Page 55 of Cast in Conflict

“Yes. He feels this will save time and the gray area of reporting.”

“Should we go?”

Killian was silent for a moment. “He expects your presence but asks that you keep disruptions to a minimum.”

“And Mandoran?”

“He will accept all of your companions.” Killian grimaced. “I am, however, to keep Lord Mandoran’s disruption to a minimum.”

Mandoran had the same reaction to the word Lord in front of his name as Kaylin had, which was ironic, given how he felt about hers.

“He won’t cause trouble.”

“He intends no trouble at all—but I have had some experience with your friends, and their good intentions are not always relevant.”

“Serralyn and Valliant can’t be causing problems. Serralyn was so excited to come here.”

“Valliant causes very little difficulty. Serralyn’s excitement, however, is very loud.”

“She was always pretty quiet at home.”

“Perhaps. But the type of loud is not one you would necessarily notice. Helen would, and I do. I do not think it will cause problems, but it requires a certain amount of vigilance on my part.”

Kaylin wondered if Serralyn was like Annarion.

“Come. Introduce me to your friends and inform them that the chancellor is waiting.”

The chancellor was waiting in his office. If Kaylin had questioned Killian’s abilities as a sentient building, she repented; the office was much, much larger on the interior than it had ever been, in part to accommodate chairs, and in part to accommodate what appeared to be a buffet table. Smaller tables, usually to one side of larger chairs not meant for dining halls, had also appeared.

Killian took over introductions as if they were pronouncements, but no one else seemed to find this strange.

The chancellor wasn’t seated behind his desk; he was seated in one of the chairs. The desk remained in the room, but it was nowhere near the current furniture meant for this casual first meeting. He rose when the doors were fully open, and offered Bellusdeo and the fieflord of Durant a bow. He nodded at Nightshade, and Nightshade returned the nod.

“Bellusdeo offered to show me the Academia,” Durant said. “I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion.”

“It is no intrusion. I am not in competition with the fiefs or their lords, and I am well aware of the very necessary function the Towers serve. Perhaps more aware of it now that I am situated in the fiefs.”

“In some fashion. I find the question of geography very interesting. The Academia is similar to the Towers?” Durant took the chair offered him by the chancellor.

“It is not,” Killian answered. “The Academia is meant to house scholars, researchers, and the library; its function is both preservation and discovery. These have never been limited to race or gender. The Towers are meant to preserve lives in the face of Ravellon. If, however, you refer to sentience or central intelligence, then yes, the Academia is similar to the Towers, but the concerns of the Academia and the concerns of the Towers are not the same.

“I, of course—ah, forgive me. I am Killianas.”

“Killianas,” the chancellor said, “is the heart of the Academia; he frequently chooses to appear in person.”

Durant nodded.

“Does your Tower have an Avatar?” Kaylin received a frown particular to the chancellor; it was familiar and almost comfortable.

“It does. But she is not often moved to meet strangers, and when she is, it usually means trouble.” He spoke with respect, but without any particular fear. Kaylin, however, understood that the heart of Nightshade’s Tower was possibly the most dangerous thing about it, and said nothing.

Durant then returned his attention to the chancellor. “I am told you desire open access to the Academia through Durant, should there be those who wish to apply as students here.”

“I do. Such access exists through the fief of Tiamaris, and that access will not be revoked.”

“Such permission as the chancellor desires has already been granted through the fief of Nightshade as well,” Nightshade said.

Durant’s grin widened in what appeared to be genuine amusement to Kaylin. “You’re warning me that I have no leg to stand on if I want to negotiate some price for open access?”

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