Part 31 (1/2)
Kaylin ma.s.saged her wrists to get enough feeling in her hands that she could use them to climb. Severn had the rope in hand, and in this case it was actually helpful; the tips of her fingers were distinctly bluish in tinge, not a color that looked good on Kaylin. ”What happened?”
”She was alive,” Kaylin said curtly. ”We're to meet Tara back at the Tower. I think we can safely say we discharged our investigative duties, at least for today.”
”We can. That doesn't usually bother you.” He fell in beside her, adjusting his stride as she began to speed up. ”She spoke?”
Kaylin nodded grimly. ”Tara couldn't understand what she was saying.”
”You could.”
”I showed her my arms.”
After a very brief pause, Severn asked why. It was a reasonable question, all things considered. ”I was still thinking about what Tara said about the Norannir.”
”She's not Norannir, judging by her size.”
”No-but Severn, Mejrah recognized her. I thought maybe, just maybe, the marks on my arms would have a similar meaning to her as it did to the Elders. If we were closer to the border, I'd have taken her to Mejrah.” She shook her head.
”She recognized them, didn't she?”
Kaylin nodded. She wasn't running-running Hawks tended to cause either panic or congestion in the streets, depending on which streets they were-but she was walking at a very fast clip. ”When she grabbed my hands, I could understand her. It worked the same way as it seems to work with Effaron.”
”The traveler?”
”Yes. I understood her-but I understood her to be speaking my native tongue. Tara didn't recognize the language.” Tara had a Tower's memory; it was probably longer and deeper than the Arkon's. And a lot less temperamental. If Tara didn't recognize it, there was a good chance it had never been spoken in this world. If it hadn't, Kaylin wondered what the Arkon would make of it. ”Severn, she wanted me to kill her.”
He was silent; she thought her speed had managed to out-pace his questions.
”Did it have to be you?”
”What?”
”Did it have to be you who killed her?”
”I don't know-believe it or not, that wasn't the first question that popped into my mind. Mostly, I was wondering why she wanted to die.”
”If she does, you're probably the last person in the fief she should ask.”
”Severn, no one would have done what she asked. Tara wouldn't. You wouldn't. The Arkon certainly wouldn't.”
”True. And?”
”It bothers me. She seemed so desperate. I don't know if she's being hunted; seven corpses certainly implies as much. But something about it felt wrong.” Kaylin hesitated again. ”I think she recognized Maggaron's sword.”
”If Mejrah's not wrong and if the woman's appearance is not a coincidence, that's not as strange as it could be. She'd recognize the sword because she was the one responsible for bestowing it on Maggaron.”
”I understand the theory,” Kaylin replied as they took the last corner and turned onto Garden Row. ”But it's clear that in Maggaron's time-and experience-this sword was never sheathed. How did she recognize it, Severn?”
”I don't know. Maybe she'll be able to explain.”
Kaylin nodded. ”I don't think it mattered to her who killed her-but I think it mattered how. She wanted to be killed by this sword. I just happened to be carrying it.”
In the end, the question was to remain unanswered. Kaylin and Severn arrived at the doors of the Tower; they rolled open slowly. Tara stood in the doorway. She was still winged, and her eyes were ebony. She bowed to Kaylin, which was awkward, and not just because of the wings. Kaylin waited until she rose before speaking.
”How is she?”
”She did not survive.”
Kaylin uttered a brief word in Leontine. ”Was she alive when you arrived?”
”Yes.” Tara hesitated. ”The Arkon, Tiamaris, and Sanabalis are with her now. They do not wish to be disturbed.”
Kaylin was all for not disturbing upset Dragons.
”They did not wish you to leave, however.”
This, on the other hand, was less welcome. ”What exactly did they want us to do?”
”Wait.”
”On the doorstep?”
Tara's expression rippled. ”Oh. No, I don't think that's what they meant.”
”Do you think we could wait with Maggaron?”
Tara frowned. ”You wish to ask him about Bellusdeo?”
”I do. I know this is going to be bad, but do you think you could pry Sanabalis out of that room? We need him to get our memory crystal back.”
”I think it will have to wait. You wish to show the crystal's image to Maggaron?”
”Yes.” Before Tara could speak, Kaylin hastily added, ”But I don't want to show him her corpse.”
”Oh? Why not?”
”He's already completely wrecked, Tara. If she's indeed Bellusdeo-or one of a dozen spitting images of her-I think it could push him over the edge.” The words left her mouth before her second thoughts could kick in.
”What edge?”
Glum, Kaylin resigned herself to explaining yet another metaphor as Tara stepped out of the door. But Tara was on her own ground now, and she caught the thought before Kaylin could pick out better words to express it. Tara seldom found Kaylin's frustration annoying.
”So you are afraid that you will upset him so much he will not be able to be helpful?”
”Yes.”
The Avatar, her eyes like the void, smiled brightly. It was jarring. ”I can help.”
Maggaron was still sitting by the window. He'd probably only been seated there for a few hours, but they were long d.a.m.n hours by this point. Kaylin's stomach rumbled; it was like a clock, but embarra.s.sing.
”Are you hungry?” Tara asked.