Page 119 of Cast in Conflict

“But they’re not the cohort. You gave each other your names.”

“That seems so significant to you,” Sedarias replied. “The True Names. The core of our identities.”

Kaylin nodded.

“Do you think that I offered mine because I immediately trusted them?” Clouds moved in across what had been clear sky.

“You were willing to take the risk.”

“I’d met them. I did not consider it a risk. Or perhaps I considered it a calculated risk. Do you think they gave me their names because they liked or trusted me?”

Since that’s exactly what she’d thought, Kaylin nodded.

“Honestly, it’s no wonder Mandoran is so fond of you—you’re beyond naive.”

“But you don’t understand why Teela also likes me.”

Sedarias’s jaw tightened, as if she was fighting to contain words, to keep them hidden. “They knew Mellarionne. They knew Teela’s family—the family whose very name she destroyed in her endless grief and rage. We are a people built on grief and rage. Those of weaker families gave me their names because they felt they had no hope of surviving if they did not.

“Do you understand? I demanded and offered a facade of vulnerability I never felt. Not one of them could control me. They offered me their names because they were afraid of me.”

Kaylin understood the heart of Sedarias’s fear, then. Fear—to Sedarias—had been the cause of the original bond. Mellarionne had been powerful and known, and Sedarias was of Mellarionne. She had come to the green because she had fought—and bested—those in her family whose goal was, and had always been, power.

“And they’re not afraid of you now.”

Sedarias looked down at the table. She did not answer.

Kaylin exhaled. “You’re wrong.”

“You think they’re afraid of me?”

“No, not about that.” Kaylin held up one hand. Words. She had to find the right words. Terrano had said Sedarias wasn’t good with words; neither was Kaylin. That just made it harder, because people who weren’t good with words required very specific words.

“I think you’re right—they were afraid of you. Or afraid of Mellarionne. Given what I’ve seen of your family, I’d be afraid too.”

“So you understand.”

“No, I don’t. That was centuries ago. I don’t know what they saw in you—honestly, I don’t. You’re mostly terrifying.”

“Only mostly?” Her voice was soft.

“You’re not safe to be around, not normally. Mandoran is. And so is Terrano, when he’s not trying to kill me.”

“Hey!”

Sedarias’s brows rose higher, and remained that way for a time; when they lowered, they lowered on very narrow eyes.

“You are such an idiot,” Kaylin whispered.

Terrano appeared fully for the first time since Kaylin had entered this space.

Sedarias was armored now, literally. Kaylin understood this, too. She could have cheerfully strangled Terrano. “You interrupted me.”

“He always does.” Sedarias glared at Terrano.

“I can leave if you let me?” Terrano’s attempt at puppy dog eyes was actually good.

“No, please, take a seat.”

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