Page 211 of Cast in Conflict

Sedarias stopped at the border of the Tower’s strongest influence. Terrano, not paying attention, stopped at Sedarias and earned a glare.

Karriamis turned to the leader of the cohort. “You will not enter?”

“We are all exhausted,” she said quietly. “And at the moment, I desire no further conflict.”

“And you believe by entering, such conflict will be engaged?”

Sedarias exhaled. “I wanted to take the Tower.”

“No, you did not.”

One brow rose.

“You wanted the Tower to be taken. You would not have captained it yourself. While I grant that there is enough connection between all of you, you are nonetheless separate beings.”

She said nothing, although she shifted her glare to Mandoran.

“Yes,” Karriamis said, smiling. “But none of your kin—and I will call them kin, forsaking the more exact term—desired this responsibility for anything but the sake of the cohort.”

“Like you’d care,” muttered Terrano.

“What makes you think I would not?”

“Candallar.”

The Dragon Avatar’s smile sharpened. “You almost make me regret my choice,” he said, with no hint of regret in his tone at all. “I believe I would find association with you interesting and challenging.”

“Candallar,” Terrano repeated.

“Do not attempt to silence him; it is a wasted effort.” These words were offered to Sedarias.

Bellusdeo stood on the periphery of the Tower but had turned to observe the Avatar and the cohort. Her eyes were an orange-red, but as Kaylin watched, they lightened into a purer orange.

“I could not accept what you offered,” Karriamis said. “Not when the future of the race that birthed me is at stake. Candallar once showed promise; he did not live up to it because he chose fear. He believed on some level that he was not worthy because others did not value him as he desired to be valued.

“You are not Candallar, An’Mellarionne. But I am not your home. Nor could I be. Yes, there is safety for you and your chosen kin within my walls, but it is not safety you desire; no more do you desire to fight the war I was created to fight. Should you require safety beyond what the mortal can provide—ah, apologies, beyond what Lord Kaylin can provide—you have it.”

Sedarias was silent for a beat. “You are not offering us that hospitality.”

“No. It is not mine to offer. I believe Lord Bellusdeo would, should it become necessary—should nothing change. But life is change. I referred to the Hallionne.”

It was Terrano who said, “Alsanis.”

Karriamis nodded. “Should you desire safety, Alsanis would always offer you a home—all of you.”

“We cannot fight our current battles from the West March,” Sedarias told the Avatar.

“No. Not yet. But I hear his name, an echo of a different time. He was your home for centuries.”

“He was our prison,” she snapped.

“So, too, must the very young think, when they cannot yet walk or run independent of their parents.”

Kaylin winced, but said nothing.

“He would not imprison you now—any of you. But he, as you, was trapped in his responsibility, and I believe that even a Hallionne can grow lonely. Should you require a fortress, it is the Hallionne who will provide it. Do you doubt me?”

It was Terrano who said, “No.”

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