she was not at court, but in offices staffed entirely by humans, not servants.
Severn stood beside her. He would have to do something about the accessibility of his own office and the enchantments on his own doors.
“An’Tellarus. What brings you here?”
“Not you.”
“I am certain that makes us both much happier. These are not, however, public offices, and we are not equipped to handle visitors of note.”
“No mortals are,” she replied. “And yet, welcome is extended regardless. You may rest more easily; I have no interest in you whatsoever.”
“I would take considerable comfort from that sentiment if you offered it from your own chambers in the High Halls.”
“A pity. It is not your comfort that is my chief concern. Nor is it your safety. I feel that you are old enough and—should you choose to be, which happens lamentably seldom—wise enough to see to your own safety.”
“Severn is my concern, not yours.”
“So I had assumed. It is not, however, for either you or Severn I have come, and I have come in some haste. I am certain some eyes will be upon me when I leave this building, should we leave it the usual way. I am doubtful that I escaped detection while entering.”
“What game do you play now?” The closed door opened at Elluvian’s back. Of course it did. An’Tellarus was significant enough that Helmat couldn’t remain on the wrong side of his door.
“More than one, of course. I find it marvelously diverting, given the alternatives. What have I told you in the past?”
“Since you are well aware of what you said, and I could easily be as aware should I choose to do so, I fail to see the relevance.”
“Perhaps,” Helmat said, “You might explain what you do consider relevant, An’Tellarus.” He did not offer her even the curt nod Elluvian had offered. He was not amused.
“Very well.” Her eyes were the same shade of blue they had been on sighting Elluvian. “I have been asked—as a favor to one who is less experienced and less powerful than I—to serve as escort for a mortal visitor to the High Halls.”
The silence that followed seemed to remove all of the air from the office. She knew. Helmat did her the courtesy of acknowledging this. “The visit will be forbidden.”
“I do not believe that will be the case,” An’Tellarus replied. “Difficult situations require flexibility. The rules that confine the castelords of various races have been given that necessary flexibility.
“You have no say, Lord Marlin. Nor does Elluvian. According to his own laws, your Dragon Emperor cannot intervene in the perfectly legal actions of a castelord. Or perhaps I have failed to understand the laws?”
“She is not castelord.”
“Is she not?”
“En?”
“Adellos is castelord.”
“I believe you will find that that is inaccurate, at least in tense. Adellos was castelord. He is not castelord now.”
Helmat did not return to his office. He marched, instead, to Rosen’s abandoned desk and barked at Rosen’s mirror. It flared instantly to life, as if it were terrified of the Wolflord’s temper. “Garadin.”
The image of Garadin’s face—pale and green-eyed—instantly filled the mirror’s frame. “Who is the castelord of the Tha’alani?”
“Adellos Coran’alani.”
“And is Adellos intent upon leaving the quarter to visit the High Halls?”
“Adellos is currently indisposed. It is highly unlikely that he will visit the High Halls in the near future.”
“Good.” Helmat waved the mirror to stillness and silence.
Severn had already moved toward the Wolves’ outer office doors, as if instinctively drawn there. He opened those doors when he saw a shadow of movement on the far side.
Ybelline was waiting.
* * *
Severn offered her both of his hands, rather than stepping out of the way. She stiffened before she closed her eyes and laid her palms across his. Leaning into him, she touched his forehead with her antennae.
The Wolflord is not happy, he told her. Elluvian is not happy.
Rosen is absent. This amused her, but did not surprise her.
An’Tellarus has been waiting for you.
Yes.
Severn didn’t tell her that the High Halls weren’t safe to visit. He did allow her a glimpse of his first encounter with An’Tellarus, and followed it with his second. On both occasions she had attempted to injure—if not kill—him to satisfy her curiosity.
Ybelline didn’t approve, but the disapproval was unadorned with words. From Helmat’s expression, he is pleased with neither of his visitors this morning.
Since this was the truth and Severn had nothing to add that would make it more palatable, he said nothing.
You will accompany us?
With Elluvian. Given his reaction, I wouldn’t be surprised to