“I didn’t know this was going to turn political.”
“No one with any familiarity with you—even a passing one—would expect that you had political motivations. No one, however, believes that the Consort does not. Teela will be moving in—I think she’s halfway done. There was some argument with Tain which we all pretended not to hear. Helen’s attempt to referee the argument—referee is the word, yes? No?”
“I don’t think referee is the word you want.”
“I can’t think of a better one.”
“Mediate?”
“Fine. Mediate. Helen’s attempt at mediation was to tell them both that it was entirely up to you.” Bellusdeo snickered. “I thought you’d appreciate that. You’re certain you don’t want to go to Evanton’s?”
*
Lord Diarmat reminded Kaylin of the very worst of her teachers at the Halls of Law. No, that wasn’t true. It made her nostalgic for the very worst of those teachers. He was waiting for them in the large room that Kaylin thought of as the war room, his arms folded, a thin stream of smoke coming out of his nostrils. His eyes were dangerously orange. His color seemed off, but he was a Dragon and Kaylin had very little knowledge of Dragons that didn’t come from Bellusdeo. She knew enough about this one, on the other hand, not to offer open concern. He was glaring.
“We’re not late,” Bellusdeo said, her voice the same shade of cool she used whenever she spoke of the Emperor, her tone as critical as Diarmat’s when he was speaking to, or at, Kaylin. “And honestly, your color is terrible. We are not babes in arms; I believe that we could muddle through without dragging you from your warming stones.”
This did nothing good for the shade of Diarmat’s eyes.
“You are not a hatchling; you are fully politically cognizant. You are not, however, in charge of Private Neya. I am here to assess her ability to entertain the ruling consort of the Barrani High Court without embarrassment to either the Barrani or the Emperor.”
“I highly doubt the Consort is so unfamiliar with Lord Kaylin that she expects to be treated as if she were a Dragon Lord.”
Diarmat looked about as unamused as he could, short of breathing fire. Bellusdeo looked condescending. Kaylin probably looked ill.
“The correct form of address for the Consort?” His tone was pointed.
“Consort.”
Bellusdeo winced.
“Sit down, Private. Let me explain what could be at stake for you and your putative career. As a private, you do not extend invitations to the High Lord or his Lady without permission from the Dragon Court.”
“I didn’t invite her as a private.”
“And if you are not a private of the Halls of Law, you may feel free to do as you please. Until then, your behavior reflects on the glory of the Eternal Emperor.” And not to the better, his tone implied. Given his eye color, Kaylin was grudgingly surprised that he left it at implication. “Lord Bellusdeo’s presence within your domicile necessitates surveillance. The Barrani will likely accept this as a matter of course. We cannot, however, stop the Consort and check her thoroughly.
“We would like to have a representative of the Court present at your home.”
“You do. Bellusdeo lives there.”
“She is not a member of the Dragon Court.”
“She’s a Dragon Lord as far as the Halls are concerned.”
“It is irrelevant what the rank and file at the Halls tell themselves. We are aware that she currently lives with you, but she has not undertaken the responsibilities of the Dragon Court in anything but a cursory way.”
“Lannagaros has kindly offered to oversee the meal,” Bellusdeo said. She didn’t look like she’d breathe fire; she looked like she’d breathe ice.
“Has he?”
“Yes. If you would care to ask him, I am certain Lord Kaylin and I would be willing to wait. We might study the report you seem to have at hand; it looks infuriatingly like the layers of bureaucracy—that is the word, yes?” she added, to Kaylin, who tried not to cringe and failed to reply. “The bureaucracy in which your Court is mired. It is hard to imagine that you actually fought in the Draco-Barrani wars, given your adoption of so many of their peculiarities; I am uncertain how different their victory would have looked.”
Kaylin did not take a step back, but that took serious effort. Had she realized Bellusdeo would be so openly antagonistic, she would have tried to leave her at home.
Lord Diarmat, however, did not breathe fire. Instead he handed the report—and Bellusdeo had not exaggerated—to the Dragon. “I will speak with the Arkon. Please feel free to peruse the report.”
“Will there be a test?” she asked sweetly.
“Oh, most assuredly.” He walked out. He actually opened the door first, which Kaylin wouldn’t have bet on. Only when she could no longer hear his footsteps did she turn to Bellusdeo, whose eyes were a simmering orange. “Was that really necessary?”
“His part or my part?”
“Your part. Diarmat isn’t capable of behaving any differently; I think it would kill him.”
“It might kill him yet,” was the dire reply.
“And he’s going to march to the library, interrupt the Arkon, and discover that you lied.”
“You know what I’ve said about betting?”
“That it’s a waste of time and you don’t understand its appeal?”
“I would like to rescind that. What would you care to bet?”
“You talked to the Arkon?”
“As it happens, I did not consult with Lannagaros, no.”
“So you expect he’s going to lie?”
“Not at all. I expect he’s going to confirm that he would be delighted to join us for dinner. As it seems to be Diarmat’s insistence that we have a minder for the visit, and the Arkon is the most senior member of the Court, there’s not a lot Diarmat can say.”
“I’m sure he’ll surprise you—I think he can say a lot.” She grimaced and looked at the report which Bellusdeo had not even opened. “Let me see that.”
“You can’t honestly imagine it will have useful information?”
“Not that I want to defend Diarmat, but actually, I imagine it has a lot of what he considers useful or necessary information. And to be fair to him? Some of it probably is.”
“You’re actually going to read it.” Bellusdeo was nonplused.
“The Imperial spies are probably a lot more forthcoming than the Barrani themselves. If the Emperor is concerned about political upheaval as a result of this dinner, it’s probably going to have information on how or why that upheaval might occur. Yes, I’m going to read it. It’ll probably tell me more about the High Court than the Consort or Teela would.” She warmed up to that thought. “Diarmat was severely injured fighting to protect the High Halls, and I’m certain his personal preferences would be to see the Barrani as a giant heap of collective ash. He’s going to look down on me no matter what I do, I can’t change that.