Cast in Courtlight (html, jpg) by Michelle Sagara - Cast 02

Author:Michelle Sagara - Cast 02 [Sagara , Michelle M - Cast 02]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-30T00:50:27+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Severn was captivated by the damn windows. She wanted to throw something at his head, but with her luck, it would miss, and shattered glass in these rooms wasn't something she could afford. She had to hoard offenses, in case of need. A bit of a temper wasn't, even by Kaylin's loose definition, "need."

Andellen was part of the wall. Severn noticed him, but ignored him, inasmuch as you could ever ignore the armed Barrani at your back. She waited while Severn moved across the display of cut-and-colored glass, touching its surface in something like wonder. The color that filtered light offered changed the features of his face, the color of his uniform, the visual nature of gold; it did not touch his silence.

She counted to ten. And then did it again. After the third time, it had lost what little staying power it had. "Enough of the glass," she snapped.

He turned instantly.

And she regretted the words. His face was pale, and his mouth was tight with suppressed pain. She walked quickly to him, annoyance evaporating. "Are you hurt?"

He lifted a hand, mirror to her movement, and caught her wrist. The bruised wrist. "I'm not injured," he told her. "Let it be."

"What did the castelord do?"

"Nothing, Kaylin."

"But – "

"Nothing. You wanted to talk. Talk."

"Actually, I wanted you to talk."

He raised a brow.

She swallowed. "About Barrani magic."

"You might have asked your guard."

"Or the wall… it would have been more helpful."

The glimmer of a familiar smile touched his eyes, driving some of the tightness from his face. But the hollows were still there, like geography, a landmark that she could almost recognize but could not touch. "The Barrani are particular about proper form. If you want to get around the forms, you have to learn them. Gods know," he added, "they make a life of it. They'd be considered honest, otherwise." He paused. "They are never entirely truthful. Try to remember that."

"There's too much I don't understand," she told Severn, as if he hadn't spoken.

He nodded. He knew her well enough to know that she wasn't speaking about the Barrani, even if the statement was also applicable.

"And there's too much I can't explain. As in, not and live."

"That would be the Barrani code."

"Code?"

"They like secrets. In general, they preserve them by killing those who know them. I would guess that you're considered of value." His voice was light.

Nothing about that tone reached his face. "What can you tell me?"

"There's something about the Arcanum."

Severn shrugged. "Where magic of a particular type is involved, there usually is."

"Why hasn't the Emperor just destroyed it?"

"The Wolflord has often wondered that."

"You've – you've hunted Arcanists?"

He shrugged. "I've hunted many things."

"How did you survive?"

"Luck."

"Does it rub off?"

He shook his head, the smile creeping up the corners of his mouth. She'd always been able to force a smile out of him. Her arms were aching. She lowered them, wondering what she'd lifted. His frown was more felt than seen. His question was utterly silent. She shook her head.

"Do you suspect the Arcanum, in whatever investigation you aren't involved in?"

She snorted.

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