Page 112 of Cast in Atonement

“You are not wrong. It is most of the reason I am extremely reluctant to send Serralyn back to them.”

“We’re assuming that communication from the lab area will be limited,” Teela said. “We therefore want the person sent to have access to the most immediate knowledge. We could communicate when Mandoran was in the halls proper; Serralyn was very muted.”

Kaylin cleared her throat. “We split up when we entered her abode. We lost Evanton and Terrano when the hall was flooded by light. I have no idea what the hall will look like if we attempt to enter it again. But I think we can communicate with the Ancient.”

Teela’s eyes became indigo in that instant. “Absolutely not.”

“I haven’t even started yet.”

“Please. Your face is an open book. You were about to suggest that you go into the outlands to talk to the Ancient again.”

“The Ancient was grateful to me. I might be able to use gratitude as a bargaining chip. Whatever else happens, we need Evanton back. I still think Terrano can get out of wherever it is he’s stuck—and he’s got as long as he needs. Evanton might not, and if there’s no Keeper, the rest of the world is going to suffer.”

“You assume you can talk the Ancient into returning the Keeper to us.”

“I think it’s worth a shot.”

“And if you are unsuccessful?”

Kaylin shrugged. “Then I’ll be stuck with Evanton and Terrano.”

“Or dead.”

Kaylin exhaled. “Bakkon and Serralyn will be safe. If they can unearth more of Azoria’s research, they can figure out her intentions. We’re obviously going to spend some of that research time figuring out both the outlands connection and the connection to the green. But we don’t want to break the outlands connection until we can get Evanton back.”

“And the green?”

“I don’t think the connection was meant to serve the same purpose. But Bakkon and Serralyn can probably figure that out.”

“I would like to accompany you,” Larrantin said.

“As would I,” Teela added.

Kaylin’s intention had been to take Severn with her, if he insisted.

I do.

She couldn’t control Teela. Teela’s As would I was pretty much a command. She turned to Larrantin. “Do you intend to accompany Serralyn?”

“I intend to accompany you, should you attempt to communicate with the Ancient.”

The chancellor cleared his throat. “You have classes,” he told the scholar.

“Which may or may not be relevant if the world becomes an elemental storm. Azoria was my student. I cannot see what she created from the Academia, but if I walk in her halls, I may understand—in a way the Hawks will not—how she used my lessons and my expertise.” He smiled; it was thin. “Surely the choice is mine?”

The chancellor exhaled.

Kavallac exhaled as well, but there was steam in hers. “You want to see the Ancient.”

“Yes. But as the Ancient is no doubt part of the entire enchantment, there is good reason for my curiosity.”

She snorted. “Chancellor?”

“Very well.” He then turned to Serralyn. “You have permission, but it is granted with grave misgivings. Were it not for the urgency of this particular emergency, I would not grant it at all.”

19

Serralyn smiled at the chancellor, green returning to her eyes, although blue remained the predominant color. “This place is incredibly important to me. I know it’s not as important as it is to you—but it’s probably as close as a non-Dragon can get.”

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