Cast in Wisdom (Chronicles of Elantra #15) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,81
whispered.
“He could hear every word I spoke—to anyone else—even if he couldn’t see them, so it was hard to discuss in his presence. But he was Larrantin. I think... I think he’s living in a place where the Towers haven’t risen yet. Or rather, he was. He knew that the Towers would be created. He said something about selection. But he couldn’t leave the building.
“When he reached the doors we entered, he couldn’t leave. So he handed me the book he’d tucked under his arm and told me to take it to Killian, and to come back if Killian had anything to tell him.”
The Arkon’s gaze now shifted to the book on the table beneath one layer of scarf and Kaylin’s left hand. “Remove the scarf,” he told her. She did.
“Open the book.”
“Lannagaros, let her finish.”
The Arkon exhaled slowly, as if he were counting. “Apologies, Corporal. I assume you wish to tell me why you did not do as Larrantin commanded.”
“He asked, he didn’t command...” pedantry was never safe when practiced on pedants “...but we’d been looking for Killian, so I took the book. I meant to hand it over to him, but when we found the building that we’d left the first time, the doors were locked. They didn’t have modern door wards, but Annarion knew how to open them. When Killian appeared at the doors, his eyes were the death-variant of Barrani blue. But when those doors slid open, I could hear Nightshade.
“The cohort could hear their missing members.” She poked Hope. “Nightshade, at least, seemed to be trapped in an auditorium listening to a lecture, of all things. He didn’t seem upset, but he did sound frustrated; he said he couldn’t leave. I mean, he couldn’t leave the building.
“But that wasn’t the real problem.”
“I am glad to see that you are getting to it.” Voice dry enough to start fires.
“The real problem,” she said irritably, “was the two men standing to either side of Killian.”
* * *
This silence was different. It was more focused and oddly less suffocating. The Arkon didn’t break it.
Emmerian did. “Two men? Lord Bellusdeo?”
“We did not see them. Kaylin saw them because of her familiar’s wing.”
“Lord Kaylin?”
Ugh. “Kaylin is fine. Or Corporal.”
He nodded. “Corporal, then. Please describe the two men.”
“One was Barrani. An Arcanist; he was wearing the tiara I associate with the Arcanum.”
“It is not worn only by members of the Arcanum,” Sanabalis said.
“And the other was human.”
“Human?”
She exhaled. “Severn says he’s a member of the human Caste Court. Lord Baltrin.”
“Severn did not recognize the Barrani?”
“The Barrani man was, apparently, Lord Illanen of the Arcanum.”
“And the High Court.” It was Emmerian who spoke. “This is not welcome news. I believe you have encountered neither before.”
Kaylin nodded. “Does Bellusdeo’s security detail follow us into the fiefs?”
“No. Before you ask, I am not at liberty to discuss that detail.” He turned and offered Bellusdeo a shallow bow. “The Emperor does not interfere with your excursions into the greater city at your request.”
“And this has caused some difficulty?”
Emmerian met her eyes, the ghost of a smile touching his lips. “We are a difficult people.” Before he could continue, the Arkon roared. The table shook. One plate almost fell off it, but it contained food, so Kaylin caught it.
“I believe you may discuss—or fail to discuss—Lord Bellusdeo’s safety precautions at another time. Any other time. You may discuss the politics of your various caste courts and the breaking of the laws at another time, as well.”
Kaylin’s mouth fell open; Sanabalis gave her a warning stare, and she closed it again.
“...I didn’t want to give the book to Killian while he was bracketed by those two. I don’t know if he was aware of their presence, but I think he was aware that something was off, something was wrong.
“Nightshade’s lecture hall was populated with people he thought might be part of the wall of stone people we first encountered. He’s aware of himself, but... I’m not sure he can extricate himself from that wall. Neither of the cohort was part of the lectured class.
“Nightshade said they’d joined it—and then we got earthquakes. Killian didn’t stay to chat after that. He immediately went back into the building, shutting the doors behind him and his two invisible friends. When the doors shut, we couldn’t hear Nightshade, Mandoran or Terrano. But we know where they are.” She turned her attention to the book on the table. “What do you see when you look at it?”