Page 99 of Cast in Atonement

“Absolutely not. She almost hit me because the person she was aiming for was really, really good at dodging.” Teela grinned.

Kaylin glanced at Emmerian.

He shook his head. “I will return to the Academia.”

“But—”

“My presence will at best be tolerated; at worst it will be an outlet for anger, frustration, and despair. No one needs that at this time.”

“Helen can keep damage to a minimum,” Mandoran pointed out.

“Karriamis couldn’t keep all damage to a minimum,” was Emmerian’s wry reply.

Helen was, as she always was, at the open door when Kaylin crossed the fence line. She immediately moved out of the way when she saw Kaylin’s guests: Severn, Tain, and Teela. Teela occupied an odd position; she was a Hawk, Kaylin’s mentor, a Lord of the High Court, and a member of the cohort. The cohort had passed the Test of Name, and were theoretically also lords of the same court—but Teela’s power in that court was fully established and unquestioned.

Helen quietly stood to the side until every visitor had filed in. “You didn’t locate Evanton.”

Kaylin shook her head. The question was a formality, asked for the sake of politeness; the minute Kaylin entered her home, Helen could read her thoughts about the day in progress. She already knew.

“Teela wishes a place to discuss the current search in private.”

Kaylin nodded.

“Bellusdeo wishes to join that discussion.”

Of course she did. Emmerian, as usual, was right. “Does she want to bring Mrs. Erickson?”

“I don’t believe she considers that either wise or mandatory at the moment. Imelda is exhausted, and she is understandably quite upset at the turn of events. She is willing to join your discussion if I feel her input will be of aid.”

“Do you?”

“I would like to hear the discussion first,” Helen confessed. “But the decision in this case must be up to you.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Because, Kaylin, you are the tenant. Inasmuch as I have the choice of who to serve, I nonetheless serve. My choice was an attempt to serve someone I desired to serve. But you could ask me to eject every person currently in residence, and I would do so.”

“I would never force Mrs. Erickson to join us, and I certainly wouldn’t ask you to kick everyone else out of their home.”

“Yes.” Helen’s smile was gentle. “I have rearranged the parlor; it is larger. I have asked Sedarias to consider allowing Mandoran to pass on information as it arises.”

“She agreed?”

“For now, yes. Terrano, as you must know, has not returned.”

Kaylin nodded. “If we could find him, we could probably find Evanton.”

“I think that would calm Imelda significantly. Azoria was not her fault and not her responsibility, but she nonetheless feels very, very guilty.”

“She has nothing to feel guilty about!”

“Sadly, that is not the way guilt works.”

Teela sat. When Helen offered her a drink, she actually accepted it. In theory, given that both she and Tain wore tabards, she was on duty. Drinking on duty was forbidden. Tain politely refused, which caused Teela to lift a brow in his direction.

“I don’t have to deal with the rest of your friends,” he said in response. Kaylin thought it a tad smug.

Teela, drink in hand, glared at him.

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