Page 84 of Cast in Atonement

“I don’t know. The statues weren’t obeying me; they didn’t start to move because I told them to move. In Tilly’s case, I just...stopped telling her what to do.” She set her cup on the table. “What do you think happened to Evanton?”

“If you couldn’t see him at the end, it’s actually a good sign. That probably means he was sent to the outlands by the painting.”

Mrs. Erickson did not make it down to breakfast by the time Kaylin had to leave for work. Mandoran did. Barrani didn’t need much sleep—if any, at all—but Mandoran looked like sleep was possibly his best option. He rose when she did.

No mirror call had interrupted breakfast to let Kaylin know that the Halls of Law wasn’t where she’d be working.

“I’ll walk you to work.”

She started to say no, stopped, and nodded. She wanted to ask about Terrano, and what Terrano had seen.

“He’s not back yet, is he?”

Mandoran shook his head. His eyes were a darker than normal blue for him.

“Sedarias is worried.”

“You have no idea.” He winced. “You spoke with Mrs. Erickson?”

“She didn’t see much; it’s hard to look carefully when you’re being carried by a running Dragon.”

“Fair enough.”

“But I think Evanton is in the outlands. Azoria had a portal in her self-portrait that led straight there. I know that sentient buildings like Helen are partially rooted in the outlands; it’s from the outlands that they draw their godlike ability to create at desire or need within their boundaries.”

“You think Azoria was trying to become a sentient building?”

“No. Helen likes what she does, but she can’t leave. If people don’t come to her, she can’t interact with them. I can’t imagine Azoria would be willing to cage herself that way. But it’s possible that was what she was trying to create.”

“You require a living being to become the heart of a sentient building; the building is alive,” Mandoran pointed out.

“Yes—but the living person doesn’t have to be Immortal. They don’t have to possess purely personal power. One of the Hallionne was constructed around a mortal, and I think the Tower of Tiamaris was also built the same way. If I knew nothing at all about sentient buildings, I’d assume you’d want to build on power, that you’d need someone Barrani or draconic. Experience with sentient buildings has made clear this isn’t true.” Kaylin frowned. “But only the Ancients possessed the ability to create a sentient building—I don’t think any of the buildings I’ve spoken with were created any other way.”

Mandoran shrugged. “Anything I’ve heard about Azoria implies she didn’t accept limitations. If it could be done, she’d try.”

“As long as she wasn’t the one dying.”

“Look, her name—and her line—are practically forbidden in the High Halls, her crime was considered so great. We know she was initially obsessed with the Lake of Life—she wanted to find her dead sister’s name and somehow revive her. At least that’s the story.”

“I don’t think, by the end, she was thinking about her sister at all.”

“No. But she must have seen, or thought she’d seen, power. She was supposed to be smart, right? She knew that every individual word could literally bring a Barrani child to life. We don’t think about it a lot. I mean, we’ve had our names for the entirety of our lives; they’re not distinct or separate from us. It’s why the Consort is almost never a political target—unless there’s another Consort waiting in the wings. Then it can get ugly.

“But people don’t understand how the Lake chooses a Consort. It’s too risky. Azoria didn’t care about risk.”

“She clearly didn’t care much about anyone but herself. And she’s dead and she’s still causing problems.” Kaylin’s frown deepened.

“Did Mrs. Erickson say anything about the dead? Azoria’s not still haunting her home, is she?”

“If she is, Mrs. Erickson didn’t see her.” Kaylin looked down the street at the Halls of Law they were quickly approaching. “I have to head into work.”

Mandoran nodded. “I’ll just wait here.”

“What, in the middle of the street?”

“Home’s less safe at the moment; Sedarias is unhappy. If Terrano does make it back, she’s likely to strangle him, or come close. Never make Sedarias worry.”

“I’m not one of the people she worries about,” Kaylin said, smiling broadly.

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