Page 96 of Cast in Atonement

When facing the chancellor, her eyes lightened enough that green flecks could be seen in the blue. “I trust you with as much of our lives as you can preserve. But I also trust you understand just how important this might be, or become.

“I’m guessing that if we find Terrano, we’ll find the Keeper—but we can’t find either if we don’t understand what the space is, what it was meant to be, and what it might have devolved to with Azoria’s death.”

16

It was interesting—and unexpected—that it was Serralyn who somehow unruffled metaphorical feathers. Arbiter Androsse, who had been about to go toe-to-toe with the chancellor, offered a reluctant nod to the Barrani cohort student. The chancellor, eyes losing some of their red, did the same. Kavallac had remained silent—possibly because she had never quite trusted Azoria and had been far more reserved than the other two Arbiters.

Larrantin provided the only minor surprise. “If you wish to evaluate the space and its magical construction, and you are willing, I will accompany you.”

“Bakkon is coming,” Serralyn said, which sounded like a no to Kaylin.

“I have no issues with that. If you wish, I will ask Bakkon’s permission as well. Unlike Arbiter Androsse or Arbiter Starrante, I have no difficulties leaving the campus.” His smile was slender, sharp. “There have, from time to time, been people who have attempted to make it an issue.”

“Have you been to the High Halls since the Academia was resurrected?”

One silver-gray brow rose. “Do not be ridiculous. I am willing to leave the Academia—and my research—on my own terms. I have no interest in the politics of the High Court.” The brow lowered. “Very, very few of the people I would have considered companions are still alive. I believe my family line survived, and in some fashion serves the current High Lord, whoever he is.”

Both of Serralyn’s brows rose.

“Regardless, I am curious, and I believe you would not find a better candidate for research on the actual halls Azoria created.”

Starrante made the Wevaran clicks that served as social coughing.

“Bakkon is an expert—as are many of your kin—in travel by portal. He is not so much an expert in spatial dimensions. And frankly, none of us are experts in death and its detritus.”

Lord Emmerian had been so still, so silent, it was easy, in the ruffled nerves and muted hostility, to forget he was there. “Will you risk Mrs. Erickson?”

Kaylin shook her head. “Absolutely not. Until we know, until we can figure out what happened to Evanton, she is staying with Helen.”

“It is her sensitivity that might prove instructive.”

“No.”

“And if she is asked to help, do you think she will refuse?”

“I’ll have Helen keep anyone who’d be willing to ask her out of my house.”

“Thus denying her the choice.”

Serralyn approached Emmerian and took his arm. He glanced down at her. She shook her head. “Mrs. Erickson is part of our house. There isn’t a single member of my cohort who doesn’t like her. Kaylin’s overprotective, it’s true—but she’s got nothing on Sedarias. Or Bellusdeo, if it comes to that.”

“Bellusdeo understands self-determination,” Emmerian replied.

Serralyn nodded. “She does. But she also understands that, at base, Mrs. Erickson is a people pleaser.” She glanced at Kaylin. “That’s the right word?”

“Yes.”

“And people pleasers are very easily pressured to do things that aren’t in their own best interests. If the Keeper and Terrano can’t be found, we can revisit the question of Mrs. Erickson if none of our exploration yields any results. But she’s not joking. She’ll tell Helen to refuse to let you in, and Helen will obey.”

Emmerian exhaled, but he nodded.

“We know you want to help Bellusdeo,” Serralyn told him, her voice gentle. “So do we, especially Mandoran. But it’s no good trying to help her if the help enrages her—and trust me, this will.” She then turned to the Arbiters. “We’re leaving now. If we do get permission to explore Azoria’s various studies, it probably won’t be until tomorrow at the earliest.”

Only when they had left the library and its Arbiters did Serralyn turn once again, to the chancellor. His eyes had mellowed into red-flecked orange. The spine of steel that had held her up in the library deserted her as she faced him. “I’m sorry. I’ve seen enough of Androsse that I thought things were going to become unproductive really, really quickly.”

The chancellor smiled. “And you’ve seen enough of Dragons to assume that part of that would be my fault?”

She swallowed and nodded. “Normally, I’d just do what the Arbiter requested. He can lock me out of the library, and I don’t want to lose library time. But you can lock me out of the Academia, and in the end, that’s more important.”

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