Ok, I expect everyone is waiting for more Nightlin - next chapter, I promise! In the meantime, here's some plot.
PS. Can someone remind me how to do a line break on here? Thanks.
It was Severn who spoke in the wake of the Castelord's departure.
"Records, Arcanists by field of discipline, Shadow magic." The mirror stayed blank.
"Records, Arcanists by field of discipline, permutability," Teela tried. It took Severn repeating her instructions for an image to coalesce. The Castelord's mirror was keyed to Severn, Kaylin realized, her heart sinking. She almost felt ill at the evidence of his loyalty, but forced herself to focus on the image before them. There was, to her surprise, only one match.
"The build is right," Tain commented. They had no face to reference, but it was enough to warrant questions.
"It makes sense that an Arcanist who focuses on permutability would take the risk involved in using an illusion spell," Bellusdeo mused. Kaylin didn't feel like this was the moment for a discussion on illusion spells as practiced by the different races. Her rage and pain from dealing with the Castelord had left her shaken. His nonchalance towards her had been harder to stomach than she had anticipated; a father was supposed to care. She thought, after all her years in the fief, she truly should have known better.
"He was present in Court when we arrived," Andellen informed them, almost certainly for Kaylin's benefit.
"Let's go chat," Teela said, smiling sharply. She led the way to the door and they quickly found themselves ensconced in the Human Caste Court.
"Were you able to find the information you were looking for, Lord An'teela?" The Castelord questioned from his throne. Whatever backlash he had felt from their encounter certainly seemed to have passed.
"Unfortunately, no," Teela replied, making Kaylin freeze. She had to bite her tongue to keep the appropriate Aerian behind locked jaws.
"How unfortunate," the Castelord replied, looking very slightly displeased by the news. Kaylin had to assume that he simply didn't care much, because years of watching Baranni for cues had made her adept at reading expressions.
You depend too much on our eyes, Nightshade commented, instantly derailing her attention as she considered his perspective. It was true that humans were the only race for whom eye colour was not an indication of mood, but humans were also the weakest race, in Kaylin's opinion. Had she gotten complacent in her dealings with her own race? She forced her attention back to the conversation at hand as the Castelord continued.
"We would like to invite you to partake in some refreshments with us, Lord An'teela."
"Forgive me, Lord Timaeus, but as we are in the midst of an investigation, I must defer the pleasure," Teela refused, smiling politely. With a few more minutes of politicking and barely a glance from her father, they were able to escape the overly ostentatious Human Caste Court. Kaylin took a deep breath once they crossed the threshold, almost thankful to have grown up in Nightshade. She couldn't imagine growing up there, with that man as her father.
"I'll inform the Wolves that the Arcanist, Torian Pryderi, has fled," Severn said once they were out of the guards' earshot.
"No, you won't," Kaylin countered, abruptly coming to a halt.
"Kaylin," Severn began.
"No, Severn." She shook her head firmly. "In cases where the Lord of the Hawks has been personally harmed, the Wolves are only involved at the direct request of the ranking investigating Hawk. Teela, do you want the Wolves involved?"
"No," she replied, staring at Severn with almost midnight blue eyes. Severn frowned, but it wasn't in agreement.
"You have been temporarily transferred to the Wolves, Corporal Handred," Kaylin stated formally, wondering vaguely if she should request the Hawklord make the transfer permanent once he woke. Regardless, she couldn't imagine continuing with him as her partner after his revelations. She knew they had been through worse, but there had been reasons. What reason was there for his continued deceit? How many times would she have to forgive him because she loved him? "Corporal Danelle does not request the intercession of the Imperial Wolves in the case pertaining to Lord Grammayre's injuries. There is no room for misunderstanding." Severn stood there looking as though she had struck him and for a moment Kaylin almost regretted her tone before she reminded herself, he knew about my father.
"I will return to my other duties then, Private Neya," he staid stiffly, turning on his heel and striding back to the Human Caste Court. They watched him leave in silence.
"We should head directly to Lord Diamat's," Bellusdeo eventually commented, appalling Kaylin.
"I'd really like to check on the Hawklord first," Kaylin tried, a little desperately. Arriving late was one thing, but there was really no need to arrive early.
"You don't have time for that," Belludeo replied. Which was probably fair, looking at the shadows. Kaylin had so far managed to never be late for one of Diarmat's lessons and didn't want to break that record. But still.
"If I carried Lord Kaylin, she would be able to check on the Lord of the Hawks before her class," Andellen offered, making Teela laugh and Tain snicker. Even Hope hissed out a laugh. Kaylin flushed.
"Never mind, I'll just check him when I get home."
"Lord Nightshade is expecting you this evening," Andellen reminded her. Kaylin wilted at the thought of lessons with Diarmat and Nightshade in the same evening.
"Right."
"Good luck, Kitling," Teela called out, clearly amused by her plight, as Kaylin pointed her feet towards the Imperial Palace and ambled away, Bellusdeo in her wake. It was when she realized that Andellen had also joined them that she paused.
"I don't need an escort to the Palace," she told him.
"My Lord has commanded that I see you safely to him after your class with Lord Diarmat," he countered. "I don't mind waiting." Kaylin sighed heavily, making Bellusdeo snicker.
"How are your dance classes going?" Kaylin countered pointedly, starting to walk again.
"From what Teela has told me, far better than yours must be. Did you really break your partner's shin?" Kaylin grimaced.
"Look, I was just a bit startled, alright? We'd both been drinking and he pulled me in close and... well..." Kaylin trailed off, because she knew that breaking his leg for trying to get a little closer to her was a huge overreaction and she really did regret it. Teela, being Teela, had found the whole thing hilarious.
"Teela tells the story much better," Bellusdeo said.
"Of course she does," Kaylin muttered to her feet. "Wait," she said, raising her head to stare at the Dragon in dawning horror, "when did Teela tell this story?"
"The other morning," Bellusdeo replied dismissively, with gold-eyed good cheer.
"What other stories did Teela share?" Kaylin asked, with something very close to panic. Bellusdeo laughed. The sound, beautiful and warm, carried, drawing looks as they drew nearer the Imperial Palace.
"Are you certain you want me to repeat them?" She asked, pointedly glancing at Andellen who wasn't even pretending to ignore them.
"I'm certain I don't," Kaylin moaned. Bellusdeo's grin widened and Kaylin was almost certain that Andellen was fighting a smile.
"It seems, Lord Kaylin, as though there are more advantages to being in Lord An'teela's company than I had previously realized," Andellen commented, to Kaylin's horror. "Perhaps, if I make an effort, she might be prepared to share some stories with me." While Kaylin was trying to phrase her very strong objection to that, they cleared the guards without difficulty. They hadn't made it much beyond that doors, however, when they encountered Sanabalis in the halls.
"Bellusdeo, it is always a pleasure to see you," he greeted with a shallow bow.
"Likewise," she replied, nodding slightly. "You are, perhaps, acquainted with Lord Andellen of the Baranni High Court?" She questioned, obviously having realized why he was present in the hall. Kaylin grimaced.
"Only in passing," Sanabalis admitted, shifting his gaze to the Baranni. If Andellen was bothered by the focus, it didn't show.
"Forgive my intrusion, Lord Sanabalis," he said, bowing deeply. "My Lord has charged me with escorting Lord Kaylin to him once her lesson with Lord Diamat is complete, but if my presence here disturbs the Court, I am, of course, prepared to wait outside." Belludeo laughed outright, sharpening Andellen's smile.
"Has the Dragon Court grown so weak that a single Baranni Lord is cause for alarm?" she questioned Sanabalis.
"Certainly not," the old Dragon replied, still gold-eyed, "however since we would not wish to disturb your lesson with an observer, I have come to offer my company to Lord Andellen for the duration." Andellen's eyes lighted. "Perhaps, Lord Andellen, you could bring me up to date on the investigations regarding the attack on Lord Grammayre?" To Kaylin's surprise, Andellen turned to her.
"Lord Kaylin?"
"We don't want the Wolves involved," she told Sanabalis. The Dragon raised a brow, but nodded.
"There's no reason to involve the Wolves due to a casual conversation, Kaylin." Having gotten that reassurance, Kaylin nodded. Andellen bowed deeply to her, making his point in regards to his loyalties, before following Sanabalis down the hall.
"Things really have changed," Bellusdeo mused, watching the two men walk away.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No..." Bellusdeo eventually decided, her eyes now settled on Kaylin. "The war was a time of courage and legend, but your race could never have survived the conflict. Neither would the Aerians or Leotines you treasure." Despite the fact that at least some of all three races clearly had survived, that sounded like a pretty good reason for peace to Kaylin. They continued down the hall in silence until a second Dragon stepped into their path.
"Bellusdeo," he greeted, looking vaguely familiar to Kaylin.
"Emmerian," Bellusdeo replied, seeming pleased to see him. Considering the fact that he was teaching Bellusdeo to dance, her pleasure was surprising.
"I had hoped that after your lesson with Lord Diarmat you might be willing to dine with me," he commented, sending Kaylin's eyebrows shooting up. Was he asking Bellusdeo for a date? "If you are available," he added, glancing at Kaylin.
"I... would like that," Bellusdeo accepted, making Kaylin's head snap around in surprise. She was, admittedly, the last person to know anything at all about dating, but... Was that really what it looked like? Emmerian smiled.
"I won't keep you, then," he said, withdrawing with a slight bow.
"Bellusdeo..." Kaylin began, once the corridor was empty.
"Not one word," her companion replied.
"I was just wondering..." Kaylin continued, because Bellusdeo's tone wasn't quite enough to stop her, "does the Emperor know?" Bellusdeo exhaled a puff of smoke, her eyes taking on a slightly copper tone.
"You fail, entirely, to understand the nature of this Court. Yes, Kaylin, he knows. He understands, better than you ever could, both the significance of Emmerian's offer and of my acceptance."
"I just didn't want you to get in trouble," Kaylin muttered, but it sounded bad, even to her ears. The Dragon stared at her in orange-eyed irritation, loudly not speaking. "Right," a wilted Kaylin agreed. "Sorry." Bellusdeo sighed smoke and shook her head.
"You wouldn't be Kaylin if you didn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong," she replied, in Elantran. Understanding the forgiveness, Kaylin felt her shoulders relax. When they made it to Diarmat's room, he was standing in the doorway.
"I was informed that you had arrived early," he greeted, "but clearly the messenger was mistaken."
"We encountered both Lord Sanabalis and Lord Emmerian," Bellusdeo explained coolly. "Would you have had us slight them so that we could arrive early for our appointment with you? We are not late."
"Not yet late," Diarmat corrected, then sighed. "Very well. While I would have enjoyed the novelty of your early arrival, it seems we must make do with the time we have. I am told that you will both be attending the ball in a few days time." His tone made it clear he was strongly opposed to the idea and for once Kaylin was in total agreement with him. "Since it has been decided, let us do what we can." To mitigate this disaster, was left unsaid. Tact, Kaylin was learning, could be occasionally useful.