Page 26 of Cast in Conflict

His eyes were less gold when they turned, once again, to Kaylin. Of course they were. He gestured and the doors once again closed, a politer word for slammed shut.

“You understand,” the chancellor said, “that I am an honorary member of the Dragon Court?”

She nodded. She’d guessed as much.

“Perhaps you don’t understand what honorary means.”

Now that was uncalled for. Kaylin opened her mouth, but the chancellor had not yet finished.

“Lord Tiamaris is an active member of the Dragon Court.” He steepled his hands above the fall of his beard, drawing it closer to his chest. “What have you come to discuss? You have fifteen minutes, unless I feel the discussion is personally relevant to someone who is not an active member of the Court.”

Fine. “We’ve come to ask a couple of questions about Bellusdeo. Tiamaris said she’s been running errands for you.”

The chancellor’s eyes grew orange, and Kaylin decided that Barrani should have been the go-to language. It would have been, had she not been irritated.

“She has undertaken the responsibility of examining the access to the Academia from each of the fiefs.”

“The Emperor—the Dragon Emperor—has asked that I accompany her.”

“I believe some diplomacy, at least in the fief of Farlonne, is involved. That has not been traditionally where your... talents...have been put to use.”

“I will refrain from speaking. I’m meant to be a guard.”

“You are meant to be a babysitter,” he replied. “And Bellusdeo is not in need of one.”

“Imperial command,” Kaylin replied. “I don’t have to like it. I just have to obey.”

The chancellor exhaled. It was a small wonder that he hadn’t managed to reduce his desk to ash.

“It is not,” a familiar voice said. Killian—Killianas—walked through the closed door, without bothering to open it first. “Within the buildings that comprise the Academia, I have some control over the physical state of the furniture.”

The first thing Kaylin noticed was that Killian was no longer missing an eye. The second was that he looked fully Barrani; he might have been a Barrani student were it not for the way he’d entered the chancellor’s office.

The former Arkon didn’t seem to resent his presence the way he resented Kaylin’s, which was fair. In some fashion Killianas was the Academia.

“Bellusdeo has, as you are aware, been meeting with the chancellor. He has offered what little advice he feels competent to offer.”

“Have you talked with her?”

“I have. I have spoken with her more frequently than the chancellor, who is extremely busy at the moment. We have much to do in order to rebuild what was almost lost. She has also visited the librarians and spoken at length with at least one of them.”

“Why did she want to talk to you?”

“I am not at all certain that she did. She is not natural student material, but she is absolutely willing to do the research necessary when she feels it is germane to her duties.”

Kaylin frowned. “Was it Starrante she talked to?”

“Yes. Before you ask, I was not privy to their discussion. The library is a space that is accessed through the Academia, but I have no control over, or command of, the librarians, and no ability to influence what occurs within their space.”

Kaylin nodded.

“You are concerned for Bellusdeo?”

“Always. My life depends on it.”

“I see. Lannagaros?”

“Speak with the corporal, by all means.”

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