Page 59 of Cast in Conflict

“You are more aware, one assumes, of the Barrani customs?”

“I didn’t say she was entirely wrong, just that she was exaggerating. She’s called Lord Kaylin because she accidentally took the Barrani Test of Name and survived it. It’s what defined a Lord of the High Court. We think that’s changing,” he added. “But we’re not sure when.” He spoke Elantran.

“Clearly there are advantages and disadvantages to remaining in my own fief. However, we have interrupted the chancellor.”

“Good of you to notice,” the chancellor replied. “What we have been discussing is the Academia as a safe and neutral ground on which the fieflords might meet and discuss the current situation.”

“The Academia is considered neutral?”

“The Academia—in this case, Killianas—may choose to eject those he feels mean harm to the Academia or its students. He does not, however, kill. Candallar attempted to murder important students—and almost succeeded. His death, however, is on my hands. Killianas asked me to spare him—it was a request, I believe, from Candallar’s Tower—but attempts to do so failed.

“If, on the other hand, you are uncomfortable in the company of Dragons, so be it. I offer the Academia as a place where you might, fieflords all, meet to discuss individual success and possible failures. What you make of it is entirely up to you.”

Durant looked across the room at Nightshade. “You are comfortable here?”

“I am demonstrably comfortable here.”

“Tiamaris?”

“I cannot speak for Tiamaris, and would not be so presumptuous as to try.”

“Tiamaris,” the chancellor said, “is in agreement.”

This caused Durant to grin again. Clearly the chancellor wasn’t worried about presumption.

“He is, on the other hand, a Dragon. Killianas, you can prevent the fieflords from killing or injuring each other, correct?” the chancellor then asked.

“Indeed.”

“I will need to discuss this with my own Tower.”

“Do you talk to your Tower’s Avatar?” Kaylin asked.

He blinked. “You are going to give me whiplash,” he said. “And yes, I do.”

“I,” Nightshade said, “almost never do.”

This surprised Durant. “Never?”

“Almost never.”

“How do you communicate with the Tower, then?”

“Clearly the form of communication suits the Tower. My Tower in general considers beings who must breathe and eat to be little better than animals. Except for the occasions when he considers animals far superior.”

Silence. Nightshade was amused. Highly amused. And nothing he had said was a lie.

It is not necessary to lie, here. Perhaps later.

“If I attempted to cut my Tower out of crucial decisions, it would be me who was ejected—if I survived her ire.” Durant chuckled. Kaylin had heard similar words before—mostly from married men in the office. He clearly held the Tower’s Avatar in some affection. And she clearly did have a temper.

“It is good, then, that we are with Towers who suit our disparate temperaments. However: my Tower has no say in this decision, and I believe it to be a sound one. If the chancellor is gracious enough to offer safe quarters in which we might meet and discuss our various issues, I will accept with gratitude.”

“Then let me say I provisionally accept the offer, contingent upon discussion and negotiation with my own Tower. I believe that I would consider placement in the Academia to be a boon to my own people, and I will not block you. I do have a few questions, however.”

Killian bowed to the assembled gathering. “I believe Lord Kaylin wishes to speak with the librarians. I will leave you to your negotiations and discussions.”

09

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