It was Eddorian who picked up the thread of Teela’s conversation. “Teela asks what in the hells do you think you’re doing?”
“Tell her we’re running to the outskirts of Ravellon.”
Cacophony, then. If normal hearing had been the key to their detection, they would all be swarmed, by now. She started to tell them all to shut up, but Kariastos did that more effectively. He roared.
The cohort froze and turned to look over their shoulders, as did Kaylin. She could see what had once been a portal; it was no longer even a tiny bit welcoming. It was Kariastos, all right, but in a form that was much more like a Dragon—an enormous Dragon—than a building. Although Hallionne were not actual Dragons, Kaylin understood from his tone that he was not particularly happy. And as long as they could escape him, she didn’t much care.
*
Kaylin.
Go away, she told Ynpharion.
Kaylin!
I mean it, damn you. Go the hells away right bloody now.
The Consort is waiting.
Kaylin struggled, hard, not to tell him where the Consort could go. She was upset. Angry. Possibly a bit confused. Mostly upset, though. I am not about to turn around and betray them. They live with me. And you can tell her to forget dinner. Ever.
Kaylin, you are not thinking. The cohort are dangerous—and you know why. You’ve seen why.
She said they might be able to help defeat the thing beneath the High Halls!
They will not help if they are not contained. She does not intend to destroy them; what she said to you was materially true. But she wants some guarantee that they will not become more of a danger to the High Halls than the Test in the tower.
I don’t care.
Kaylin—do not do what you’re considering. The Consort is against it.
If she hadn’t been running, she would have shrieked for a good five minutes in fury and frustration.
She does not wish to lose you. Send the cohort on their way, if you must; she will guarantee—absolutely and unconditionally—your safety and the safety of your Dragon companion.
No dice.
Pardon?
No. Damn. Dice. And there’s no point in guaranteeing their safety, either—I won’t believe it. And I will never, ever speak to you again if you attempt to make me believe it. Now leave us alone.
She was practically leaking fury, and part of that was aimed at herself. She’d been stupid. She hated being stupid.
Kaylin. A different voice. She almost snapped at this one as well, but Severn had done nothing to deserve it. What are you now doing? Teela has just turned a shade of ash and her eyes are practically black.
You’re with Teela?
We’re all at Helen’s, yes. Tain is worried about Teela. Mandoran and Annarion are indigo-eyed as well, but Mandoran’s lost control of his eyes, so it’s not as obvious. What’s happened?
She told him. She told him everything, while running along a very flat Winston. She slowed only when she could see the distant city.
Structures rose in the distance, tall, pale, and slightly curved; they towered over the mass of what might be smaller buildings. The air was thick, hazy; the towers in the distance seemed to waver as Kaylin, Bellusdeo and the cohort approached.
Terrano had said that it was a city of cages, of traps, and Kaylin could see what he meant: the structures she thought of as towers seemed to curve inward, toward what existed beneath them; an odd light seemed to illuminate them from within.
In Elantran buildings, this would imply windows, lamps.
This was not Elantra.
“Kaylin?” Bellusdeo touched her shoulder, a gesture that implied this wasn’t the first time she’d tried to get Kaylin’s attention.
Terrano was watching her as well. All of the cohort were.
She said nothing; they had slowed and she made no attempt to pick up the pace. Instead, she spoke a single word. “Ravellon.”
It wasn’t a city. It could be mistaken for one, as Terrano had said. But Kaylin had spent time in the morgue at the Halls of Law. She’d spent time watching Red at work. She had words for most of the parts of a body, although they didn’t get much use.
Those structures weren’t towers. They weren’t buildings. That Shadows had somehow made a home of them didn’t change the facts.
Kaylin.
If a giant had died in a desert, this is what they might leave behind. The towers were the great, fleshless rib cage of something far larger than Kaylin had ever seen in life.
Severn watched silently, as he often did. She felt his presence in the back of her thoughts and found it easier to catch her breath. Well?
He failed to answer the question she had asked. Can you see the borders of Ravellon?
She nodded; she could. But the borders seemed somehow mundane, slight; they were not the casket in which a body such as this should have been interred. We need to reach the Towers in the fiefs. We need to find Tiamaris.
You know the risk.
Yes, I know the risk. We’re way too close. But we can’t go back to Kariastos. The Consort promised that we’d be safe—Bellusdeo and I—but promised nothing about the cohort.
If you can, try not to be hurt.
I’m not hurt. I’m angry.
The worst anger always comes from hurt. You trusted her. You feel betrayed.
Wouldn’t you?
I honestly believe that she intends you no harm. I believe she would safeguard Bellusdeo against the war band, either in the West March or in Elantra. I do not believe she had anything to do with that.
But the cohort—
Teela is spitting fire, by the way.
So am I.
Yes, but not for the same reasons. I believe she is angry at Sedarias.
What? Why?
She won’t answer. Neither will Mandoran or Annarion. If I were you—if I were exactly you—I would take the risk you’re now taking.
And if you were you, but in my position?
I’m not you. I’m worried, but—do what you need to do. I’ll meet you there.
No, wait!
Silence.
Severn—don’t—
Silence.
She cursed in very loud and heartfelt Leontine, and turned toward the city.
Toward Ravellon.
*
Winston pulled himself up from the ground. “This is as far as I can safely go,” he told Kaylin, his expression grave. “I do not think I need tell you that Bertolle will be concerned.”
“No, you don’t. Tell him thank you.”
“For what?”
“For sending you and your brother to help us. I’m not sure why he did it.”
“He was worried about you.” Winston smiled. “We would like it if you came to visit.”
“I’m just wondering if there’s any way you guys could come visit me. I live in a building that was once a little bit like a Hallionne.”
“There are Hallionne in your city?”
“No, she’s not a Hallionne. She’s a sentient building, with the usual range of control over anything that happens within her borders.”
“She was built close to Ravellon?”
“Yes, but she’s not a Tower, either. Her name’s Helen,” she added. “And I think she’d be happy to meet you. You could—”
“Kaylin,” Bellusdeo said, her voice a suspicious rumble. Kaylin glanced to confirm that she had gone full Dragon. “I understand that you wish to express gratitude, but now is not the time. Can you see the city?”
Kaylin nodded.