Page 103 of Cast in Atonement

The chancellor was in his office with Emmerian; they were both facing the door when it opened—Killian once again using more force than necessary. The chancellor didn’t ask about Evanton, no doubt already informed of the bad news by Killian.

“Killianas has spoken extensively to me about Azoria in her student days,” the former Arkon said, without preamble. “I have my own thoughts about that discussion, but it is not a discussion which Killianas can repeat; he can speak—with reluctance—to me because I am chancellor. He will not divulge information to anyone who is not. Even this discussion pushed him to his absolute limits.”

Kaylin frowned and turned to the Academia’s Avatar. “Why?”

“We are built for specific purposes. Students can—and should—expect privacy; if they choose to share information or elements of their lives and thoughts with their fellow students, they may do so. But if they have never shared those things, it is not up to me—a building created to provide a safe haven for students—to share them. It is not a matter of preference, Corporal. It is a matter of imperative. The only exception made was made for the chancellor. He is, for want of a better word, equivalent to a captain of a Tower.

“The situation is extreme; it is not every day that we lose the Keeper, and the consequences of permanent loss—or death—will affect every student and therefore every student’s safety. Even so, there are boundaries, and skirting those boundaries has been difficult for me.”

“Which is why you’re covered in purple?”

Killian frowned. “Purple?”

“You seem to be shrouded in a black-purple smoke or haze.”

Killian was surprised. He considered the question for some time, and then said, “Yes. Yes, I believe what you perceive with the aid of your familiar is due to the struggle against restrictions. Understand that I want to help. I want to offer the chancellor what he feels he needs, even if it is not clear to me. Living beings have much more flexibility than sentient buildings; the information that might prove of use is not clear to me. The chancellor wishes to have all information, all interaction, all my records, in order to assess; it is his assessment that makes the information valuable.

“I am reduced to working against myself and the rules that I was built upon; I work against the almost physical adherence. It is, and has been, taxing.”

“And it is done,” the chancellor said, voice uncharacteristically soft. “There is no further point in frustration or rage at your limitations. We all have limitations, Killianas. We are not measured by those limitations; it is in our attempts to understand them, accept them, and work with them that we shine.”

The chancellor turned, indicating that the standing group should sit. As was usual, Severn and Tain chose to stand, Teela, to sit. Kaylin chose to pace until Hope squawked. She then took the chair next to Teela.

“Azoria was an excellent student. Her ambition—to start—was the gaining of knowledge; this much, Killianas could freely discuss; it was shorn of specifics. It was common and accepted knowledge which one might be privy to in discussions with the various people who taught her.

“But Azoria’s private ambitions were not. She became a member of the Arcanum after leaving the Academia. That had been her intent before she gained entry here. Again, this was—or would have been—common knowledge. What was less common knowledge was her intent. We do not question intent if the students themselves are devoted to learning.

“Azoria had not yet become outcaste. She had not yet fallen so far afoul of the High Court that her political disposition was one of the very few that required all Barrani, anywhere, to kill on sight, if they had that ability, or to summon those who could if they did not.”

Kaylin nodded. She knew Nightshade was outcaste—and that for the Barrani, outcaste generally meant having fallen afoul of the High Lord and his political faction. There were historical examples of Barrani who had been repatriated, although they were few. The Consort seemed fond of Nightshade, and he, respectful of her.

Kaylin knew what Azoria’s crime had been. She wasn’t certain any of the other Barrani did.

“I have Killianas’s testimony. I have not yet spoken with Larrantin or the Arbiters. I believe it best at this juncture to attend them. Serralyn has gone ahead, and I believe Bakkon has been granted permission to enter the library at this time. The students are becoming more verbally restless at the shutdown, and it would be best to deal with this as soon as possible.”

“It would be best to find the Keeper as soon as possible, yes,” Kaylin snapped.

The chancellor’s brows rose, and Killian actually winced. “An’Teela?”

“My presence in the library is not mandatory; it would nonetheless be appreciated. As you must suspect, the High Court has concerns. I am here as a Hawk, with the permission of the Lord of Hawks, but I have been asked to attend to this issue with extreme care and thoroughness by the High Lord and the Consort. The absence of the Keeper is of great interest to any caste court.”

“Very well. I am sure the Arbiters will accept your inclusion if that is my decision.”

Kaylin was less certain, but that fight was the chancellor’s, not hers, and she really, really didn’t need any more conflict.

Larrantin arrived at the office; his arrival was the signal to leave.

Killian once again led them to the doors that served as the library portal. He once again chose to shield the party from the student body, and his eyes flickered between their normal blue and the total black that outlays of power seemed to cause.

This time, however, the door “opened” from the inside.

Standing in the library were Serralyn, Starrante, Kavallac, and Androsse. No one looked happy. Not that Kaylin expected cheer and joy, but there were hints of anger in the gravity of their expressions, and Serralyn’s eyes were as dark a blue as they got.

People filed in quickly. Kaylin wished Killian could join them, but he couldn’t; the library wasn’t part of the Academia.

“Terrano’s not back,” Kaylin said, meeting Serralyn’s gaze.

Serralyn shook her head.

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