Part 36 (2/2)
”Chosen.” Maggaron lifted the sword. ”I can do as she asks.”
But Tara shook her head. ”It is not safe for you to leave the Tower, Maggaron.”
”The Chosen has my name,” he countered.
”She has. But she has shown a strong unwillingness to use it to contain you. If your life is in danger, she will do so-but only in the case that it is immediately obvious to her what the danger is. The Shadows are capable of great subtlety, at need.”
The line of his shoulders sank and he turned to Kaylin, dropping to one knee-which brought their eyes to about the same level. ”Chosen,” he said, his voice lower. ”I have no right to ask, but I ask it. Please. Let me go where you go. Let me do what must be done.”
”I-”
”It is the last thing I can do for either my sword or my Lady. I will accept any consequence; I will welcome any control you exert. I will warn you-”
”You cannot warn her if you are under someone else's control.”
No, the sword said. But I can.
Kaylin remembered-clearly-the pain she had felt when she attempted to force Maggaron to do something he didn't want to do. But seeing the pain and the bleak hope in his expression was vastly more difficult. ”Tara, can you-”
”No. I cannot guard him against the use of his name if we leave the Tower. I can destroy him, I believe-although it will be costly to the fief.”
”Will you let me make this decision?”
Tiamaris cleared his throat. Loudly. Grimacing, Kaylin turned to her one-time fellow Hawk, and the current fieflord of the fief. Just as Maggaron had done, she dropped to one knee in full view of the Dragon Lord. ”Tiamaris. Lord Tiamaris,” she amended.
His eyes were a shade of copper; they were not the livid orange of the Arkon's. ”Private Neya?”
”Please allow Maggaron to accompany me.”
”Do you understand the risk?”
She nodded.
”Do you understand that you are not the only person at risk? That the citizens of the fief-those who can't defend themselves against either Maggaron or the Shadows-will bear the brunt of your failure if you cannot do what must be done?”
”Yes.”
”Do you honestly feel that you are capable of controlling him?”
”...Yes.”
He rolled his eyes. Distancing himself from Sanabalis-who was now examining his beard-and the Arkon, he approached Kaylin. ”Kaylin, why?”
In reply, she lifted her arms and turned them toward the fieflord. The runes on her skin were glowing a faint, clear blue. His eyes widened. ”This is part of his story, of his history,” she told him.
”It is part of ours, and of any whom he might injure or kill should he once again fall under Shadow's sway. The boundary will not protect him, as you should well know.”
She shook her head. ”This is a part of his story that must be written or told. I'm sorry,” she added, feeling more than slightly embarra.s.sed. ”I realize it sounds...”
”Foolish.”
”I wouldn't go that far. But-the marks.”
He nodded slowly. ”Tara?”
The Avatar came to where Kaylin knelt, pa.s.sing by Maggaron, who had also remained in a supplicant posture. ”None of us have ever understood the role of the Chosen,” she finally said. ”If there can be said to be only one role. My Lord, I am willing to allow Kaylin to take this risk.”
”I don't like it,” Tiamaris replied. Kaylin almost sagged in relief. ”But where you are willing to take such a risk, I will follow. Remember, however,” he added as Kaylin began to rise, ”that there are no laws governing what I do to criminals in my own domain.”
CHAPTER 19.
The Arkon snorted smoke. ”Very well,” he said. ”Sanabalis, will you remain here, or join us?”
”I wouldn't miss it for the world,” Sanabalis replied. ”Unless the Private has any objections?”
None that she was stupid enough to voice. ”Lord Tiamaris?” she said without much hope.
”I will remain in the Tower. Tara, however, wishes to accompany you.”
”Can I point out that we don't have a destination as of yet?”
”Given the Arkon's impatience in this matter, I suggest you resolve that difficulty as quickly as humanly possible.” He turned to the Arkon. ”I would appreciate it if you kept fire to a minimum in my fief.”
”Of course, Lord Tiamaris.” He fixed Kaylin with a very orange glare. ”Private?”
She resisted the urge to pa.s.s it on, and instead helped Maggaron halfway to his feet. He bowed to her. ”Chosen,” he whispered.
”Can you just call me Kaylin? Everyone else does.” Strictly speaking, this wasn't true, but the Ascendant nodded anyway. To the sword, she said, ”Can you find Bellusdeo if she's alive anywhere in this fief?”
I am not entirely certain. I can find her if we are at all close to her.
”Could you sense her earlier?”
No. The...sheath...all but sundered me from the world.
”I've already said I won't use it again,” Kaylin replied in a hurry. ”Do you think she'll try to return here a ninth time?”
Yes.
”And is that our last chance to achieve whatever it is she's trying to achieve?”
Yes.
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