Page 158 of Cast in Conflict

“We have a problem,” Teela told him, speaking Elantran.

Severn, not stupid, added one and one together. “The outcaste is on the move?”

“The outcaste is on the move.”

“Alone?”

“What do you think?”

Why now? He’d been holed up in Ravellon since his failed attempt to somehow corrupt the Aerians. Or so she’d assumed. But he’d been in the Aerie as an Aerian. He could take Aerian form; he could probably take any form he damn well wanted. Which meant he could have been causing trouble anywhere.

But she was certain, given the weapons Teela and Nightshade now carried, that he hadn’t bothered with that subterfuge. He was draconic.

Sedarias was clearly receiving the same information Kaylin had, albeit from a different source.

“Do you think the outcaste wants the Tower?” Kaylin asked. The question filled the room, and Severn heard it as well.

“The Tower would not take him,” Sedarias replied, which wasn’t entirely a no. “I think he’s here for Bellusdeo.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? She’s the only female Dragon. We’ve all been concerned—don’t make that face, you already know this—about Imperial Dragon babies. That would, however, be entirely preferable to outcaste Dragon babies.”

“You think he wants children?”

“If he has any dynastic ambitions, yes. In the end, we all require them if our lines are to continue.”

“Wait, do you want them?”

“All dynastic ambitions, Kaylin.”

The idea of Sedarias as a mother caused a mental cramp. She shook her head to clear it. “Bellusdeo would kill him first. If she knows he’s here, and her mood hasn’t gotten any better, that’s the first thing she’s going to try.”

“She is not a fool.” Sedarias’s tone implied that Kaylin certainly was. “Annarion is going to join his brother.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I’m sure it’s a terrible idea,” Sedarias replied, eyes a darker blue than they had been. “But I’ll be there as well.”

“There’s no door here.”

“And?”

“I don’t think you have a reliable way to join them.”

Even Mandoran rolled his eyes. “Look, we can’t do anything with the two raging Dragons. I don’t think they need us. We might be able to do something about the outcaste, especially if we have two of The Three here. And if he starts to attack here, those rickety buildings surrounding the Tower are going to get flattened without any effort on his part. Preserving them would be harder.”

Kaylin turned to Hope.

Hope, however, shook his head. It is the same, he told her. You must be willing to sacrifice something of value if you wish me to intercede to save the fieflings. It is not something you could do on your own; it is not something you could do with your marks. Not as you are.

She grimaced. On days like these, she was grateful that she wasn’t the Emperor, wasn’t a fieflord, wasn’t, in fact, a ruler of anything. The choices she could make without consequence were far more varied than the choices the Emperor could make. She thought it would be exhausting.

Fine. We’ll figure it out ourselves.

Hope nodded.

Kaylin turned to the three members of the cohort in time to see them become transparent, losing solidity as they did.

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