Cast in Honor (Chronicles of Elantra, #11)(86)

“He’s—he’s upstairs.”

“He’s upstairs?” Kaylin knew that there was an upstairs to the storefront. It wasn’t a secret; a second and third story could be seen from the street. Neither had ever been relevant to Kaylin. She assumed that they were where Evanton and Grethan lived. Or she had assumed that, until now.

“Can you tell him we’re here?”

“He’s not—” Grethan swallowed water. Then again, they were all pretty much swallowing water until Grethan thought to offer them umbrellas. Kaylin noted he didn’t take one for himself. “I can try.” He hesitated again and then offered Kaylin a very bedraggled smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”

*

Kattea wanted to know how it could be raining inside the shop, when it was bright and pretty much cloudless outside. It was a good question, but Kaylin’s best guess wasn’t suitable for children, so she didn’t answer.

The stairs that led to the upper floors reminded Kaylin very much of the hall that led to the Keeper’s Garden: they were sloped and rickety, and they had to be walked single file. They were also steep. Grethan, however, forged ahead without apparent hesitation.

The hall the stairs ended at was a bit wider and seemed to be in better repair. It was not wet. The rain appeared to affect only the ground floor.

“Has it been like this all day?”

“It was worse yesterday,” Grethan replied.

“When did it start?”

“Yesterday. Evanton was in the Garden.”

“I don’t suppose he had much to say?”

Grethan flushed. “He wasn’t happy. With anything. Or anyone.”

And the only other person living with Evanton at the moment was Grethan. Kaylin cringed in genuine sympathy. She liked Evanton; she couldn’t imagine actually living with him. That had never been more true than today. Not even her most creative nightmares involved waking up to rain on the inside of a house that still had a functional roof.

The ceilings were shorter on the second floor. More than that, she didn’t have a chance to see, because Grethan continued down the hall to another flight of stairs. Judging by the dust on the handrails, these weren’t used often.

Kaylin glanced at Gilbert. His third eye—his unfortunately visible third eye—was open. It moved in a way that the other two, which looked comfortably human, didn’t. He didn’t seem to be worried, but he didn’t set Kattea down, either.

He stopped at the foot of the stairs. “Are you certain this is wise?” he asked. He didn’t appear to be looking at Grethan.

“Probably not,” she replied. “But we’re going to need to talk to Evanton eventually. Do you understand what a Keeper is?”

“I am not certain. I do not know the word in the context you have used it.”

No, Kaylin thought, he wouldn’t. Kattea wouldn’t know it, either. “The Keeper binds the wild elements that exist as an intrinsic part of the world. He stops them attempting to destroy each other, which keeps our world stable. I’d like to know your word for it—I’m certain you must have had one.”

“How so?”

“You live in the world. Even if you live in it differently, you live here.” She followed Grethan up the stairs.

*

The stairs didn’t lead to more hall. They led to a door. Like the door that led to the Garden, this one was narrow; it was the width of the stairs. It was shorter, as well. For someone Kaylin’s height, this wasn’t a problem—but a Barrani would have to duck to get through the frame.

If, she thought, the door actually opened.

Grethan knocked. This produced a very muffled, but distinct “Go away.” This was not promising. Grethan looked down the stairs at Kaylin, and there was a bit of shuffling while they traded places. Kaylin’s knock was nowhere near as timid as the apprentice’s.

“I said go away.”

“Heard you the first time,” Kaylin replied. “But we’re in a bit of a pinch.”

“That is not my problem.”

“Actually, I think it is.”

The door opened to a very cranky Evanton. He was wearing his store apron, and tufts of wayward hair suggested he’d been pulling at it in frustration. His eyes were also bloodshot. “It had better be” was his sour reply. He had more to say—when he was in this mood, he always did—but stopped when he looked down the stairs. He exhaled inches of outraged height. “My apologies,” he said—to Gilbert, as Kaylin had never rated apologies. “I wasn’t expecting guests; I apologize in advance for the state of my abode.”

“I don’t think he cares,” Kaylin told Evanton. “He’s not necessarily looking at the clutter the way the rest of us do.”

“I care.”

“...Sorry, Evanton.”

“You did not pick a particularly good time, no. I would make tea, but the kitchen is—”

“Flooded, yes.” Kaylin exhaled. “What’s happening?”

“Would it surprise you to know I am not entirely certain?”

“Yes, actually.”

“Then be surprised quietly.”

“Fine. This is Gilbert. And Kattea. Gilbert, Kattea, this is Evanton.”

Gilbert bowed. He came dangerously close to scraping the floor with Kattea. “I understand,” he said—to Evanton. Kaylin didn’t understand the word that left his mouth next.