Because I am one.
Very well. Politics of the nature with which you are familiar are about preventing crimes, or rather, preventing their consequences in regard to oneself. Think of yourself as a corpse. To you, it doesn’t matter if you died because you caught a disease, got hit by a carriage, or had your throat slit. In the case of the latter, it is probably a much kinder death than the illness. As a Hawk, the only death that matters is the latter.
But you are not a Hawk here. The outcome is the important factor because it is the only one which will be seen. In the case of my example, that is the death. In the case of the Consort, it is her condescension. Her presence. You have extended an invitation. This is not unusual, although in your case, given your race, it would be considered presumptuous.
Of course it would.
She has, however, accepted. In the best case, she will be considered overindulgent and willfully sentimental—you would be seen as a favored pet.
She’d been on the books as official mascot before she was old enough to join the Hawks as an actual officer of the law. She could live with that, and had.
In the worst case, you will be seen as a threat. The Consort’s dignity is above visiting an insignificant mortal who is not even a member of the Caste Court. If she is willing to publicly accept this loss of dignity, it must be because you hold power over her.
Or maybe we’re friends?
The powerful do not have friends.
Kaylin’s teeth were going to be smooth nubs, she was grinding them so heavily. She didn’t, however, want to have an argument with Nightshade about friendship. Or anything, really.
I am not arguing, he predictably said. But you have entered into a political arena. What matters is not what you believe, here; it is what will be seen and believed by others. And I concur with Bellusdeo. If the Emperor is to visit again— He is.
—it would be best for all involved if that visit did not overlap with the Consort’s. The Consort is not your enemy, but she has enemies. She has fewer enemies than any others who would hold rank in the High Court, but fewer in the case of the Barrani does not imply safety.
But no Barrani would hurt her.
Not directly, no. Nor would they kill her if they had that option; it is not in the best interests of the race, and not in the interests of those whose families are not secure. But to control her? Yes.
Kaylin frowned, thinking. What would they want from her? She won’t refuse to name their children—I don’t think she can.
No. But it is the belief of my kin that the Consort chooses the name. Always. For some, interfering with, and heavily influencing, that choice would be considered in the best interests of the family. And that, she could do.
I don’t think it works that way.
No. And for the record, neither do I. But the mysteries of the Lake are shrouded and uncertain to my kin; only the Consort knows and understands them. She is also the Lady, wife to the High Lord, and her political power and influence is strong. She might decline to use them as most of my kin would, but it is not because she lacks the tools.
Why do you think she wants to come here?
It is secure, for one. But I believe that she wishes to meet and evaluate Teela’s kin, and at the moment, they are not precisely welcome in the High Halls. They could go. I could not, however, supervise a visit there. Andellen could. But he considers it highly unwise.
So do you.
Ah. You’d noticed that? His voice was dry as kindling. It is not too late to rethink the invitation you have extended. Were I you, I would do so.
I think Annarion would be upset.
Nightshade said nothing.
*
The Barrani Hawks were back on duty the following day, minus the one who remained in the infirmary under Moran’s care. Teela and Tain were sent to the warrens. Kaylin was almost certain that the request had been made by Teela, which was technically against the rules—but the people who handled the paperwork were Hawks, and they knew when technicalities had to be ignored.
There had been no word from the Imperial Mages; investigation of the security of the mirror network was clearly not their first priority, but that did give the Hawklord an excuse to curtail acceptance of external mirror messages. It was an obvious attempt to delay acceptance of Barrani Caste Court notification. Kaylin did not believe there had been a breach of the mirror network, and she was pretty certain the Hawklord didn’t, either.
Severn and Kaylin were back on Elani. If the office was quiet—and it was—it wasn’t the fear-laden variety. It was the breath-held variety, and Kaylin was just as happy to patrol as remain there. She’d never been good at figuring out when to break an awkward silence, and even when she had managed to make this intuitive leap, was pretty bad at breaking it in a way that wasn’t as awkward.
Annarion, after overcoming his initial shock, had doubled down on practicing with Helen with the news of the Consort’s visit; he was grim, silent, and absent at breakfast. Mandoran was present but looked hungover, which in theory didn’t happen to Barrani. He gave Kaylin a baleful glare, followed immediately by a wince.
“When’s Teela coming to stay?”
“Soon.”
“Meaning you don’t know.”
“Meaning I don’t know exactly, no. In case you missed it, she’s not my responsibility. And she really hates it when people fuss over her.” After a brief pause, Kaylin then asked, “Have you gotten any more out of her?”
“About the assassination attempt?”
“That, yes.”
“Nothing. I think she’s afraid I’ll tell you.”
“It’s Hawk business.”
“And when you’re the Hawklord, I’m sure she’ll open up and become forthcoming. Until reality fractures, it’s not happening. Don’t look at me like that. Thanks to you, I’m living with Mr. Obsessive.” His grimace deepened as he pushed himself up from the table. “And when I say living, I use that word because there’s no suitable bad one.”
Mandoran stayed home when Bellusdeo and Kaylin left for the office. He had clearly regretted the necessity, but Annarion insisted on company in his misery.
Kaylin was surprised at how used to Bellusdeo’s company she’d become. She was apparently enough of a fixture on the Elani beat that Kaylin had gratefully resumed that most of the merchants and regular customers now failed to notice her.