heard the story the Dragons tell the Leontines,” she offered instead—when she could speak. “I’ve seen it; I’ve touched it. It didn’t change or affect me, because I’m not Leontine. I’ve been told the regalia is a—a story told to Barrani, but it’s supposed to be similar in some fashion. And the Lords of the High Court listen to that story at least once.”
His eyes remained blue. “Very well. I will not command otherwise; you are correct in your assumption. I admit I am curious to see what effect, if any, such recitation will have; you are, in theory, mortal.”
She bowed, mostly to hide her expression; he bid her rise, probably because he knew.
“We have not yet finished our discussion, Lord Kaylin. Come, approach me.”
She glanced at Teela; Teela didn’t meet her eyes. She didn’t move her head at all.
Kaylin approached the throne. The Consort turned toward her, her eyes still the same frigid blue.
“We have heard that you suffered the loss of your home in the City.”
Sarcasm, her early and best defense mechanism, rolled over and exposed its throat under the Consort’s gaze. She swallowed and nodded. “It’s true.”
“Is it also true that you offered the hospitality of that home to a Dragon?”
Gods damn it. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because,” she said, trying to force exasperation out of her tone, “she’s a Dragon. She wanted to stay in my home. I am a Lord of the High Court, but I am not Barrani. I had no safe way of refusing her.”
“Nor any safe way of accepting her presence, either.”
She failed to point out that the Arcane bomb had been designed—and probably thrown—by a Barrani Lord of the High Court in which she was now being interrogated, and that took effort.
“Where is the Dragon now residing?”
“In the Imperial Palace.”
“And you?”
“In the Imperial Palace.”
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