Thanks for the reviews, Guest & AmelieS! Also, thanks for the shoutout, AmelieS! (I meant to thank you last chapter, but it slipped my mind.) I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Nightshade woke her.
Kaylin was used to being woken. She had spent the majority of the last severn years being woken by Marcus' angry growls, and the last couple weeks being woken by Helen. Nightshade was neither Marcus nor Helen. As light - from an unidentifiable source - began seeping into the room, he sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair off her face.
"I suggest you get up now," he told her. Kaylin cracked an eye open. He looked, as always, perfect, but his eyes were blue. She was certain they had slept the same number of hours - she had, possibly, slept more, and muttered a Leontine phrase that captured her feelings on the subject. Nightshade merely raised a brow. "I cannot imagine the Arkon would be pleased to hear you say that."
"The Arkon," Kaylin repeated, her brain not yet working.
"He would like to speak with you."
"And you didn't tell me?" Kaylin asked, throwing the covers off and forcing the fieflord to move. Her familiar squawked as the blanket landed on top of him; Kaylin ignored him. She usually slept naked, but that wasn't in the cards here, so she was wearing the same green dress she had been wearing for their dance class.
"I just did," Nightshade replied mildly. Kaylin turned to him, ready to follow him, but he simply took a few steps and faced the mirror in the corner. Kaylin came to stand beside him, and felt him shift to place his hands on her shoulders. Then the Arkon came into focus, and Kaylin froze. His eyes were red. Even at the remove of distance, Kaylin felt the visceral impulse to never be the reason his eyes were that colour.
"Thank you for getting her, Calarnenne," the Arkon said, as though he wasn't about to rampage. Kaylin held herself still, instinctively trying to avoid his notice.
"Not at all, Arkon," Nightshade replied easily.
"Private Neya," the Arkon began, meeting her eyes, "we have received word that the Baranni High Court will invite Bellusdeo as a guest, to thank her for her help in the recent conflict with the Ancients."
"That's a terrible idea," fell out of Kaylin's mouth before she could catch it. The red in the Arkon's eyes lightened, but he didn't otherwise acknowledge her comment. Her familiar flew over, but instead of biting the fieflord, which she was honestly kind of expecting, he landed on her head.
"We will therefore require that you and Corporal Handred escort her." The familiar squawked, and the Arkon shifted his focus to the small creature. "We would also appreciate your help in the matter." Kaylin could feel the familiar nod, but was focused on what the Arkon had just dumped on her lap.
"You want me to keep Bellusdeo safe in the middle of the Baranni High Court." The familiar hit her with his wing. "Us," she corrected. The Arkon had taken to saying the most ridiculous things, and Kaylin was beginning to believe that his age must be affecting him. She could feel Nightshade's irritation at the thought.
"Do not look at me like that," the Arkon ordered, apparently correctly guessing her thoughts. She really needed to learn some sort of poker face. Nightshade's agreement travelled through their bond. "It would be difficult to refute the invitation at the time, and Bellusdeo has made it clear that she intends to accept." Of course she had. "She and Corporal Handred will meet you at the gates."
"I will ensure that she is appropriately attired for Court," Nightshade offered, joining the conversation. The Arkon grimaced.
"I am certain she will make that more difficult than necessary," he commiserated, "but we appreciate the effort." Kaylin frowned, not happy to be spoken of like that.
"If you will excuse us," Nightshade said with a bow. The Arkon nodded and cut the connection. The fieflord was already turning to her closet. "This one," he said, pulling out a pale blue dress, as lacking in sleeves as all the others "would be acceptable."
"Why this one?" Kaylin asked, turning her back on him to change. Given how fancy the dresses were, she would have thought any of them would be fine. The familiar flew off and landed on the bed. If he was more tolerant of Nightshade, and he was, he was not currently willing to visit with the fieflord. She could feel Nightshade's eyes on her skin as she drew the green dress over her head, but she wanted answers and chose to ignore it.
"Blue is associated with war," Nightshade answered, which made sense given Baranni eyes, "but a dark blue would imply profound fury." Dark blues could also mean fear, but no one would broadcast that; rage was considered safe. Kaylin nodded as she straightened the skirt. Nightshade stepped behind her and ran his fingers through her hair; she stilled at his touch. He had been touching her more recently, and it made her wary.
"You know it's just going to get messy again," Kaylin felt compelled to point out, although she made no move to stop him. It was exceedingly rare for someone to brush her hair, and she was caught in a strange nostalgia. She forced herself to turn and his hands fell away. She had no idea why, given the beauty of Baranni hair, he wanted to touch hers.
"I have told you that I no longer value perfection," he told her, answering the thoughts she hadn't voiced. They moved together to the door, and Kaylin was surprised to find Andellen just outside the door. She shouldn't have been, but she'd only been awake a few minutes, and her brain hadn't caught up with everything that had been said.
"Lord Andellen," she greeted in Baranni. "You're coming with me?"
"Lord, Lord Kaylin," he acknowledged, offering them each a deep bow. Kaylin's eyebrows rose when she realized that the bow he had offered her was the equal to the bow he had offered Nightshade. "Yes," he answered, turning to her. "Since you have granted me entrance to the High Halls, I would like to take this opportunity to visit." Kaylin snorted.
"I can't grant you entrance to anything except my home." Kaylin felt Nightshade shift beside her.
"No, but it is in your name that I am once again allowed to walk to High Halls," Andellen replied. Kaylin sighed.
"Keep her safe," Nightshade instructed seriously, interrupting the conversation.
"Lord," Andellen acknowledged with another bow.
"Come visit when you have the time. You still have much to learn." There wasn't much Kaylin could say to that, but even if she had a response, it would have been lost; Nightshade leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Kaylin flushed and turned away, Andellen trailing her in silence.
Severn and Bellusdeo were waiting in front of the High Halls. To Kaylin's astonishment, Teela was there too. Between Bellusdeo's orange eyes, and Teela's blue ones, it was hard to say who was more battle ready.
"What are you doing here?" Kaylin gaped. Teela raised perfect eyebrows at her question.
"It might surprise you, Kitling, but I lived in the High Halls for centuries. I simply felt like visiting today, and encountered Lord Bellusdeo here." Sarcasm dripped from every word, and Kaylin was once again reminded that no one could be more sarcastic than Teela. Kaylin bit her tongue and bowed in silence; Bellusdeo snorted.
"If we're ready?" Severn asked. Kaylin really wanted to find out what work he had gotten called away on, but knew it was Wolf business and she couldn't intrude. It was hard not to ask anyway. If the beauty of the High Halls registered to Bellusdeo, she showed no sign of it. They walked through the halls that led to the throne room, and the Baranni that saw them stopped and stared. Kaylin was used to being stared at in the High Halls - she was mortal, after all - but the looks Bellusdeo was getting were more threatening, and Kaylin shifted close enough to grab the Dragon if it became necessary. It was almost surprising that they made it to the throne room without difficulty.
"High Lord, Lady," Teela said, bowing deeply before the two Baranni currently seated on their thrones, "I would like to introduce Lord Bellusdeo, of the Dragon Court." Every person in the room had turned to watch the interaction, and Kaylin felt herself tense. That much Baranni attention wasn't good for anyone. Her familiar apparently agreed; he was alert, perched on her shoulder surveying the room.
"High Lord, Lady," Bellusdeo greeted, offering them a bow that would only pass as polite between equals. People shifted at that, but the High Lord held up his hand, and no one interrupted. His eyes had remained equal parts blue and green.
"We wanted to thank you for your assistance during the recent conflict with the Ancients," he explained, as though everyone wasn't already aware of what was going on. Kaylin hated these sorts of interactions where things had to be said simply so you could say you said them. "We are in your debt," he added.
"Not at all," Bellusdeo demurred. "I owe the Chosen a debt and flew on her behalf," Kaylin's head snapped around at the words, and it was everything she could do not to swear. The Baranni hated debt. "Any debt that exists is between the Chosen and the High Court." Kaylin was now the centre of attention and was once again reminded of the benefits of being anywhere else.
"That's very difficult," the High Lord commented, "since I am already in Lord Kaylin's debt." It was the first time that Kaylin was aware of where the debt was publicly stated, and Kaylin tried not to cringe. This was so not how she wanted the visit to go.
"Considering recent events," Teela cut in, "I believe being indebted to Lord Kaylin is entirely fashionable; all the best people are." Bellusdeo looked at her in surprise, then laughed. Her laugh was warm, and traveled. The Consort smiled.
"I must confess," the Lady said, joining the conversation at last, "that I was concerned about this meeting. Lord Kaylin warned me that I might like you, and I believe she was correct." The Lady stepped down from her throne and engulfed Kaylin in a hug - which was returned in full - before turning her attention to Bellusdeo. "I have heard that you accompany Lord Anteela drinking on occasion. I would like to join, next time." Keeping her mouth shut was the best Kaylin could do as the political landscape shifted beneath her feet. Bellusdeo was looking at the Consort with interest, but she glanced at Kaylin before answering.
"I find Lord Anteela an excellent drinking companion when I'm annoyed with the males at Court."
"I can certainly understand irritating men," the Lady commiserated, "and would appreciate an outlet for my frustration." Her reply startled a laugh out of Bellusdeo, and awkward shuffling from the rest of the Court. Kaylin almost laughed, herself; the Baranni High Court looked, in that moment, like children caught in a prank. She wondered what they had done to annoy the Lady. Ynpharion was conspicuously silent.
There was a disruption at the entrance to the throne room, and Kaylin was astonished to see Moran, in her full praevolo outfit, with only the tabard of the Hawk to lend her any normalcy, leading the Baranni Hawks in. Clint and an Aerian Kaylin didn't know flanked Moran, but it was the way the Baranni Hawks had formed around Tain that caught Kaylin's attention. He was carrying something large, but Kaylin was too far away to see what it was. Teela had gone perfectly still.
What is Tain holding? Kaylin asked, reaching out for Ynpharion for the first time in days.
An Aerian, he answered readily. Forgive me, I am not acquainted with any Aerians and cannot identify this one for you. Kaylin didn't bother to curse immortal arrogance; there was no cure for it. He seems to be gravely injured, Ynpharion added, with a twinge of irritation. Kaylin could see that since there was now a trail of blood on the pristine floors.
"Forgive the interruption," Moran began, bowing deeply to the Lord and Lady. Kaylin wanted to curse all forms of etiquette, but forced herself to stay still.
"The praevolo does not need our forgiveness," the High Lord answered, because, in the end, his was the only opinion that mattered. "I am certain you would not have arrived without cause, and I have not yet congratulated you on returning to the skies that birthed you."
"Thank you," Moran said, bowing again. " We require Lord Kaylin's assistance as a healer."
"Are you also in Lord Kaylin's debt?" The Consort questioned as Kaylin made her way to the circle of Baranni Hawks. At Moran's nod, she continued. "Lord Anteela had just pointed out how profoundly fashionable it is to be in Lord Kaylin's debt. It would be unfortunate if you had been excluded from such an opportunity." Moran smiled but her eyes stayed blue. The Baranni Hawks shifted to let her through, and Kaylin's breath caught as she looked down on the broken body of the Hawklord.