Page 58 of Cast in Atonement

“And Bellusdeo.”

Evanton, living up to his reputation as a man who did not desire social company, turned to Helen. “If I visit again, I would prefer not to do so for dinner.”

“They understand what the Keeper is,” Kaylin told him. “They’re going to treat you with respect.”

“There are many questions I cannot—or will not—answer. I hope respect precludes aggressive curiosity.”

“This,” Kaylin said, as they entered the room, “is Evanton. He’s the current Keeper of the elemental garden.”

Everyone—except Mrs. Erickson—rose. Mrs. Erickson followed, noticing that all of the others had left their chairs. Kaylin exhaled. She hated formality, because she was so bad at it; she wanted to tell the cohort to sit when their names were called, because she had to introduce them all, and Evanton might have some chance of remembering their names. Evanton, being human, if not exactly mortal, had a normal person’s memory.

“These are my housemates. Sedarias An’Mellarionne, Terrano Allasarre, Annarion Solanace, Mandoran Cassarre, Allaron Boranin, Torrisant Immolan, Fallessian Torcannon, Karian Reymar. Bellusdeo, you already know. And this is Mrs. Imelda Erickson.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Mrs. Erickson said, smiling.

The rest of the cohort offered Evanton deep bows; Terrano’s was sloppier than the others as he seemed distracted.

“Teela is good friends with them, but she’s busy tonight, so she won’t be joining us.”

“Unless something catches metaphorical fire,” Terrano added, grinning.

There must have been some law of nature that kept Terrano’s and Sedarias’s moods balanced; when he grinned, she frowned.

Evanton’s seat was at the head of the table, not exactly close to Mrs. Erickson’s. Helen didn’t rearrange the seats—and the people sitting in them—to change that.

To Kaylin’s surprise, Evanton started the conversation. “I admit I’m surprised to see that Kaylin has so many housemates. How did you meet her?”

Silence gathered at the table; Kaylin was certain the cohort were now having an interior group discussion about how to answer that question. Terrano even opened his mouth three times but shut it without ejecting words.

It was Sedarias who answered. “We met in the West March. Kaylin had been sent there to participate in a rite known to the Barrani as the regalia.” This was a highly sanitized version of the events that had led Kaylin to the West March, but Kaylin understood why; she had no desire to correct it.

Evanton nodded. “It is not normally a rite offered to mortals.” His answer surprised Kaylin; it made clear that Evanton knew about the regalia.

“It is not. If you know Kaylin at all, you know she frequently crosses lines she cannot perceive.” Sedarias’s smile was reserved, but genuine.

“Oh, I do. I absolutely do. She has certainly interfered with the garden in the past few years, denying me the peace and quiet of a tranquil sunset. I’m not certain the marks of the Chosen are not responsible for much of her interference. It is probably why she has managed to survive.”

“She interfered with the garden?”

“She added another element to the whole.”

Every set of blue eyes turned to Kaylin.

“It was that or have the world end,” Kaylin said.

“Indeed,” Evanton agreed, smiling. “But she met you in the West March? All of you?”

“We were imprisoned in the Hallionne there,” Sedarias spoke slowly, as if measuring each word. “She freed us. But our period of confinement had been many centuries, and the world itself was not the world from which we had been sequestered. We are grateful that she offered us a home, and that Helen was willing to allow it. We are all exceedingly fond of Helen.”

“I found them because of Teela,” Kaylin added. She found lies—even lies of omission—difficult because it meant she had to sift every word before she actually spoke. “They were Teela’s only childhood friends. Or her only surviving friends.”

“And how long have you been resident in our fair city?”

Sedarias answered this more readily. “Not long. These days have been much occupied with the High Halls; they have been radically altered—although some merely say they have been restored.”

“I was aware of the change—it was quite sudden.” His gaze narrowed as it once again returned to Kaylin. “Perhaps, at a later time, you can tell me the story around that restoration, for I perceive that you understand why the change occurred.”

Terrano rolled his eyes.

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