Page 71 of Cast in Atonement

Evanton glanced to the side. “You believed that Azoria’s research had something to do with the extensive use of the dead.”

“Oh, I don’t know very much about her research,” Mrs. Erickson replied.

Kaylin grimaced at the Keeper. “We’re not certain what the goal of that research was. Azoria was Barrani; she had eternity, if she were careful.”

“And?”

“It’s mostly mortals who break things in an attempt to become Immortal. I don’t think she was necessarily trying to extend her life.”

Terrano coughed.

“You think she was?”

“I think she was, what’s the word? Intrepid. I think she was intrepid. She was willing to experiment.”

“Clearly.”

“With her own life. With the source of her life force: her name. She wouldn’t be the first. If mortals go down the wrong paths in their desire to be Immortal—and they do—Immortals, taking immortality for granted. They don’t want eternity because they already have it.

“They want freedom. They want the security of an existence free from the threat of enslavement, which is what True Names represent. If that wasn’t her goal, forbidden research—at least among our kin—revolves around that. How do we get names that no one else can bind us with?

“Even if she wasn’t looking for that directly, if she performed other questionable research, that would form the underpinnings of any extrapolation.”

Evanton exhaled. He walked toward one of the statues; it was taller than anyone present; it might have been taller than Maggaron. Kaylin’s frown deepened. The foyer of Azoria’s home hadn’t been this large, had it?

She turned to Mrs. Erickson; when Evanton approached the statue, Mrs. Erickson had failed to follow, her hand sliding off his arm and falling to her side.

“It’s probably a good idea we’re here,” Terrano said, in an uncharacteristically grim tone. “The foyer wasn’t this large the first time. Serralyn says it’s possible that without Azoria’s will to shape it, the building is slowly transforming.”

“This doesn’t look like drift to me.”

“Not to us, either. I think Bakkon’s worried.”

“The dead aren’t supposed to have power. This can’t be Azoria, can it?”

“I’m not the person to ask, and before you continue, I have no idea who is. But Sedarias is now worried.”

Great. Just great.

“She’s not mad at you—not yet; she was certain Azoria was gone as well.”

“What if it’s not Azoria?”

“I think that’s what she’s worried about.”

“Her worries can be explained on your own time,” Evanton said. He’d left the statue he’d approached and was walking a straight line to the second statue, which brought him in range of their conversation.

“What do you think he’s looking for?” Terrano whispered, when Evanton stood in front of the second statue, chin lifted, hands clasped behind his back.

Kaylin shrugged. Severn?

The statues look the same to me as they look to you through Hope’s wing.

The rest of the foyer?

The same as well. Hope clearly thinks there’s something here that might require visual aid—but whatever it is, it’s not in the foyer.

She watched Evanton’s back and posture. I’m not so sure about that.

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