09
The Consort was silent for long enough, Kaylin thought she wouldn’t answer the question.
“She is trying to place the timing,” Teela told her. “Nightshade’s attack was less than a full day ago. If your condition
occurred before that attack, it changes the shape of our investigation. No word of the difficulty will leave this place; while
Lord Kaylin is perhaps an open book with regards to most things, she is highly aware of the stakes.
“And she is not foolish enough to dream of a life as a Barrani Lord in the High Halls, which was what she would be forced
to become were the truth known. The Avatar Terrano calls Abel is aware, must be aware, of the difficulty. He understands what
is at stake.”
The Consort bowed head, maintaining silence.
“It did not happen all at once,” she finally said. “If the attempt on Calarnenne’s life coincided with Kaylin’s inability
to heal him, his condition must have occurred immediately. Mine did not. I can speak with the Lake; it is not the way I speak
with you now. But the Lake’s voice is a song that I hear constantly; it is a joy and a reminder that joy must be protected.
“The song became quieter; it was harder to hear, and therefore harder to listen. I was concerned that something had happened, something had injured or damaged the Lake—but the High Halls said the Lake had not changed.
“There was only one conclusion I could draw. I had changed, somehow. But the High Halls could see no discernible difference,
no interference, magical or otherwise, no hint of poison. But two days ago, I could no longer hear the Lake.” She closed her
eyes. Her lips thinned before she spoke again. “I could not visit it, as I was wont to do when troubled.
“I believe you could, should you make that attempt. We are not a populous people, and we have few children over the course
of our long lives—but should a child be born tomorrow, my condition would become known. And should that happen, your ability
would become more widely known as well.
“But if you could not touch Calarnenne, it is unlikely you will be able to affect me with the Marks of the Chosen, either.”
“We haven’t given up on Nightshade,” Kaylin replied. “We’re doing research in at least two places to understand what’s happened
to him—and we can research more or less openly. We obviously can’t do that where you’re involved—but it looks like the work
itself will be useful.”
“And more urgent,” Teela added. She rose. “We will keep you informed in a way that will not cause obvious interest from those
who now work against you. But if you could deliver the names of those families who have had their daughters take the test
of the Lake, it would be of relevance.”
“How so? You imagine that one of those families is somehow responsible?”
“Do you not?”
“One cannot pass the test of the Lake with that mindset; it is why most fail. The Consort, the Lady, must be above political
machinations where the future of our people is concerned.”
“People oft believe what they want to believe,” Teela replied. “And it is possible that one of the three families has chosen to believe that their daughter will pass the test and unseat you—which would be necessary if you cannot wake the children.”
Kaylin didn’t get up from her chair. “One more question,” she said, facing the Consort. “Can you still communicate with your
namebound? Or is it like the Lake?”
The Consort exhaled. “It is like the Lake. I can—as must be clear to you—communicate with my namebound, but it is becoming
more difficult; their voices, while clear, are far quieter. Have you reason to ask that question?”
“I can’t reach Nightshade the way I used to. Whatever was done to you, over a period of time, appears to have been done instantly
to him.”
The Consort rose, forcing Kaylin to do the same. Her eyes were dark, dark blue. “My brother’s reign has been as stable as
a new reign could be expected to be—but this will harm him, possibly irreparably. Find answers, Lord Kaylin. Find them quickly.
Much rides upon a solution.”
To Teela, she said, “I do not wish to involve you in politics that are not your concern. You are already entangled in Mellarionne’s
issues. If your information sources are solid, you will no doubt unearth information about the families involved in recent
testing. The Lake does not, as you must be aware, forbid it. In my absence, in my unexpected death, someone must remain to
carry on the duties I have undertaken.
“In the past, those with political ambitions were not accepted by the Lake.”
“And now?”
“I believe there is one child who personally lacks much ambition. I have seen her only a handful of times, always at a distance;
she is timid, but she has the protection of a line that was once very significant. As Sedarias does, the new lord—the lord
who succeeded the man who wielded power—is attempting to hold on to what he has taken.
“But that has ever been the challenge of our kin, has it not? The bold and the reckless often fail to take into account the future that lies in wait beyond their moments of triumph. Many could conquer who could not hold the seats they gained.”
Kaylin frowned. Ynpharion.
I am listening.
Why didn’t you warn me?
I was forbidden. What the Consort shares, she chooses. But now you know. And she would share this with you because you can
accomplish what she cannot. If it is necessary, you would be willing to do so secretly to aid and support my Lady.
Kaylin didn’t argue. It was true. While she had her issues with certain members of the Halls of Law who were quick to take
credit for other people’s work, this was entirely different. She didn’t want to be the Lady of the Lake. She didn’t really want to be a Lord of the High Court, either. If the Consort could not wake
the infants, Kaylin could—and she was desperately willing to let the Consort take all credit.
“Which woman, and which family?” Teela’s words brought her back to the conversation at hand.
“Yvonne, a young woman from the West March. She was born to a branch family of Sennarin, and An’Sennarin has formally adopted
her as she is without direct kin. I would have said she could not survive in the High Halls, but An’Sennarin has, thus far,
managed to protect her.” The Consort hesitated, and then added, “In that, he has the aid of An’Tellarus. If An’Sennarin has
acknowledged Yvonne as immediate kin, Yvonne nonetheless serves An’Tellarus as personal attendant. I believe it has caused
some friction between Sennarin and Tellarus.”
Kaylin didn’t recognize either of the names the Consort spoke.
Teela clearly did.
But that wasn’t the strange part. Severn did. He said nothing; no hint of recognition crossed his expression. But they shared her name. She knew. She could feel it—and it had to be strong for that to happen. Severn was good at keeping his thoughts to himself unless she reached out for them.
His thoughts were a steel trap; no words escaped. But his surprise—perhaps shock—could be felt as tremors.
She wanted to reach out. She wanted to say something. But she’d never been good at saying the right thing when it really mattered.
Severn chose to keep words to himself. Kaylin couldn’t force words out.
“It is Tellarus that concerns you,” Teela said—a statement, not a question.
The Consort nodded regardless. “An’Teela—the girl is not dangerous in and of herself. In other circumstances, I would be fond
of her.”
“But if she is bound to Tellarus, that is an entirely different story.”
The Consort did not reply. Instead she turned to Kaylin. “I hope to hear word from the Chosen as soon as possible. But you
may have to petition for an appointment in person; I cannot guarantee that I can reach you through my usual avenues of communication.”
Ynpharion flinched.
Kaylin now understood why he had been uneasy. The Lady was the lord he had chosen, the lord he desired to serve with the entirety
of his being. He had offered the Lady his name willingly, had made himself far more vulnerable to her commands than any Barrani
of sound mind might have done. Perhaps, had the situation not been so critical, he wouldn’t have made that choice.
But he was proud of that choice.
And the Lady considered him one of her most important guards.
“We’ll leave. The research being done to alleviate Nightshade’s condition seems very relevant to yours. The moment we hear anything, the moment we have any clues, we’ll let you know.”
“If Ynpharion cannot reach me as he has done in the past, I will keep him far closer than I do now.”
This pleased Ynpharion; it was proof of his value to the Lady. Even if that value was simply the fact that his True Name was
known to Kaylin.
“Do that,” Kaylin replied without thought. Her response filled Ynpharion with comfortable outrage—at least, comfortable for
Kaylin. She turned and then turned back. “Do you have any idea why someone would send two war bands to Nightshade right now?
The timing seems way too close to be coincidental.”
“Throughout the centuries, it’s been tried. Calarnenne possesses one of The Three, and it will not leave his hand until his
death.” At that, a hint of a troubled smile touched her lips. “He was asked, once, for the return of that sword. He refused.”
“. . . who asked?”
“My grandfather. But I should not speak of it where he has not. Let me say instead that attempts were frequent in the past
and occur very seldom now. I hope the timing was coincidental.”
Hope wasn’t belief. That much was clear.
“Kitling,” Teela said in her best officer voice. “It is time to let the Consort rest.” She glanced at Severn, who stood as
a perfect and almost invisible guard. “Corporal.”
He nodded.
The Avatar of the High Halls was waiting for them at the end of the path that led, through the interior forest of the Halls,
to the Consort’s personal fountain. To Kaylin’s surprise, he wore armor, not the usual robes. He was silent, but not still;
he offered Kaylin a deliberate, perfect bow.