“That would be Maggaron.”
“The Emperor does not consider Maggaron to be a suitable guard in the fiefs; Lord Tiamaris, however, is. She has accepted—with poor grace—the Emperor’s wishes in this regard.”
“What happened?”
“She has taken to flying in the restricted air-space above the fief of Tiamaris.”
“It’s not Imperial land.”
“No. She has pointed this out—at length. You might have recognized one or two of the words she used, if you were paying attention. She has, however, come close to the borders of the fief once too often for the Emperor’s comfort.”
“The Norannir live on the borders.”
“Indeed. She has taken pains to point this out, as well.”
“He’s going to isolate her! The Norannir are the only other friends she has in this city!”
The Arkon’s smile was softer, and infinitely more pained. “They are not her friends, Kaylin. They were once her subjects. She is not merely a Dragon to them; she is akin to a living god. Bellusdeo has her vanity. She has her pride. But she, like any Dragon, understands her role in their lives. She does not go to them for their sake, but her own. They remind her of who she once was.
“There is altogether too much in the Palace that reminds her of what she now is.”
Kaylin’s arms tightened. “And what, exactly, is that?”
“A displaced person. She is very much the equivalent of the Norannir. You think of her as a Lord of the Court, and you have some rudimentary understanding of the political power that title might give her. She lives in the Palace, and not in the mean streets of the fiefs that border Ravellon. She has food, should she desire it, and clothing; she has money. But the Norannir have more freedom than Bellusdeo now does.”
“Why are you telling me this? Why not say this to the Emperor?”
“Do you think I have not?” His eyes shaded to a color that was more copper than orange. Kaylin couldn’t remember what it meant, she’d seen it so rarely. In fact, she’d seen it only once: in Bellusdeo’s eyes. “I have told the Emperor that Bellusdeo cannot live in a cage. He does not intend to cage her—but regardless, he does. She is too valuable to risk. We have already seen how close to disaster we came.”
“Arkon—” Kaylin froze, and only in part because the muted draconic voices had risen in volume. “Please tell me this argument has nothing to do with my moving out.”
“You are not, that I recall, fond of unnecessary dishonesty.” He took a seat. It was the only seat in the room that seemed to have enough exposed surface to sit on. “If Bellusdeo can be said to have one friend in the Empire, it is you. She found your absence far more difficult than either she—or you—had imagined she would.”
“She said this?”
“Of course not.” He winced; it took Kaylin a couple of seconds to realize it wasn’t because of anything she’d said. Unlike her, he could understand every word that was being said. Or shouted. “You have made it clear to Bellusdeo that life in the Imperial Palace does not suit you.”
“Not in those exact words, no.”
“Refrain from repeating the exact phrasing.”
Because Kaylin loved her job on most days, she did.
“You intend to find another domicile?”
“Yes. As soon as I can.” When he lifted a brow, she thought of the job she loved—none of which included pandering to annoyed Dragons. On the other hand, survival often did. “Look, there are people who would kill to live in the Palace. I’m certain of it. But they’re the people the Hawklord goes out of his way to prevent me from meeting. Everything in my Palace rooms—everything—costs more than the clothing on my back. I feel like I should bathe before I step foot through the door.
“I can’t leave or enter without an inquisition. I have to deal with Imperial Guards on a daily basis for no other reason than that I live here.”
“They are there for the protection and security of our guests.”
“Fine. But I don’t want to be a guest in my own home. I want to be able to live there. Bellusdeo is a Dragon. When she dons Court dresses, they fit her and look good. She understands the powerful. She has power. I’m a groundhawk. I can barely make ends meet on my cruddy pay. I’m not in her class—and I know it.
“I came from the fiefs. I work on the streets. I don’t belong here, and I can’t be happy where I don’t belong.”
“You are a Lord of the High Court.”
“The Barrani High Court, and you know damn well I don’t have to live in the High Halls.”
“You have visited them before.”
“I visited them with Teela.”
“And the difference?”
She grimaced. There was a difference. She wasn’t certain what it was. “Teela’s a Hawk.”
“And Bellusdeo is not.”
“Bellusdeo would never swear the oath the Halls of Law require.”