Page 61 of Cast in Conflict

“Ah. That would be a different definition of a word that is used here as a title. And regardless, answers are necessary.”

Kaylin exhaled words. “We want to know because we want to know what we’re dealing with in regards to the Towers themselves. The captains don’t define the Towers, as was once previously thought; I have some experience with the Avatar of one of them, so I understand possible dangerous instability.”

“All Towers save one are currently captained; the Towers have accepted their lords, and that is unlikely to change in the near future. I perceive that the reason you desire the information involves the Tower that Candallar captained.”

“It’s empty, yes.”

“You have no desire to captain it yourself.”

“Gods, no.” She exhaled. “We were told that the Tower was once called Karriamis.”

“The chancellor said this?”

“I don’t remember who said it.”

Androsse snorted. “I curse the Ancients for the creation of races with so little memory. It is a wonder that you retain the use of language at all. Karriamis was, indeed, the individual chosen to become the heart of that Tower.”

“And he was a Dragon?”

“He was. He was both a Dragon and a scholar; he understood the dangers of Ravellon well, and he considered the position—the becoming—necessary. Many people did, and many people volunteered to become the base or the core of the Towers that now stand around Ravellon; only six could be chosen.

“We were not present to question the choices; nor were we present to demand a better understanding of what the Towers’ imperatives and contingencies were. Karriamis once taught at the Academia.”

She nodded. “Do you think that’s why he sent Candallar to look for it?”

“I could not say.”

“But...” She trailed off, uncertain if her next question would be insulting.

“We are not like the Towers.” It was Starrante who spoke, perhaps sensitive to the reasons for her hesitance. “We are not sentient buildings. Killianas is, and was; we are slightly different.”

“You can’t leave the library.”

“We can of course leave the library. I encountered you outside of the library, if you recall.”

She did. “You weren’t in the best frame of mind.”

“No. I was somewhat controlled at the time. And I am being a pedant. Leaving the library is possible with the permission of Killian; there is never a time when all of the Arbiters will leave the library at once.” He coughed. Or he made a series of sounds that would have been coughing had he been any of the other races Kaylin knew. “You might recall—”

“They had your book.”

“Yes. I am uncertain how. It is of some small concern to us, but at the moment it is of academic interest. We are not as Karriamis became. We are tied to the library and its vast space, and within the library, we exert control in a way that might seem reminiscent of the Towers or your Helen, but the library itself is a found space.”

At Kaylin’s expression, he exhaled. “Never mind. I perceive that this is not the correct time for this discussion. All of the Arbiters were familiar with Karriamis.”

“I knew him well,” the third Arbiter said, as she appeared beside her two companions. Kavallac, the Dragon librarian, had arrived. “I considered his ascension a loss to Dragonkind, but understood his decision.”

“How did Candallar come to be captain of the Tower?”

Kavallac shrugged. “How did any of the captains come to be captains?”

“I only know of one—and at the time, the Tower had been all but abandoned by the Barrani chosen to captain it.”

“It is not impossible—as you have seen—to dispatch the captains if they are not in residence. Had you attacked Candallar within his Tower, the outcome would have been different. But captains die. This was understood before the Towers were created; it is the reason they were designed and built as they were. The Towers can assimilate new information, but it is difficult if that new information remains outside of their boundaries. The captains are mobile.” The Dragon librarian exhaled.

“You have your Helen; Killian has talked a bit about your current status. You are her tenant, I believe?”

Kaylin nodded.

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