Cast In Deception

“The private is my escort,” Bellusdeo said, in a perfectly friendly, perfectly bland tone.

“There is nothing here that requires the private’s attention, and a great deal that does not.”

Kaylin opened her mouth. Closed it. It was smarter to let the Dragon do the talking because Moran couldn’t do anything to the Dragon. Small and squawky, almost forgotten, lifted his head and batted Kaylin’s cheek with the top of it. He looked bored.

Teela appeared in the door frame behind Moran. “Why are you here?” she asked.

“It was here,” Bellusdeo replied, although Kaylin was pretty sure the question wasn’t aimed at the Dragon, “or the East Warrens.” Kaylin couldn’t see Bellusdeo’s expression, but the bland, cheerful, neutral reply was like a red flag.

Severn had probably made the smarter choice. Tain’s desk was safer. But Kaylin had really wanted to see Teela for herself. She’d wanted to be certain that Teela was whole.

It was the sergeant, not yet retired, who said, “The East Warrens. Marcus sent Kaylin to the East Warrens.” Clearly she had not been informed, and while the duty roster was not her responsibility, she knew it was a Barrani beat. Her glare traveled down the hall, as if she were considering offering Marcus a few choice words herself.

“I was, of course, with her.”

Moran folded her arms. “Come in,” she told the Dragon brusquely. She ignored Kaylin entirely and Kaylin followed like a shadow.

* * *

“You met Candallar. In the warrens.” Teela was now lounging on a chair so bare it should have been uncomfortable. To her left, in one of three beds in the small room, a Barrani Hawk slept. Since Barrani didn’t need sleep, he was probably unconscious. Or wishing he were.

It was Canatel. He was, like Teela, a corporal. He’d been part of the Hawks for as long as Kaylin could remember, which really only meant about eight years. In Barrani terms, that was a blink of the eye.

“This is well above your pay grade, kitling. It is not for you.”

“How many people are descending on my home in the near future?”

“If I have any say in it?” Teela exhaled and stood, losing the studied nonchalance of chair lounging. “You’re certain it was the fieflord?”

“I’ve never met him. Severn was certain.”

More Leontine followed, but it was soft. Clearly Teela trusted Severn’s opinion.

“Why is Candallar involved?” Kaylin asked, as Bellusdeo said, “Candallar is outcaste, yes?”

Teela only answered the Dragon’s question. “Yes.”

“Does he happen to be related to any of the cohort? Because I’ve got one furious fieflord visiting my home at least three times a week, and I think I could do without another one.”

“You would rather he visit your home than encounter him elsewhere. Candallar noted your mark?”

“Nightshade’s mark? Yes.”

“Good.”

Kaylin thought she’d take the nearest seat, she was so shocked. “Good? You still hate him for putting the mark there!”

“Yes. But it will serve as a warning to Candallar, if a warning is required. He is not Nightshade.”

“Nightshade is more powerful?”

“He was, before he was removed from the High Court. There is a reason he possesses one of The Three.”

And a reason, Kaylin thought, wanting to smack herself, that Teela possessed one as well. Three swords created to fight Dragons. They were called The Three; the capital letters were practically pronounced. Had she never really considered that they weren’t just handed out randomly?

“Candallar is younger?”

“We are all ancient compared to you. Candallar is younger. He was of the High Court. He took, and passed, the Test of Name.”

“Why was he turfed out?”

Teela pinched the bridge of her nose. Bellusdeo suggested Kaylin speak in Barrani, or High Barrani. “Which part of ‘above your pay grade’ isn’t clear? I can repeat it in all of the languages you know, and three you don’t. I am certain that Bellusdeo could repeat it in her native tongue—”

“That’s illegal without permission—”

“And suffer few ill consequences.”

“East Warrens was Canatel’s beat. His and Tagraine’s. Candallar was there—invisibly, by the way—to meet them.”

“He said so?”

“He said he was visiting friends.”

“Of course he did.” Teela cast one backward glance at the unconscious man on the cot. It was not a look of loathing; it was not a look of anger.

“What happened?” Kaylin asked.

“Tagraine and Canatel had an argument. They came to blows in the office. I invited the Barrani to the West Room to discuss, among other things, self-control. In retrospect, this was unwise.” Her smile was grim, but genuine. “It was clever,” she added, as if to explain her expression. “Only Barrani were present, as they must have known would be the case. I did not get far into my ill-tempered lecture before Tagraine attempted to kill me. With a dagger,” she added.

What was Teela not saying?

“Canatel attempted to stop Tain from interfering. Canatel was injured. Tagraine died.” Both her voice and face were devoid of expression.

This was not exactly the story Kaylin had heard. She knew better than to trust gossip for accuracy, but... “Canatel didn’t try to kill you? He didn’t help?”

“He attempted to come to the aid of his partner.” Teela’s glare was ice and steel.

Bellusdeo cleared her throat. “Candallar.”

“That’s not the direction I expected the politics to travel. I have limited access to fieflords. In theory, so does the rest of the Court—but the rest of the Court does not serve as Hawks, with the legal boundaries necessitated by that office. I was...unprepared for that avenue of pressure. Did you attempt to engage him?”

“She threatened to arrest him, if that helps,” Bellusdeo offered.

Teela covered her forehead with her left hand. “Of course she did.”

“He seemed surprisingly conscious of Imperial Law,” the Dragon continued, “and entirely unintimidated by it. He did not ask Kaylin for either information or concession; I believe he was distracted.”

“By the presence of a Dragon?”