Part 45 (2/2)
”They're not well designed. There's no reason at all why I should have to touch them; my approach-or yours-should be more than enough.” Although she wasn't that much taller than Kaylin, she could really look down her nose effectively. Kaylin wanted to disagree, but found that she couldn't. She lowered a numb hand as the door slid open.
Sanabalis was seated, as he habitually was, at the head of the table that occupied most of the West Room. There was no candle sitting, unlit, in front of him, which was a distinct improvement.
”Private Neya,” he said, inclining his head. His eyes were only a pale orange. ”Bellusdeo.”
”Lord Sanabalis.” She frowned. ”Is it possible for us to converse in the language of the Norannir?”
”Not effectively, no.”
”Very well.” She took a seat.
”You were waiting for me?” Kaylin asked, likewise taking a seat. One farther away from Sanabalis. She suspected that the correct answer was that he'd been waiting for Bellusdeo.
”For three hours, give or take a few minutes.” So much for the correct answer. He raised a pale brow. ”You are, in theory, still seconded to my service in the fiefs. Given Bellusdeo's presence, and the presence of the Norannir, you may be allowed to return to your normal duties if she is willing to intercede on our behalf with the Norannir.”
”Intercede in what way?” Bellusdeo asked. It was a perfectly reasonable question.
Sanabalis, however, winced. ”It cannot have escaped your attention that you are held in high regard by the Norannir.”
”They have not seen me for some time.”
”Even so, there must have been paintings, statues, or other artifacts that captured your likeness; they recognized you when an image of you was shown.”
Her smile was soft and sweet, and it added years to her face. Not age, but years. ”And this presents a problem for your Dragon Court how?”
”The image that was shown to the Norannir was contained in a crystal possessed of other magical properties.”
”And?”
”It came, originally, from the Arkon's personal collection. He wants it back.”
”And the Norannir are not interested in returning it?”
”They venerate the image; they're not concerned with how that image is conveyed. I understand that they have only myths and legends with which to confront Dragons, as they didn't recognize the Dragon form when they were first exposed to it.”
She nodded, her expression grave. ”It was the form of our ancient enemy; we did not choose, in the end, to appear as Dragons before the Norannir in order to encourage...caution.”
”But they knew what you were.”
She nodded.
”And...the ancient enemy?”
”He is not wholly what you-or I-are. He has lived in the heart of the Shadows, and he has been tainted by them. If he is also your enemy, Lord Sanabalis, and you are familiar with his history-”
”The only person who is intimately familiar with his history is the Arkon. He does not speak of it,” he added. ”Nor will he appreciate the inquiry. He has, at least once, been seen in mortal form-but not by any member of the Dragon Court.”
”By whom?”
”The Chosen.”
They both fell silent as they considered the ramifications of this statement.
”You may inform the Arkon that I will get his trinket back,” Bellusdeo told Sanabalis. ”I hardly see that they will need it if I am here in the flesh.”
”Thank you.” Sanabalis now rose. His chair made a lot more noise. ”Private Neya? The Hawklord has requested your presence in the infirmary.”
”What-now?”
”Or as soon as possible. He wishes to fully capture the marks on your body as of yesterday's...event, for Records. A copy of the capture will be sent on to the Imperial Palace. I have agreed to this interruption in your schedule. You have enough time remaining to be fully examined before you are required to return to the Palace.”
Kaylin tried not to grimace. She knew exactly why a return to the Palace was necessary: she had an etiquette cla.s.s.
”There is a common mortal phrase,” Sanabalis told her as he reached the door.
”Which one?”
”Misery loves company.”
She frowned.
The Dragon Lord looked pointedly at Bellusdeo and said, ”Private Neya is not the only student Lord Diarmat will have at this evening's lesson.”
CHAPTER 24.
”The Emperor is only barely willing to allow this,” Lord Sanabalis said as he examined Bellusdeo's dress. It was a shade of blue that Kaylin found familiar and slightly unsettling because she'd seen it on eight corpses. Bellusdeo, however, had insisted. At the moment, it made Kaylin's arms itch because the color wasn't due to something solid and dependable like an exotic dye; they hadn't the time for it. No, the color was entirely an artifact of magic.
The style of the dress, however, was very much Imperial standard; it was fussy, and it required some help to put on. Kaylin had been relegated to the role of helper, and was clearly not considered competent at the job.
”Barely willing to allow what?” Bellusdeo asked, her voice cool. Her eyes were a shade of amber that was just a trace off its usual gold.
”Your lessons,” Sanabalis replied.
”I would be pleased to avoid them entirely,” was the Dragon's response.
”You've got that right,” Kaylin muttered.
”It is not the lesson itself which is contentious,” Sanabalis told Kaylin, his voice sharper; it smoothed out again when he turned to Bellusdeo. ”It is the fact that you will have met every member of the Dragon Court before you've been formally introduced to the Emperor.”
”Oh?” If possible, Bellusdeo's voice was even chillier.
”That's not true. She hasn't met Emmerian.” Seeing the darkening of Sanabalis's eyes, Kaylin hastily added, ”Lord Emmerian.”
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