Page 71 of Cast in Conflict

“Depends on what you mean by few.”

“Two.”

Kaylin shook her head. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Would you like us to give the chancellor advance notice?”

“Is that possible, for you?”

Kaylin didn’t grind her teeth.

Bellusdeo, however, was amused. “It is possible for me, and as I am the chancellor’s representative here, I can certainly give early notice.” Her grin deepened.

Kaylin reached up to cover both of her ears; the hells with constabulary dignity.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bellusdeo said. “There is no guarantee that Lannagaros would hear me, given the unusual nature of the Academia’s geography. No, I have a better method.”

Kaylin lowered her hands.

“Give me space,” the Dragon said sweetly to the fieflord.

Liatt stepped back but seemed entirely unimpressed. She might have seemed unamused, but Kaylin would have bet money that she didn’t have amusement in her.

Bellusdeo transformed, golden armor becoming golden scales, neck elongating, face stretching—without tearing—into a much larger shape. A tail emerged to balance it.

“Impressive,” Liatt said quietly. “I have never seen a proper Dragon transformation before. How large are your wings?”

“Watch,” the Dragon said, in a much deeper voice. The aforementioned wings, curled across her back, tightened. She roared.

Kaylin grimaced, certain she’d done it on purpose. Bellusdeo then pushed off the ground, the leap of draconic muscles carrying her up as if she was lunging at the sky. Her wings then snapped open.

“Impressive,” Liatt said, her voice even softer, her neck craned up, exposing her throat to watch as the gold Dragon headed toward the Academia.

They did not follow immediately, because Liatt was waiting for her attendants, who emerged from thin air, as Liatt had done. To Kaylin’s eye, they emerged in the same place their lord had, and they moved—naturally and casually—out of the way for the next person.

The first person through was a woman half Liatt’s age. “This is Liannor. She is my daughter, and when I reach an age at which I can no longer carry out my duties, my heir.”

Kaylin said nothing, but her expression must have been less than neutral.

“How other Towers and other fiefs guarantee that they will always have a lord is not my concern. She will be the lord of the Tower; the Tower has agreed.”

“He would,” said a voice that was too familiar. There was clicking and hissing in it, an undertone that implied either deeper meanings or a swarm of insects. Kaylin wasn’t surprised when two hairy, insect-like legs emerged, and she backed up to give the second guard room. “I will have to have a word with him. This portal was clearly not designed for normal people to use.” He spoke Elantran.

Liannor barely moved as this second guard emerged. “You’re certain you’re not eating too much?”

Liatt said nothing. Only when the last bit of the creature exited the invisible portal did she introduce him. “This is Riaknon. He is kin to the Tower.”

“Does he live in the basement?”

“I imagine he lives wherever he chooses,” was the cool reply. It invited no further questions. She did watch Kaylin carefully. Even so, she couldn’t help but notice Severn.

Severn had lifted both of his arms in greeting, his elbows and fingers bending.

Liatt’s expression shifted. She glanced at Riaknon. “Well?”

“It is clear he has met something that at least apes our customs. That,” he added, “was perhaps meant as a greeting?”

Severn nodded. “I apologize. It’s crude; Arbiter Starrante did not offer to teach me the appropriate moves with arms that naturally bend in the opposite direction.”

Riaknon clicked. “Our limbs bend in both directions; we merely favor this one for movement.” He hissed at Liannor.

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