Page 13 of Cast in Conflict

Emmerian cleared his throat.

“I don’t think he’s joking,” Helen told the Dragon Lord. “But I must ask a question.”

“Sure,” Terrano said.

“Of Lord Emmerian, as you well know,” Helen said.

Emmerian nodded. His eyes were fully orange, and looked like they were locked into that color.

“I am under the impression from the words you have spoken that the Emperor does not desire that Bellusdeo take the former Tower—if that is even possible.”

Emmerian nodded.

“You do not agree.”

He exhaled. For the first time Kaylin could remember, there was smoke in the air that left his mouth and nostrils. “She is a Warrior Queen at heart. It is what she knows best, and this is an enemy that she has—”

“Lost against,” Terrano chimed in.

Emmerian’s eyes darkened.

“Terrano,” Kaylin said, through clenched teeth, “go away.”

“I believe that would be for the best,” Helen added, as Terrano dematerialized. “My apologies, Lord Emmerian.”

Emmerian returned to his seat. “You understand my dilemma.”

“I do. The Emperor’s desires are quite clear, and seem entirely logical to me. And there is always a risk when attempting to captain a Tower. Bellusdeo did not kill the former captain, which is a mark in her favor if the Tower was at all attached to Candallar. But it is not a simple matter to take a Tower, and in my opinion, it is not possible at all if the Tower itself does not desire it.

“There is a significant risk to Bellusdeo’s attempt—if you believe that is what is happening.”

“Is that what she is attempting?” Emmerian asked.

Helen’s smile was soft, but tinged with regret. “Of all the guests currently beneath my roof, it is Bellusdeo who requires the most privacy. I therefore cannot answer the question. I would, however, consider the cohort more likely to survive an attempt to take a reluctant Tower; they are beings that the Towers or Hallionne, or even buildings such as myself, were not created to withstand. Their existence could not be predicted.”

Kaylin cleared her throat. “You know that Alsanis wasn’t allowed to harm his guests, right? If Alsanis had wanted to kill them, they’d be dead.”

“Yes.”

“The Towers don’t have the whole don’t hurt your guests thing.”

“Probably not, no. You will understand, however, that the Towers, as sentients, are not all of one thing, and no blanket statements you make are guaranteed to be accurate.”

Kaylin nodded.

Emmerian ignored the digression. “And you consider the attempt of the cohort to captain such a Tower wise?”

“Pragmatically speaking, they are twelve. Bellusdeo is one. They can travel and interact in ways no other citizen of this Empire can.”

“They’re twelve, yes. But they’re twelve very tightly interconnected people. If they make the attempt and one of them actually perishes—” Kaylin stopped.

Helen’s Avatar nodded. “Terrano will be coming back, soon.” Her gaze had not moved from Emmerian’s face.

“We cannot protect people from themselves,” Emmerian replied. “Unless they are children, but even that is entirely temporary.”

“I don’t know—Terrano seems to have achieved perpetual childhood.”

The Dragon coughed. “What Bellusdeo needs,” he finally said, “is not necessarily what the Dragon Court—of which she is not part, except in a racial courtesy sense—needs of her. And it has not been her way to seek permission. Were it, I would counsel acceptance.” He rose again and turned to face Kaylin. “I want you with her while she examines her options. There is some possibility that the outcome will be a happy one for her.”

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