Terrano’s brows had risen into the line of his falling hair. “How, exactly, do you intend to do that?” Clearly, this plan was a new one, made after his departure from the cohort.
“We don’t know. But the Shadows appear to be hunting us—us—and I intend to make certain that they can never do so again.”
He surprised Kaylin; he laughed. His laughter was almost joyful. He then crossed the distance that separated them, and threw his arms around Sedarias. Kaylin, even at her most comfortable, would never have dared. Sedarias was not a huggable presence.
“You really don’t change,” he said; she endured his embrace, but did not return it. On the other hand, she made no attempt to disengage, either. To Kaylin he added, “They didn’t originally intend to take on Ravellon. Sedarias is angry at the thing that’s hunting us, so it’s become personal. No one can hold a grudge as long as Sedarias. No one, ever.”
Kaylin didn’t personally consider this a good thing, but kept that to herself.
Terrano let his arms fall away. “What I taught the Barrani who were interested in forging an alliance with us, I taught here. Here in the outlands. It’s not something that can easily be done in your world. I’m certain it can be taught there—but in spaces that draw on, that rely on, the much more malleable and amorphous environment. Places like the Hallionne. Or possibly Helen. Without the outlands, those buildings couldn’t exist.
“Sedarias believed that without the outlands, the Keeper couldn’t exist, either. This place is tied to all places in some fashion.” His expression darkened. “The Shadows appear to be able to move here—but not all Shadows. They can’t as easily leave it, either. But there were buildings in Ravellon that were the equal of the Hallionne, or so history tells us; I’ve never seen one, but even I know to stay away from Ravellon.”
“You can see it from the outlands?”
“Yes. It’s not safe to approach—not for me as I usually travel. It’s a sticky web of strands and barbs, and it absorbs everything it can comfortably grasp.”
“What does it look like, here?”
Terrano shrugged. “What does anything look like, here? I can’t describe it to you because you won’t understand what I see—you can’t see it yourself, and you won’t have the reference points. But if you could, I think even you might recognize it as a city. A congregation of cages, some taller than the Towers. I can,” he added, “see the Towers that bind the fief of Ravellon in place.”
“Right now?”
“Not right this exact minute, no.”
“But you can see the Towers if you’re in a different location?”
“Yes, why?”
Kaylin bit her lip.
“Winston, can you?”
Winston was frowning. “I do not approach the dark lands. None of us do.”
“Because you might be lost?”
“Because we might be trapped and enslaved, or we might be contaminated. Bertolle is home to us; we have no other. That was the choice we made. But Bertolle would not have the flexibility of choice, were one of us to become infected. He would have to refuse us entry. In the worst case, he would be forced—by the words at his heart—to destroy us. We would not do that to him.” He then said, to Terrano, “You should not play games so close to Ravellon.”
“I didn’t know it was Ravellon to start with, and I never approach anything that big carelessly. And before you ask, no. I haven’t entered Ravellon. Had I, Alsanis would know, and I wouldn’t be here. I’d be dead.” He frowned. “Sedarias, don’t do anything yet.”
“Oh?”
“Winston is right. Something’s wrong.”
“That’s why we’re considering—”
“I don’t think Kariastos has been compromised, exactly.” His eyes began to spread across his face. Kaylin found such transformations acceptable in Winston and his brother, but found it disturbing in Terrano. And why should she? Terrano was not Barrani, now. He wasn’t trying to be.
“Winston?”
Bertolle’s brother was frowning as well.
And Sedarias said, “Everyone, be silent. Now.”
*
In the silence, Kaylin thought. And in the silence, the crowd inside her head took the opportunity to speak when it wouldn’t obviously distract her.
She is dangerous, Ynpharion said. The sentiment was echoed by everyone except Severn, who—as he usually did—said nothing.
Yes, but she’s ours.
You are so certain. It wasn’t a question.
Is Terrano right?
There was a glimmering of amusement. Terrano is correct. The Consort chose Kariastos for a reason.
All of Kaylin’s worry, all of her fear, took shape and form, transforming as it did into a bitter anger. She had led the cohort—or almost led the cohort—into a trap. Why didn’t you say anything? It was a stupid question. She knew it was stupid. But the anger had to go somewhere or it would overwhelm her.
Because she is not concerned about the cohort, as you call them; not in the fashion you are. If they are caught in a trap, it is unlikely that Kariastos will destroy them immediately. She can disentangle them afterward.
And me?
She did not—she does not—believe you are at significant risk. What Kariastos might build at her request will not harm you, because you have your familiar.
What is she trying to do?
Frustration. What do you think?
You do not wish to be involved in this, Nightshade said softly.
I’m involved anyway.
Limit your involvement.
I can’t—I live with your brother. And Mandoran. The Barrani are trying to start a war because we have Bellusdeo, who had no intention of coming here at all. If I did nothing at all going forward, I would still be entangled in all of it.
Sedarias is dangerous.
Kaylin did not reply.
Lirienne did not ask her what she thought the Consort intended. And that told her something that she needed to know, and conversely, didn’t want to. But that, she told herself, was life. You know what they’re doing, she said, not bothering to hide the severity of either her tone or the disappointment she felt.
Yes.
It’s beyond the political, now.
Nothing is ever beyond the political, kyuthe. Nothing about my kin.
Help us. Bellusdeo is with us. Bellusdeo isn’t part of the cohort; she’s a Dragon. If there’s—if something was planned, she’s going to get caught up in it, too. The Emperor will be enraged, and war is not in the interests of either of our people if Ravellon has somehow become involved. In fact, war is only of value to Ravellon; it’ll split our forces. And it seems pretty clear that Ravellon is involved.
Lirienne said nothing. Kaylin let it go. She held his name, not the other way around, but she knew that she was not equal to enforcing her will. Not now, and probably not ever.
Kaylin lifted a hand and exhaled. Using her Hawk voice, she said, “No one enter the Hallionne.”
“Oh?” Sedarias’s voice was chilly.