Page 56 of Cast in Atonement

“Well enough for government work.”

Helen coughed. “Bellusdeo has just arrived.”

“Again?”

“I believe she intends to shadow you while you work. And I think this is for the best, before you argue against it.”

“I know.” Kaylin finished breakfast and rose to meet the gold Dragon.

Kaylin started the morning, Bellusdeo in tow, writing the standard patrol reports. It was her least favorite duty, but once it was done she would finish the working day with the actual patrol. She didn’t understand why reports had to be filed if nothing had gone wrong, and viewed them with the same distaste her sergeant did. Marcus, however, felt that if he had to file reports, everyone had to file them. No one argued.

The worst thing about the Barrani Hawks, in Kaylin’s private opinion, was that they filed their damn reports perfectly and on time. It was seriously annoying.

“Don’t look to me for sympathy,” Bellusdeo told her. “Severn appears to file his reports on time.”

“Why can’t I just add my signature to his reports? We saw the same things.”

“That is something you’d have to take up with your sergeant. I personally never required unnecessary reports, but I’m sure the Emperor has his reasons.”

“Sadism.”

“Is she whining again?” Teela said, from across the office. Kaylin hadn’t been that loud, but Barrani could hear everything.

Bellusdeo’s eyes lightened, and she left Kaylin to the tail end of her report. “Of course. It’s how we know she’s awake.”

Hope snickered. Kaylin flicked his snout. She then finished writing her report.

Elani street offered no further emergencies. Evanton was working in his storefront, and looked up when the Hawks paused in front of his window; he waved them off. If he had more words, he intended to save them for his visit to Kaylin’s house.

Only one mirror message had arrived at Kaylin’s desk by the end of the day: it was from the Academia. Apparently, the Arbiters had a few further questions. Killian at the Academia had as dim a view of mirrors and the mirror network as Helen did, but understood that communication, when attempting to attract students, was a necessity.

Kaylin forwarded the questions to Helen. She wouldn’t be able to answer any of them tonight.

“Did you want my company at dinner?” Severn asked.

“If you want to join us, you can. I don’t expect there will be much difficulty.”

“Bellusdeo?”

“I’m joining them,” the gold Dragon told Kaylin’s partner. “I don’t care if you’re there. Helen’s not likely to mind, and Mrs. Erickson will be fine with it. I expect we’ll get a number of cohort members as well—not many of them have met a Keeper.” She spoke using the same tone orphanage supervisors used when talking about kids at the zoo.

Kaylin finished work on time and rushed home; she talked Bellusdeo out of arriving the “efficient” way, and was forced to march, at speed, back to Helen. If Bellusdeo had chosen to break the laws governing Dragons in the city, she was likely to survive it—but her clothing wouldn’t; she’d have to join dinner in her natural armor. Severn chose to accompany them. Hope squawked, but it wasn’t the annoyed or angry squawk, so she assumed he approved—not that disapproval would change anything.

Helen was waiting in the frame of the open door. She smiled at Severn, and offered Bellusdeo open arms; Bellusdeo walked into them, wordless. Helen matched her silence, but gently disentangled herself and drew her into the house.

“Evanton has not yet arrived,” she told them. “I expect him soon. Would you like to wait in the parlor?”

“Depends. Is it empty?”

“It is. The dining room, however, is not; I believe most of the cohort in residence have chosen to welcome our guest.” Which meant Sedarias would be present.

Kaylin wondered if Bellusdeo would be more comfortable if most of the cohort were elsewhere. But... Evanton wasn’t coming to see Bellusdeo; he was coming to speak with Mrs. Erickson. At least one cohort member should be present; if Evanton wanted to hear about Mrs. Erickson’s home—or the parts that Azoria had controlled—the cohort had better memory.

The cohort had causes of their own. Telling them to leave—when they lived here—because Bellusdeo might be uncomfortable didn’t feel right.

“Mandoran did suggest a quieter dinner might be appropriate,” Helen said.

“But he’s still coming to dinner.”

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