LITMIR.BIZ

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spoke before she could. “She’s a building, Kaylin. She’s sentient. She has will. She’s made choices that were physically almost ruinous for her in order to maintain some sense of her own autonomy. You think she did that to buy her freedom.”

      “She did.”

      “Yes.”

      “And no,” Bellusdeo cut in. Severn fell silent, allowing Bellusdeo to carry the rest of the conversation. “She bought a measure of freedom. She injured herself so that she had a measure of choice. But her choices are, and have always been, confined. She is a building. She was created to be a building. Her sentience was bound into her nature. It is not that different from you—or me, or Teela. There are things we might want to do that our actual existence does not allow. You cannot live forever, no matter how cautious you might choose to be. Not,” she added, “that you ever choose to be cautious.

      “Helen is a building. She is your home.”

      “I’ll tell her she can say no.”

      “She knows the likely outcome of that—and it is an outcome that affects you directly. You want them under your roof because you trust Helen to minimize the danger, both to them, and from them. But Helen, I think, is less certain about that ability, precisely because of the choices she made in the distant past.

      “But they will not stay in Tiamaris, and it is a disaster to even think of placing them in Nightshade—and those are the only two Towers that might, just might, be able to do what Helen is afraid she cannot.” She exhaled steam.

      Something in her tone of voice caught Kaylin’s attention, and she stopped walking in order to catch Bellusdeo’s. It took the Dragon half a block to notice, but she did reverse course. “The Emperor does not yet know about the cohort and their imminent arrival. According to Annarion, I’ll have six weeks in which to smooth over future difficulties.

      “The politics of the High Court, when it comes to the internal hierarchy of Barrani lords, has been largely irrelevant to his concerns. An attempted assassination at the Halls of Law will not be.”

      Kaylin winced. “And you’re living with me.”

      “Yes. The Emperor is confident of Helen’s ability to protect me from the immediately lethal: arcane bombs, for one. I am uncertain that his confidence will remain intact with the addition of eight Barrani would-be Lords of the High Court. In the worst case, I expect that I will be ‘invited’ to return to the palace.” The orange of her eyes made clear just how welcome that would be.

      * * *

      It was not a surprise that the Hawks ended up at Evanton’s shop. It wasn’t intentional, but Evanton’s shop was part of their beat, and Grethan had appeared at the window to wave as the Hawks patrolled.

      “Is he in?” Kaylin asked Evanton’s apprentice. Her familiar immediately leapt off her shoulder onto Grethan’s, who—as always—seemed delighted to have him. Hope had always liked the Tha’alani apprentice.

      “I think—I’m not certain—he’s expecting you.”

      “Good or bad?”

      “He’s been absentminded, but not grouchy, if that helps. I think he’s in the garden. I’ll tell him you’re here.”

      * * *

      They gathered around the kitchen table in the cramped, small space. Kaylin understood that the cookies Evanton offered were a type of bribe, and truly didn’t care. She also drank the tea he made. He wasn’t having enough of a bad day that he was willing to drink any himself, which was probably a good sign. Then again, with Evanton, it was hard to tell.

      “I have had the opportunity to speak with the elemental water this morning,” he now said.

      The cookies lost all taste. “And she told you to speak to us?”

      “I am not sure that ‘she’ is the appropriate pronoun, but I will endeavor not to criticize.”

      Try harder, Kaylin thought. “What did the water have to say?”

      “I would consider it mostly irrelevant to you in different circumstances.” He was not in a terrible mood, but was obviously feeling testy. Kaylin, however, understood this test, and she could pass it, if not with flying colors, at least with passable grades.

      One bushy brow rose as he considered her. “Very good. Teela’s confederates are—as I believe you must now know—leaving the green. The heart of the green is concerned.”

      Kaylin nodded, but had to bite back the obvious how do you know this that wanted to leap out of her mouth. He wouldn’t answer and it would annoy him, which meant there was no possible gain.

      “The water believes they will travel between Hallionne, making use of the portal paths to avoid unwanted attention. You are expecting visitors?”

      Kaylin hesitated; Bellusdeo—who treated Evanton with far more respect than most mortals did—stepped on her foot. “Yes. What does the water want from me?”

      “I do not believe the water intends to command you in any fashion,” was the slightly defensive reply.

      “Fine. What do you want?”

      “I’d like you to stay out of trouble, if that’s at all possible.”

      “Something I can actually do.”

      This pulled a smile from the older man. He looked worn, tired, and entirely more fragile than he had when she’d first met him. He didn’t look any older, though. “I would like to make certain that Teela’s friends are staying with you. Helen’s intervention to date has been both fortuitous and necessary, especially with regard to Annarion. That young man has an unfortunate temper.”

      Kaylin blinked. “Annarion?”

      “You cannot hear him.”

      “No. He’s generally the quiet, reasonable one.”

      “A terrifying thought.” Evanton exhaled. “His actions—over which he does have some control—are quiet and reasonable. But he is in pain, Kaylin, and when he leaves Helen—on the rare occasions he does—his anguish can be heard. It can practically be felt.”

      “And Mandoran?”

      “Mandoran does not have that effect.”

      “You think the others will?”

      “That is the question. The water does not hear as I hear. The heart of the green hears more. The Hallionne in which Teela’s friends have made their home since your intervention, hears all. There has been much discussion, and much concern shared. I believe that at least two of the visitors would have voices as loud, as detrimental, as Annarion’s were they to be left to their own devices. They do not need to break the law you have made it your life to uphold,” he added. “No conscious choice is required.

      “But they are not—as I am certain even you are aware—what they were. Some of them recognize and accept this fact; some do not. It is those who do not who are the biggest danger. And no, don’t make that face. Annarion is a threat, with no intent, no desire to be one.” His eyes narrowed. “Do not let them interfere with Helen,” he said, which was not what she’d expected.

      “They can’t.”

      He said, after a long pause, “You rescued them, in a fashion. You believe that the Hallionne Alsanis sheltered them because that was the purpose for which the Hallionne were constructed. You believe that they were forced to change their nature to better slide between the bars of a very forgiving cage. You have correctly divined that the Hallionne, being sentient, have some access to living emotion; you have even correctly understood that the Hallionne are subject to isolation and loneliness.

      “But you have failed to understand the subtleties.”

      “And you’re going to explain my failure.”

      “Yes,

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