Page 128 of Cast in Atonement

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Kaylin said. “Let me talk to her first. I know she’s not going to like it—but she’ll be more careful with me because Mrs. Erickson will be there; I think, if she’s upset, she’s going to feel free to lose it at Emmerian, because he’s likely to survive.”

“Good. I know that you are also hesitant. Lose the hesitance if you do not wish to lose everything else. You know that were I to tell Mrs. Erickson she was absolutely necessary for the protection of the world, she would immediately volunteer; she is that kind of person. Convince Bellusdeo to give her the choice.”

“It’s not just Bellusdeo who’s going to be dead set against it.” Kaylin glanced at Severn. “Helen is going to hate it.”

“I need to recover, or I would accompany you to your home; Helen seems remarkably sensible.” He coughed. “Lord Emmerian, if I might trouble you for aid?”

Kaylin, understanding Evanton’s request, said, “It’s not technically legal for him to fly you home.”

“It is legal in an emergency,” Evanton replied. “And I would imagine justifying such aid would not be difficult: you can inform the Emperor that the Keeper was at risk of failing in his duty due to exhaustion.”

Emmerian knew better than to argue with Evanton; it made Kaylin wonder how long the Dragon had known the Keeper. “I will be honored to be of aid to you, Keeper. The Emperor will not question my decision.”

“Is it safe for any of us to remain?” Kaylin asked, giving Larrantin the side-eye.

“What do you think?” Evanton snapped.

“I think we leave,” Kaylin said. “Larrantin?”

He nodded, his gaze on the Ancient complicated; it was not quite the avaricious gaze of a researcher. “I will join Serralyn and Bakkon, if that is acceptable.”

Kaylin glanced at Teela, but Teela’s attention was fixed on the Ancient, her gaze entirely different from Larrantin’s. Of course it was. Terrano was still missing. “Teela?”

“Larrantin can join the research,” the Barrani Hawk said. “Bakkon will come to retrieve him and take him back. The rest of us will return to Helen; we have much to discuss.”

“Has Serralyn found anything that she thinks might be helpful?”

“Undecided. She wants to know what happened. Which is fine. I’d like to know what happened as well.”

“What did you see?”

“You walked beneath the arch of the first two trees. The path seemed normal to our eyes until you reached perhaps the sixth living column—but when you passed it, you vanished. Not only did you vanish, but fog rolled in; we lost sight of you. Some discussion about our path going forward was had. It was perhaps fractious.

“But before we could act, the fog rolled back, and we could see you in the distance.”

“You could,” Larrantin said. “The rest of us could not. An’Teela did not avail herself of magical enhancements—but she could see you; we could not. Not until she began to walk.”

Kaylin nodded. She could guess why.

“And then we saw you. You appear to have found the time and space to change your uniform into something that is, admittedly, far more attractive to my eye than the Hawk kit you usually wear.”

Kaylin glanced at Teela. Teela shrugged. “It’s a ceremonial dress.”

“So it is the dress it appears to be. How did you come by it?”

“I don’t know.”

Larrantin’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m sorry I don’t have a better answer. I just have the truth. I was wearing my normal clothing—and if I’ve lost that, it’s going to cause problems. At some point, my normal clothing became this. I only recognized it because I’ve worn it before.”

“You?”

“Me.”

“You, a mortal, were chosen by the green? To be the harmoniste? To wear that dress?”

She curbed her annoyance with effort, because she’d found it pretty unbelievable when it had happened to her. “Yes.”

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