Page 44 of Cast in Conflict

“Can you maybe not mention this entire thing to the Emperor?”

Emmerian’s smile was almost rueful. His eyes were now orange. “It is never wise to attempt to hide things from the Emperor.” His lids fell shut, obscuring the color of his eyes. “I will apologize directly to Bellusdeo, and with Helen’s permission, will take my leave.”

Kaylin wasn’t quite finished yet.

“Why did Teela draw her sword?”

“I believe she hoped it would shock me into sensibility. She did not attempt to injure me; she did not draw it—at all—when Bellusdeo chose to make a point by transforming.”

A knock sounded at the closed door. Emmerian tensed, but said nothing.

“Come in.”

The door rolled open on Bellusdeo. Maggaron was not with her. Emmerian rose instantly. She met his gaze; he broke what might have become a staring contest by offering her a complete, graceful bow. “My apologies,” he said.

“For what?”

“I should not have interfered in the fight you had chosen.”

“No. You shouldn’t. It implies you think I can’t take care of myself. Or worse, that I am somehow your responsibility.”

Technically, given the Imperial command, she kind of was. Kaylin kept that firmly to herself. If Bellusdeo had not been blocking the door, she’d’ve been out it so fast she’d have caused her own windstorm.

Hope squawked.

“I should not have transformed,” Bellusdeo said, looking in Kaylin’s direction. “I was...angry.”

Emmerian said nothing.

Squawk.

“Yes, I know.” She then stepped into the parlor, where a chair waited for her. Her eyes were orange, now, but a hint of something metallic, maybe copper, had changed the natural color. “I will not ask you,” she told Emmerian, “not to mention the events of this evening. I understand the oaths you have sworn to your lord, and I know enough about you by now to know that it is an impossible request.”

He nodded. Kaylin expected a certain wariness; it was absent.

“Did you think that you would be able to withstand what I could not?”

“No. I was not thinking at all. They were Barrani; you were a lone Dragon. It has been centuries since I have been victim to instinct and instinctive acts of violence.”

“Instincts kept me alive,” she replied, the line of her shoulders softening. She took the empty chair. “Helen?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Might we both get a drink?”

Kaylin had no illusions about who both meant. She left the room. Hope hesitated—notable by the tightening of his claws—but said nothing; he left with his portable chair.

07

Kaylin wasn’t privy to the discussion between the two dragons, as she’d fled the room, but no roaring followed her departure, which she took—given the events of the very early morning so far—as a good sign.

“I’m sorry,” Helen’s voice said. “I did try to warn him—but he was, as he said, reacting entirely instinctively. I don’t believe he’ll mention Teela’s sword.”

“Unless asked.”

“Unless asked,” Helen agreed. “He is really quite ashamed of his part in the difficulty.”

Kaylin understood it.

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