Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,29
I fail to see how wandering about the mortal streets of this city could be more dangerous.”
Kaylin began to study the tops of her boots as if they were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen.
“You are well aware that I am extremely fond of you,” the Arkon replied. “But even my affection has limits. You went on patrol with Corporal Neya while carrying irreplaceable artifacts. Corporal Neya, who has managed—without intent—to cause more trouble than people who have planned trouble for decades.”
“That is a tad harsh,” Bellusdeo replied.
“Truth often is.” His eyes remained orange, but moving toward the happy gold and not the dangerous red. “I am not comforted. If you are here on a normal day for the two Hawks, you are here because something untoward occurred. While you were carrying these.”
“I was perfectly willing not to wear them at all,” Bellusdeo replied, more edge in her tone.
“Indeed.” The Arkon rose at a knock on the door—the open door. “Refreshments have arrived. We will not eat them in this room; it is already overcrowded.”
“If you tended to your uninteresting responsibilities with more deliberate care, it wouldn’t be. Your desk is almost as much of a disaster as Sergeant Kassan’s.”
* * *
The room in which refreshments were served reminded Kaylin of Helen’s parlor, although everything about it was different. The chairs, the tables, the sideboard, the cabinets, had been chosen by someone who was not Helen, and it showed. Still, the chairs were comfortable.
Severn chose to stand.
Kaylin eyed the food and then eyed Bellusdeo’s raised brow. She sat. The Arkon was willing to preserve the distance between him and Kaylin if it protected his precious private time; he was not willing to do it if it irritated Bellusdeo.
The Arkon drank tea but did not otherwise touch the food. Bellusdeo did, but delicately. Kaylin, however, was hungry. Hunger warred with dignity and won. It wasn’t even a close contest.
“We encountered something interesting in the fiefs,” Bellusdeo said while Kaylin’s mouth was full.
“The fiefs.”
“Indeed.”
“You took these medallions to the fiefs.”
“If you continue, Lannagaros, you will not hear about the interesting parts.”
“I am not sure that this room—or its furnishings—will survive the interesting parts. Corporal Neya, were you aware of what she carried?”
Kaylin shook her head, swallowing to empty her mouth.
“Very well. The fiefs. Do continue.”
“We went to Tiamaris at the behest of the Halls of Law. Indirectly. Kaylin has been tasked with investigating Candallar.”
The Arkon nodded.
“I wished to see the border zone. To the eye, the borders in the fiefs are no more solid, no more real, than the borders between neighborhoods in the city, if one discounts legality. But the attempt to cross the borders that divide the fiefs is nowhere near as seamless.”
“Tiamaris made a study of the fiefs, inasmuch as such a study has been made by our kin. He has continued his studies within the fief he now rules, but he has been encumbered with the responsibilities of ruling. The information we have about those borders is largely due to Tiamaris. You are aware that the streets within the border are not fixed in location?” The Arkon’s voice was controlled.
“Are they not?” This was a weasel answer. She did know.
“I am certain that Tiamaris’s Tower would be more than willing to provide you with the relevant information. What did you find in the attempt to cross the border into Candallar?”
Bellusdeo leaned forward. “A building of interest. While the buildings within the border zone appear to be of similar make—and quality—as the rest of the fief, this one appeared to be in excellent repair.”
The Arkon nodded, his eyes orange-gold. His left hand rested against his beard.
“It had no door, no windows; we assumed it was a two-story structure, given the height of the external walls.”
“It was not? Don’t make that face, Corporal. It’s obvious that you somehow managed to gain entry into the building with no obvious entrances.”
Bellusdeo chuckled. “The entrance was not planned. It was not intended. We gained entry because there was, for want of a better word, a stone eye—larger than your head—carved in relief on the side of the building opposite the street. When it moved its gaze to us, we were transported to the interior.”
“A portal?”
“That appeared to be its function, yes. Kaylin is concerned, however.”
The Arkon’s expression became immediately less friendly. “Corporal?” In spite of the tone in which it was delivered, she felt immediately buoyed by her new rank. She tried not to let this show.