Page 113 of Cast in Atonement

To Kaylin’s surprise, the chancellor smiled, his eyes losing some of their red. “I know. While Terrano is not technically a student—and I would never approve any application he chose to make—I admit my grudging tolerance of his presence has grown into a thorny affection. Go, and return safely.”

She closed her eyes briefly. Opened them again and nodded.

Kaylin did not get told to return safely but didn’t resent the lack; she was a Hawk here.

“Corporal Neya,” the chancellor said, as if he could hear the thought. “I expect that you will not take Bellusdeo with you, unless it is imperative that Mrs. Erickson also attend. I consider both of their presences to be unnecessary at this stage; until some determinations have been made, the risk is too high.

“Lord Emmerian, however, can serve in her stead, should the strength of a Dragon be required.” He turned to Emmerian.

Emmerian, silent as he almost always was, nodded. Kaylin had always been surprised by Emmerian’s ability to disappear in a crowd; it was a knack she didn’t have, even when she forced herself to keep her mouth shut.

The chancellor, half glaring in Kaylin’s direction, continued. “Lord Emmerian is not a member of the Academia in any fashion. We are both, however, servants of the Eternal Emperor, and I have known the Emperor for a very long time.

“Arbiters, we will take our leave of the library. Should there be information of note uncovered after our departure, please send immediate word.”

The three Arbiters nodded. Starrante placed one limb on Serralyn’s left shoulder, as if he wanted to physically hold her in place. He hadn’t argued with the chancellor’s decision, but it was clear his reservations were far stronger.

Then again, Starrante—a being whose existence depended on his ability to devour his siblings—had always been the softest of the Arbiters. Serralyn briefly touched that limb, patting it as if it weren’t chitin. “Bakkon isn’t you,” she said, voice soft, “but he’s far more accustomed to shepherding mortals and keeping them safe. He lives in the Tower of Liatt.”

“As you are not a mortal, you should be far easier to protect.” Kaylin thought his attempt at reassurance was actually meant for himself, not Serralyn, but Serralyn nodded as he let go of her shoulder.

They returned to the chancellor’s office. The room was a slightly different shape, but this was explained by the appearance of Bakkon. Given the color of the Wevaran’s eyes, Bakkon was not in a great mood. He clicked his way through a few sentences, and then readjusted his language.

“My apologies. I’ve been speaking with my kin in Liatt.”

Serralyn nodded.

“Have you received the chancellor’s permission to return?”

“She has,” the chancellor replied, before Serralyn could. “Understand that she is almost as valuable as Liatt’s heir.”

“Yes. I understand. Starrante has made this quite clear. If Serralyn is fatally injured, I will have to avoid visits to the Academia for the foreseeable future.”

Serralyn winced but smiled. “I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“Oh, so am I. He will understand I have utterly failed in my most important charge.”

The Barrani student laughed then, her eyes shifting in color so that they were almost entirely green.

The chancellor cleared his throat. “Bakkon, there will be, as happened the first time, two different exploratory parties. You will, once again, be with Serralyn, and you will return to the research area, where you will attempt to uncover information about the elements that comprise the external halls.

“The three Hawks—”

“Four,” Tain said.

“The four Hawks, then. The four Hawks, Lord Emmerian, and Larrantin will attempt to find Evanton and Terrano.”

Kaylin nodded. Hope squawked.

The chancellor frowned, no doubt at Hope’s commentary. “Very well. Bakkon, we require you to follow your thread back to the research area, but you must create a portal that everyone can use. Hope feels it is safest to enter the rest of the manse from the research area; he is not certain that Mrs. Erickson’s front door will open to Azoria’s former abode. Evanton understood some of the enchantment, and he could manipulate it to gain entry; I am not certain that anyone present can accomplish that.”

Larrantin coughed.

The chancellor ignored him.

Bakkon clicked, the sound slight and rhythmic. “Yes. Yes, I can do that. But if the door cannot be safely used, and they cannot return to the research area, they, too, might be trapped.”

“The door works from the inside,” Kaylin told the Wevaran. “Or it did when we left; it’s how we escaped.”

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