Page 15 of Cast in Atonement

She could swear Starrante chuckled. “I was chosen as Arbiter for a reason. Not one of the three us could fall victim to such pressure. I’m perhaps not as...aggressive in temperament as either of my colleagues, but I am fully capable of defending myself. I am also the only Arbiter who is free to leave the library, although I am confined to the Academia grounds.

“In other words, I simply leave if the discussion is unproductive.” He then turned to Mrs. Erickson. “I apologize again for their ill temper. I have done some research within the many tomes of our library, and I believe—although perhaps I am mistaken—that Arbiter Androsse has some slender experience with the field of study.”

Mrs. Erickson nodded.

Kaylin assumed field of study meant Necromancy, but didn’t bother to clarify; she didn’t like the word. Or rather, didn’t like it anywhere in the vicinity of Mrs. Erickson.

“He is, in my opinion, the most difficult to deal with. For today, I wish to hear what brought you—personally—to the Academia. I am aware of your recent difficulties, and I believe we owe you at least that much, given the outcome.”

“It’s not about me, not exactly,” Mrs. Erickson said. She had taken a seat, as had Kaylin; Bellusdeo was pacing, gold armor glinting in the room’s light.

“Bellusdeo,” the chancellor said.

She turned on the spot to glare at him.

“I understand your concern, but wearing a hole in the floor will not assuage it.”

“You don’t understand my concern,” she snapped, rumbling, her eyes flickering between orange and red. The draconic undertone left her voice as she turned to Mrs. Erickson. “Tell him. Tell him what you told me.”

“Will you be all right, dear?”

Bellusdeo’s nod was shaky.

Mrs. Erickson turned her attention to Starrante. “You know I can see ghosts.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t always tell the difference between the living and the dead.”

“That must have been difficult when you were a child.”

“Childhood was so long ago, I hardly remember,” was the serene reply. It was as close to a lie as Mrs. Erickson could get. “I know now to check for simple things like shadows. Ghosts don’t have them. Mostly. But it’s not exact, and sometimes when the streets are too crowded, I make mistakes.” She glanced at Bellusdeo and then squared her shoulders.

“Bellusdeo’s ghosts have one shadow: hers. They’re clustered around her, and they overlap. It makes Bellusdeo difficult to see at times.”

“Are they always present?”

“I believe so. It’s a bit hard to separate them. That many people don’t usually all stand in the same place.”

“Do you know their names?”

Mrs. Erickson hesitated.

“You have my permission to tell him anything you want. Anything at all,” Bellusdeo said, voice low.

“They...don’t think they have names.”

Kaylin stiffened, her hands curling into fists in her lap.

“Pardon?”

“They don’t remember their names. When I tried to ask, none of them could answer.” She hesitated again, and then exhaled. “It was difficult to get answers because most of them were crying.”

The chancellor looked to Bellusdeo. In a much softer voice than he had yet used when speaking to the Dragon, he said, “I understand, now, why you felt this matter so urgent.”

Bellusdeo was silent.

He turned once again to Mrs. Erickson. “Are they crying now?”

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