Page 100 of Cast in Atonement

“No, dear, I don’t think they would start the equivalent of a bar brawl here,” Helen told her.

Mandoran laughed out loud. He then reddened. “Sorry. Some people think that would be entertaining. Not me, of course.”

Teela exhaled slowly; she was probably silently counting to ten.

Kaylin took the chair opposite Teela as the door opened to allow Bellusdeo entry. The Dragon’s eyes were copper. Helen expanded the room and the Dragon sat—heavily—to one side of Teela. Tain had not taken a chair.

“Give me whatever she’s drinking,” Bellusdeo said, sagging into the chair’s high back and closing her eyes.

A glass appeared on the side table.

Severn stood beside Kaylin’s chair. Mandoran, on the other hand, took the chair beside Bellusdeo. He didn’t ask for anything to drink.

Hope, flopped across her shoulder, squawked.

“You asked me a question in Evanton’s place,” Teela said, speaking to Kaylin.

“No, I didn’t. But it’s true I didn’t expect to see you there.”

“The Keeper is missing. The High Court has become aware of his absence, and the High Lord and the Consort are concerned. I did not tell them that he disappeared while accompanying you, or they’d have hauled you into a court session.”

“They can’t.”

“You’re a Lord of the High Court, remember?”

Ugh. “Fine, they can. I’m not going.”

“If you’re called, Sedarias and I will accompany you. You will be in no physical danger. In fact, if you could control what randomly falls out of your mouth, it’s unlikely you’d be in significant danger at all.” Teela exhaled slowly, no doubt counting to ten again, which Kaylin thought hugely unfair.

“Mandoran told you you might as well tell us what you’re thinking. Mandoran. Not me.”

“Then Mandoran can tell you what I’m thinking,” Teela replied. “But I assume you have actual questions that might generate discussion.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not a fool.”

“Look, I’m not a tagalong mascot anymore. I’m a corporal. I don’t need to be constantly tested.”

“Hmm, what do you normally say in situations like this? Oh, I remember. Sucks to be you.”

Hope snickered. Kaylin flicked his nose. “Fine. I didn’t expect you to be brought in—the Imperial Court has already pulled Severn and me off regular duties. I’m not going to ask how news of Evanton’s disappearance reached the High Court. Let’s assume that you were asked to look into it by the High Lord or his confederates.”

Teela nodded.

“You’d do what I did, and check to see if Evanton made it back. You already know what happened, more or less. And you know that Terrano hasn’t made it back yet. It’s that part that’s causing real worry. Terrano isn’t easily caged. Evanton might be—he’s the Keeper, not Terrano; he’s probably got no experience escaping difficult traps.”

“Continue.”

“Evanton wanted to see Mrs. Erickson’s home. He wanted to examine possible difficulties there. He found one, and it disturbed him. He then insisted that we visit Azoria’s manse. Fine. She’s dead. But it wasn’t the same space we fought in before. It wasn’t the space we’d faced Azoria in.”

“And?”

“When we tried to figure out what Azoria wanted from Mrs. Erickson, we had to do our own investigating. Serralyn discovered a very, very old ceremony of binding. The flowers that were placed in Mrs. Erickson’s hair before Azoria painted her family were flowers that can’t, in theory, grow outside of the green.”

Teela’s nod was slower, more measured.

“But she had that flower. It’s possible Azoria—outcaste—could sneak into the green, find such a flower, and steal it. I don’t think that’s likely, given the West March. Barrani memory is pretty long.”

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