The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,108
he had offered Elluvian had not kept him from standing outside Random’s door with two of the guards. Elluvian was not with him.
The much older Sabrai glared balefully at the pack Severn had shouldered.
“Random thought it was important that I take these things with me,” he said.
“Random is not the Master of the Oracular Halls. I am.”
Severn nodded and waited.
Master Sabrai’s glare didn’t change. “What did Random give you?”
“Three carved figurines,” Severn replied. He noted that Master Sabrai winced.
“Three?”
“Yes. If you want to inspect the contents, you can. There are also sketches. She seemed to think I would need or want everything she made.”
“Who are you?”
“Severn Handred of the Halls of Law.”
“Which branch?”
He already knew. Severn was certain of it. But he understood that words weren’t always meant to communicate actual information. “The Wolves. I believe you’ve spoken with Lord Marlin.”
“What did she tell you?”
Severn shook his head.
“Why is the Tha’alani still in the workshop?”
“Random had more she wanted to say.” Severn exhaled. “And I have a few questions, as well.”
“I am not necessarily at liberty to answer them.”
Lack of answers was still a form of information.
“How much longer will the Tha’alani be with Random?”
“I imagine for as long as Random wants.”
The guards looked as concerned as their master, but the master now turned. “Fine. Come to my office.”
* * *
“All appointments made to visit the Oracles are made through you,” Severn said when they had returned to the office meant for official visitors. Elluvian was seated on a long chair, a glass in his hand, when they entered. He nodded at Severn, frowned at the new burden attached to his shoulder, and otherwise said nothing.
“Yes. Your case is unusual—but the Oracular Halls are nothing if not unusual.”
“The three Tha’alani children who came to visit decades ago had made no official appointment.”
Master Sabrai’s expression tightened. He did not ask which three. “Of course not.”
“You allowed them to speak with Random.”
“She’d clearly been expecting them.” Master Sabrai poured himself a drink; one of the two guards frowned, but said nothing. Severn was almost certain that if Master Sabrai had been alone, she would have.
“Do the Oracles normally expect their visitors?”
“No.”
“Random is a special case?”
“Random is special, yes. She is also highly stubborn. The effects of refusing to grant those children entry would have lasted years. The children were not harmful in the way many visitors might otherwise be.”
“And today’s appointment?”
“The appointment for which you were late?”
Severn nodded.
“She requested it weeks ago.”
“You scheduled it.”
“Yes.”
“Had another Oracle made the same request, would you also have accepted it?”
“It would depend entirely on the Oracle in question. Random’s visitors seldom threaten to kill her.” Seldom, Severn thought.
“Does Random often receive visitors?”
“I am not at liberty to discuss either visitors or the reasons for their visits.”
Severn nodded again. “How often do Barrani receive the requisite permission to visit the Halls?”
“As you can probably imagine, almost never.”
“But not never.”
Master Sabrai’s glare fell upon Elluvian. “Clearly.”
“I am here as a Wolf, not a supplicant. And I was not allowed to wander the Halls at will.”
Severn glanced at Elluvian. When he raised a brow at Severn, Severn resumed his questions. “Do you keep complete records of the requests made, even if those requests are rejected?”
A pause before an answer. “Yes.”
“We are interested in requests made in the past. Twenty-seven years ago or less.”
“We are also,” Elluvian added, setting his glass on the table, “interested in requests made in the very recent past.”
Master Sabrai’s jaw twitched on the left side. “You have not requested that information officially.”
“No. And any answer we receive will be unofficial. It will provide some possible context, some possible direction for further investigation. That is all.”
Master Sabrai walked over to a desk tucked against the wall. “Very well. On the understanding that our records are not up to the standards of the Imperial Service, or even the Halls of Law, I will attempt to answer your questions.” He opened a drawer. From it, he withdrew two large, long books. The covers had dates.
He had already prepared the information he thought the Wolves would ask for. Had Severn not asked, he would not have offered.
“These are the relevant logs.” Severn rose and retrieved them. Elluvian was both watchful and silent. He almost reached for the logs himself, but appeared to think better of it.
“Lord Marlin doesn’t want the Wolves to become entangled in strictly Barrani affairs.”
“And I don’t want rain when I’m forced to leave the Oracular Halls.”
Severn opened the book while the two older men stared