, many fronts.”

“No, actually,” Kaylin said before Mandoran—or Sedarias, using Mandoran as a conduit—could reply. “They’re here because we were asked to speak with you. As Imperial Hawks.”

Both of his brows rose at the Elantran interruption; the rest of the words had been delivered in formal High Barrani. “You do not