Part 33 (2/2)

”No. They're fluid to my eye; they have a shape and a line that I should recognize, but I cannot comprehend them visually. I suspect that under the right circ.u.mstances, you might.”

”What do you mean?”

”Give the Ascendant the sword,” was the soft reply.

Maggaron was still on one knee, but his respectful posture gave way to something that reminded Kaylin of subtle cowering. Given he didn't change position at all, this was mildly impressive. ”I must decline,” he told Tara.

”I don't think she was asking your permission.”

”Chosen-” he swallowed ”-I cannot-I am not worthy.”

”You don't have to keep it-”

He laughed. It was brief, and it was very, very bitter. ”You can wield the sword but you cannot understand it; you will always be outside it, if you can say that so easily. If she had not been trapped because of me, I would never, ever have surrendered her. Do you not understand? I gave her into your keeping and she allowed it-so that she might be free of my entrapment.”

She started to speak; stopped herself because the words would have been unkind. He was afraid to take the sword because he wanted it so badly, and Kaylin could understand that. ”If you don't want to, I won't force it,” she told him quietly. ”But Tara thinks it'll tell us-me-something I need to know. Will you try?”

He swallowed. She saw his Adam's apple bob up and down. He didn't trust himself to speak, but he did nod, and he held out both of his hands. They were shaking. Kaylin handed him the sword.

The minute he touched it, it began to change shape, widening and elongating until it looked like a long sword. But way bigger. The runes were clear, bright-and a very steely blue. Kaylin's eyes widened.

”Kaylin?”

Maggaron rose, the sword's blade cradled in his open palms. He was shaking slightly, and Kaylin knew he wouldn't touch the hilt. ”Chosen, you must hold the sword, and you must listen.”

”Or you could tell me what it's saying.”

He shook his head, his lips curved in a smile that held both pain and a joy so intense it might as well have been pain, it seemed almost unbearable. ”I cannot tell you all that it is saying. But...it is safe, in this Tower. If we leave, I-I cannot guarantee safety.” He closed his eyes and whispered a single word. Kaylin heard it as Bellusdeo.

She would have given him privacy if she'd thought they had the time. She gave him a few minutes of silence instead. When she spoke, she put on her Hawk's voice and tried to distance herself from what she saw. ”The sword-it's part of her, isn't it?”

He nodded.

”That's why the Dragons disappeared.” It wasn't a question. ”They weren't killed, as the Elders think-they sacrificed themselves.”

”It was the only way. She said it was the only way. We're mortal,” he added. ”We can be killed. We can be transformed-but not easily. But we cannot be unmade and we cannot be rewritten.”

Death, in Kaylin's mind, was pretty d.a.m.n unmade; she didn't point this out. Instead, she stared at the runes on the sword's flat. ”They changed,” she finally said, speaking to both Tara and Maggaron. ”They changed when you took the sword.” Her eyes widened.

”How did they change?” Tara asked sharply.

”They became his name.”

Tara fell silent. At length she said, ”I must speak with the Arkon.”

Kaylin nodded.

”I would like you to accompany me.”

Kaylin cringed. ”I'm not finished here, yet.”

Tara said to Maggaron, ”The sword agreed to allow Kaylin to wield it-or at least lift it-because Kaylin had your name. But it is still part of you, Ascendant, and in a way I don't understand. I believe it is safe to leave the sword with you for the moment, but I will ask you to accompany us, as well. I do not wish you to be far from me while you wield it.”

Maggaron nodded. He looked both pained and happy, and it was a striking combination. ”Chosen-”

”Hold her,” Kaylin told him. ”While you can. Tell me if she says anything you think I need to hear.”

Severn caught up with her in the halls, because Tara and Maggaron walked ahead, side by side. Maggaron didn't sheathe the sword, but then again, he had no sheath for it. She wondered what he did with the sword when he needed to eat. If he needed to eat.

”Tara doesn't look happy,” Severn said.

”I think she's confused. I just wish her confusion didn't lead to the Arkon today.” Severn nodded.

”Do you think Nightshade knew?”

”No. I'm not entirely certain the Arkon does, either. But the circ.u.mstances were-are-strange enough to warrant close inspection. What do you think is happening?”

”I'm not sure.” She hesitated because she always did when she wasn't certain. It was a failing she struggled to overcome, and it was helped by the fact that she'd been wrong before when she was certain, and she'd survived that. ”His name-the name that the Shadows have-isn't his. He wasn't born with it. He came to it by choice and that choice wasn't entirely his. It's not like mine,” she added, aware that she hadn't been born with one, either. ”I took mine from the Lake, and I don't think that would have been possible if I hadn't been marked already.” She lifted her arms, the marks still visible.

”What I don't understand at all is how. It's not, I'd swear it's not, the Dragon's true name. It might be some part of it, but how the h.e.l.ls does that happen? Names are names-they're alive in some fas.h.i.+on. I don't think you can lop off a part of one-it'd be like me chopping off an arm and giving it to you, and expecting you to be able to attach and use it.”

He was silent as they walked, but it was a thoughtful silence. It demanded thought on her part, and she gave it.

”In the High Court?”

He nodded.

”The High Lord.”

”Yes.”

”I don't think it's the same thing.”

”No? His name wasn't complete.”

I don't think, she continued, shutting her mouth and opening her thoughts, that we're supposed to be discussing this here. Tara can probably hear us.

She can probably hear us anyway. I think it necessary if we're to understand what's happening.

It was true.

Tell me why you think it's not the same.

His name wasn't complete. He had a name, but-it wasn't complete...

Until you completed it.

<script>