Kaylin didn't have the option the doors had, being attached at the arm. Then again, the doors didn't need the Consort's regal disdain as a shield, either.
* * *
The outer chamber was pretty much a hall. It wasn't a small hall, either, but the Barrani never did anything modest. There was a long table, visible through a broad, slender arch that didn't look as though it could actually support the weight of the ceiling above it. Before the arch, there was a wide, sparsely furnished room, with a small font in the corner farthest from the bedroom door; natural light-during the day, which this wasn't-would probably fill the room. Kaylin glanced at the Consort; the Consort looked straight ahead.
Dining room, then.
Although her guests were all men of power and import, the Consort headed straight for the exceptionally tall chair at the head of the table. Her hand tightened once on Kaylin's arm before she slid into the seat. "Unless you enjoy stilted conversation and the suspicion that causes it, you may take your leave."
"The dress-"
"I know. I would like to tell you it is the least of your worries, but that is unlikely to bring you much comfort. You are not in the Hallionne, Kaylin. Your role as harmoniste makes attempts on your life unlikely-but that is not now my concern." She glanced, once, at the small tear in the dress. "I mean you no harm, but I am not certain I am...safe." She looked pointedly at Kaylin's shoulder.
Or rather, at the small dragon that was draped across it.
"I will not tell you to avoid An'Teela. I feel the opposite is almost necessary-but you are in the most danger while you are with her. Take your companion with you wherever you go." She looked down the table as the rest of the guests entered the chamber. She didn't rise to greet them.
Kaylin hesitated, but the truth was, her ankle was throbbing-so much for imaginary injuries-and she was exhausted. As usual, she was hungry, but a table full of political, angry Barrani wasn't much of an inducement to stay. She offered the Consort the most perfect bow a groundhawk with a bum ankle could muster, and then backed out of the room-also an awkward maneuver, given the ankle.
For her part, the Consort accepted the obeisance as if it was her indisputable due.
* * *
Kaylin.
Great. She could hear two voices on the inside of her head. She wondered idly if they could hear each other.
Nightshade was amused. No.
Lirienne didn't answer.
When I was in the Hallionne, she told them both-she hoped it was both-I couldn't speak to either of you. I couldn't reach you.
No. It was Nightshade who answered, but that made sense-she had never tried to speak to the Lord of the West March the same way.
You could reach me when I was in the void. You could reach me when I was in the High Halls, healing- She broke off, not that it would make much difference.
Yes.
Why was this different? Did I-did I disappear?
No. To the eyes of all observers, you remained in the room.
Does this happen often?
No, Kaylin. I do not think it could happen anywhere but the green. When you leave, find your Corporal. If you encounter difficulty, call upon the eagles of Alsanis; I believe they will hear your voice.
What can they do?
He laughed, or at least, she felt laughter.
Kaylin. A different speaker. Lirienne. I am-we are-in your debt.
If it's all the same to you, I'd like to skip the debt part.
He also laughed. If her ankle hadn't been throbbing quite so badly, she might have smiled. You would, I think, respect Lord Barian. Because you are not Barrani, I feel it necessary to remind you that trust is unwise. It is likely that we will convene a meeting of the Council of the West March on the morrow.
Can I-
No. You are the harmoniste, and given the appearance of the eagles, Lord Barian will request your presence even if I do not. You have seen most of Court, if you have not interacted with all of them; they were in the hall at dinner. There is very little you can do to disguise the damage to the dress, and it will cause distress. You may be called upon to explain it; resist.
Who's going to ask?
I will.
But you just said-
Yes. Do not answer when I demand the truth.
So I'm supposed to say nothing?
You are, Nightshade said, to do no such thing. You are to answer, but you are to avoid the truth in any of your replies. Lie. Or misdirect. The Lord of the West March will allow obvious silence or obvious rebellion; you are mortal.
Can he hear this?
I can, Lord Lirienne replied. Because you desire it. I will speak with the Consort.
You haven't, yet?
No; she has made clear that she is not to be questioned, and she never does so without cause. She took pains to prevent anyone present from interacting with you personally, and she dismissed you in a way that allowed none of us to follow.
But Kaylin, kyuthe, be cautious. I know it is not in your nature-but try.
* * *
When she reached the end of the hall, she found Severn. She wasn't even surprised to see him; she was mostly grateful. He was human. He was still bruised, his eye in particular; his hair had been singed, and although it was clean it was uneven. She didn't ask him how he'd known to meet her. She did grimace when his gaze fell to her injured ankle.
"Am I hobbling?"
"You're favoring your other foot," was his diplomatic reply. "The Consort is awake?"
"She is now. She's not in a great mood."
"Your ankle?"
"Oh, not that bad a mood. I injured it trying to get her to wake up." When his brows rose, she added, "Long story, and probably boring to anyone who wasn't in it."
"As long and repetitive as your rants about Margot and Elani street?"
"Very funny."
"Heading to your rooms? I know where they are."
The small dragon hissed in that broken way that implied laughter. "Do you know where Teela's staying?"
Severn nodded.
"Can you take me there?"
"Kaylin-"
"I'm worried about her," Kaylin said, lowering her voice instinctively. "I didn't realize what the West March meant to her. She offered to come and I said yes."
"I insisted I accompany you," a familiar voice said, in the same Elantran Kaylin and Severn were using.
Chapter 11
"Don't make that face. You asked Corporal Handred if he knew where I was staying. You didn't ask him if I was there."
"It's the middle of the night, Teela. It's dark."
"And Barrani require how much sleep? You, on the other hand, look terrible."
"And I know you mean that in the nicest possible way."
"Kitling, what happened to your ankle?"
"I landed badly."
"From what height?"
"Six feet."
"And you did that?"
"My hands were full at the time, Teela. I couldn't drop what I was carrying."
"From six feet? You could cut off my hands and I'd stick that landing." Teela's eyes narrowed. "Please tell me the light in this rustic hall is so appalling the hole in that dress is actually a wrinkle."
"Can I compromise and say I didn't put it there?"
"That's not much of a compromise."
"It's the truth."
"Truth is not an excuse."
Kaylin wanted to shriek. Her stomach made noise instead. Teela's eyes slid from blue to their resting blue-green state. "Your rooms."
Kaylin nodded.
"The servants will no doubt be waiting; it is quite late. They will provide food if food is requested."
Kaylin nodded again; it was generally the safe bet when Teela took charge. She glanced at Severn. A look passed between the two Hawks, but Severn didn't disappear. He didn't take the lead, though; Teela had it and didn't look like surrendering it could ever occur to her.
Only when she reached a familiar door-with a ward that made her cringe-did Teela stop.
"I swear," Kaylin said between slightly clenched teeth, "if the door ward sounds the alarm again, I'm going to find an axe."
"That might be more difficult than you imagine. I'd open the door for you, but I believe it's keyed to you."
At least she didn't have to hit it with her forehead. She lifted her left hand and gritted her teeth as she placed her palm against the ward. This time, however, there was no blaring alarms, and no accompanying armored guards. The door swung open, into the hall, and Kaylin entered rooms that were hers while she wore this dress.
They didn't feel like hers. Nothing Barrani really did.
To draw a line under this point, the servants were waiting. Kaylin remembered Teela's pointed words. These servants had their sense of worth and duty tied up in doing their job well. If Kaylin was obviously uncomfortable-and damn it, she was-she was telling them they were doing it badly.
Inhaling, she drew herself to her full height-which was not impressive in comparison-and said, "I was called from Lord Barian's residence to tend to the Consort by the dreams of Alsanis, and I've only just emerged. I twisted my ankle in a fall, I've spent what feels like hours in the nightmares of a Hallionne and I'm-" Her stomach growled. She flushed. "Hungry." The last word was Elantran.
They waited, and she added, "Please bring refreshments for my guests and me." She wasn't used to sitting rooms that were basically small dining halls, and she had no problem eating while draped across her bed, because if Teela and Tain dropped into her apartment, someone had to sit there.