Page 10 of Cast in Atonement

The argument sounded like a terrible storm—without the lightning—when the doors to the main building of the Academia flew open and a robed and orange-eyed man marched down the wide front steps toward the two Dragons. Kaylin lowered her hands instantly, although the Dragons were still going strong.

The former Arkon, the current chancellor of the Academia, did not condescend to join Bellusdeo and Tiamaris in draconic form, but he certainly didn’t spare them the draconic voice; he roared.

Bellusdeo and Tiamaris stopped midroar, two Dragon heads turning in the direction of the chancellor, whose eyes were not orange as Kaylin had assumed at a distance; they were red with flecks of orange. The only thing stopping him from exhaling literal fire was the grass and trees in the quad; they probably wouldn’t survive it, and they were part of the Academia. Which was his. His hoard.

“I will hear your reasons for this disgraceful behavior in my office. Now.”

“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Erickson whispered.

The two Dragons receded in size until they were plate-armored humans, at least in shape. One wore gold plate, the other red. They glared at each other, but when the chancellor turned and walked—heavily—toward the main building, they followed.

Bellusdeo, however, turned back to Kaylin and snapped, “Don’t even think of avoiding this.”

“I wasn’t the one who broke the rules and deafened the students in the quad,” Kaylin pointed out.

“And?”

She exhaled. “Fine. You go ahead. I’ll lead Mrs. Erickson to the office.”

“Do they not like each other?” Mrs. Erickson asked, as they walked—slowly and infinitely less dramatically—up the stairs.

“They care about each other,” a new voice said.

Mrs. Erickson looked up as the building’s Avatar—Killianas, Killian for short—appeared at the height of the steps, framed by an open door. He smiled, his smile so gentle it almost looked like a mask. Killian had a Barrani face, and Barrani didn’t smile like this.

“I am happy to welcome you to the Academia.” His smile deepened. “Yes, I am like Helen, although we have two different imperatives. Mine is the Academia, and the protection of the students who reside here.” The smile dimmed. “I apologize; the chancellor is not generally in as foul a mood as he is today, but he is angry at the two Dragons, not at you.”

“Or me?”

“He is mildly irritated with you as he believes you have some sway over Bellusdeo—but his ire is focused on the two Dragons. While he expects you to join them in the office, might I suggest we take a small tour of the building before we arrive there? It should give them time to calm down.”

Or try to kill each other, but Killian would prevent the damage Dragons fighting would otherwise cause anywhere else in the city.

“Did Bellusdeo get permission to visit?”

“Permission is not generally required—for Bellusdeo.”

“So that’s a no.” There were some days it didn’t pay to get out of bed. No wonder Hope had disappeared.

“Yes, I noticed the lack of your familiar. It is unusual.”

“Do you know if Bellusdeo intends to visit the Arbiters?”

“She is not entirely certain what she intends.” He then turned back to Mrs. Erickson. “I apologize for the noise; I assure you that this is a highly unusual occurrence in the Academia.”

Mrs. Erickson shook her head, smiling up at Killian. “If anyone should apologize, it isn’t you. And I wouldn’t have the courage to demand an apology from three rather angry Dragons. Should I wait, or is it safe now?” She glanced at Kaylin as she spoke.

“I’m a Hawk,” Kaylin replied, knowing just who Mrs. Erickson was worried about.

“Yes, dear, but we’re both only mortal.”

It was, according to Killian, safe. Kaylin stayed by Mrs. Erickson’s side through one change of classes, the only time that the Academia halls were full of loud, boisterous students. There were quiet students as well, but they didn’t have to be avoided. Killian’s Avatar remained by Mrs. Erickson’s side, so the student body largely avoided colliding with her—if not each other—and the walk to the chancellor’s office was orderly, if not silent.

Killian gently explained the Academia schedule as he walked. Mrs. Erickson always wanted to know everything, because everything was interesting to her. But maybe it would be—she’d become so accustomed to bringing home interesting stories to her children. To the ghosts that she had, with effort and at great risk, finally released from their captivity within the walls of her house.

Mrs. Erickson would never have trapped them there, but her life had been built around them; free of the responsibility of four dead, unaging children, she had to find a different life, a different path, for herself. It would have been hard for Kaylin; she imagined it would be all but impossible for a gentle old woman. But Mrs. Erickson approached life as if it were a gift, unasked for and unexpected.

“Evening classes are less numerous, but the first dinner has just let out, which is why the halls appear to be so busy. Some students will be heading for the late dinner hour.”

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