Cast in Honor (Chronicles of Elantra, #11)(144)

Chapter 30

Afterward, she heard the rest of the story, because she didn’t really make it back in a condition to witness it for herself. The Arcanist had appeared in the center of the room. The fighting nearest the stairs stopped instantly, which did not mean that the fighting had stopped entirely. Given the other occupants of the room, the rest of the fight wasn’t particularly long.

It was Mandoran who told Kaylin that Gilbert’s eye—the one remaining eye, in Annarion’s forehead—had left Annarion. And it was Annarion who told Kaylin that he thought Gilbert had used what power he could summon, through that tenuous connection, to patch the rend in time. To change the things that had happened. To bring the rest of the city back.

Annarion very deliberately ignored Kaylin’s face for twenty minutes—or longer—of their first visit. When he couldn’t keep that up, his eyes were drawn instantly to her cheek. Which was blistered and puffy. Nightshade’s mark was, of course, still there—and Annarion understood exactly why her skin was blistered, and it reminded him of the very core of his anger at his brother.

Since his brother was actually alive, worry had given way to the usual resentment. The two of them were going to have to talk, but Annarion was unwilling to risk visiting Castle Nightshade again.

“I called him,” she said quietly. “I needed his help to keep myself...here.”

Mandoran said, “That’s better than your usual attempt at lying. Half of it is probably true.” When she winced, he added, “You’re not going to make anyone believe that he burned part of your face at your request. Except maybe yourself. The rest of us are actually Barrani. We know how it works.” She realized, with some surprise, that Mandoran was almost as angry as Annarion.

*

Tain had cracked ribs and a pierced lung. It was Teela who passed that news on. Tain was apparently recuperating in a building that wasn’t sentient and didn’t also contain Mandoran and Annarion.

“Did I really hear the Emperor?” Kaylin asked the Barrani Hawk.

“I’m certain even the dead heard the Emperor. That’s a yes, by the way.”

She wilted. And fell asleep.

*

She slept on and off for three days.

During that time, Helen visited frequently with food. Marcus’s wives, led by the indomitable Kayala, visited, Marcus in tow. It was always funny to see Marcus surrounded by his wives; he was like a kitten. She was never stupid enough to say this in his hearing, though. Moran visited while Marcus was present, chatted amicably with his wives and gave Kaylin a very, very thorough medical inspection. She treated the burn on Kaylin’s cheek, as well.

Since she was not actually in the infirmary when she did this, Kaylin had hopes that her demeanor would be substantially different. Clearly, exhaustion had made her stupid. Moran told Kaylin—and Helen—in no uncertain terms what she expected of Kaylin’s convalescence. Kaylin didn’t pay much attention to most of it, but Helen certainly did, and Kaylin tried to remember that she had wanted Moran to live here.

Caitlin visited, with food. And flowers for Helen, just because. The Hawklord did not visit. The Arkon did not visit, either, but that was probably for the best.

Kattea, drawn and silent, her expression the forced smile of a child who has nowhere else to go and knows it, visited; she came in with Helen and left with her. Helen informed Kaylin that Kattea would be staying temporarily. Well, technically, Helen asked if Kattea could stay. But she asked in a tone of voice that made it clear there was only one acceptable answer.

Since it was the answer Kaylin would have given regardless, this was fine. Kattea, however, was not—and Kaylin could not force herself to stay awake for long enough to do anything about it. She did ask Kattea about Gilbert, heard Helen’s very sharp intake of breath and let the matter drop.

Bellusdeo came by with, of all people, Sanabalis—who was not dead, but looked almost as if death would be a mercy, his color was so bad. Bellusdeo’s eyes were a shade of orange that shifted perceptibly to gold when she saw Kaylin. “This is the first time you’ve been awake while we’ve been here,” she said, by way of explanation.

Kaylin deliberately didn’t ask her about the Emperor. She did ask about the Arkon, and both of the two visitors winced.

“Lannagaros is not, perhaps, in the most social of moods,” Bellusdeo said. “I am sure he will recover. Lord Diarmat inquires after your health.” Her smile was slightly edged as she added, “His concern almost appeared to be genuine.”

“He just wants us back in class.”

“Of course.”

*

Severn didn’t visit, and that was worse.

*

On the morning of the fourth day, she had a visitor she hadn’t expected.

You should have, he said, standing on the steps leading to the front door.

Yes. Maybe she should have. The mark on her cheek was no longer quite as puffy and sore. All the rest of the pain caused by magic faded when the magic itself did. Trust Nightshade to be an exception.

She was more or less on her feet. Although Marcus had told her not to come into the office for a week—with pay, even—she was restless, and therefore chose to dress for work. If work clothing wasn’t exactly lounge-around-at home clothing, she took comfort in it anyway. And it wasn’t as if Helen was going to judge it.