Cast in Flame. Michelle Sagara

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      “Access to one?”

      “No.”

      “Are the Imperial spies still sitting across the damn street taking notes?”

      “Yes. I imagine they were impressed that you brought Bellusdeo to visit.”

      Kaylin wanted to start the day over. The small dragon squawked.

      “They’ll be more impressed,” Teela said, “when they see the results. You look like a warrior queen.”

      Bellusdeo was not immune to honest flattery, and smiled, inclining her chin. She clearly didn’t have to deal with quartermasters.

      * * *

      “What did bring you here today?” Evanton asked Kaylin. She’d removed and wrung out her tabard, but that hadn’t helped much. She was sloshing as she walked.

      “You were waiting for us,” Kaylin replied. “You don’t know?”

      “I am not an Oracle. You’ve been absent from your beat for almost two months.” His eyes narrowed. “I had, of course, heard of Bellusdeo; I doubt there’s a thinking being in the city who hasn’t. I also heard—although in this the grapevine is less reliable—that you are now out of a home.”

      “An Arcane bomb,” Kaylin replied. “It was intended for Bellusdeo; I was collateral damage.”

      “You both appear to be healthy, if a tad on the bedraggled side.”

      She nodded and glanced at the small dragon, who was flopped across her shoulders. He lifted his head—only his head—to stare at Evanton. He then squawked. Several times. “The Arcane bomb destroyed a quarter of the building I lived in. We were at ground zero—but he put up some kind of magical shield, which saved our lives.”

      “Yes, I noticed your companion.” He bowed—to the small dragon. “My apologies for my lack of greeting. All Kaylin’s companions this afternoon are worthy of note; I am too old to deal gracefully with a crowd.”

      The small dragon nodded.

      “You are her familiar?”

      Squawk.

      “Ah. An interesting choice. I hope you don’t expect a peaceful, tranquil life.”

      Snort.

      “Evanton—can you understand him?”

      Evanton’s white brows lofted upward. “You can’t?”

      “I can figure out what he means—it’s pretty obvious. But...none of his squawks sound like language, to me.”

      The Keeper’s frown was a complicated network of lines. The small dragon squawked some more, and ended on a hiss that sounded very much like laughter. It didn’t help when Evanton chuckled in response.

      “Where did you find him?” Evanton asked.

      “Long story.”

      “You are not notably shy about an excess of words on most days.”

      “I’m not usually in the company of a Dragon and a Barrani who can piss off the heart of the elemental water just by speaking to her.” She grimaced. “I’m not usually a guest in the Imperial Palace, on a desperate hunt for a new home that won’t have the Emperor turning me into a small heap of ash.”

      “Ah. I take it this means Bellusdeo intends to accompany you?”

      “She’s hoping to live with me, yes. We did okay before the bomb.”

      “I don’t envy you.”

      “Evanton—you never envy me.”

      “Astute. I am, however, making the onerous attempt not to pity you.”

      “Thanks. I think.” She glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a foot tapping. It was Teela’s.

      “Come back and have tea when you have more time to tell me about the past few months.”

      * * *

      Teela didn’t take Evanton’s advice. She switched patrolling positions and let Kaylin—and the armored Dragon—take the lead. If Kaylin had privately envied the attention that Bellusdeo drew when they were together—and she pretty much drew it all—she repented; people were practically dropping their jaws at the sight of her now. On the other hand, very few of those people—some who were very familiar to the Hawks—dared to approach her, something the court dress hadn’t seemed to discourage.

      Bellusdeo looked like a Dragon now. Many mortals had no reason to ever cross a Dragon’s path, and because they hadn’t, it was easy to mistake them for human. From a distance, that’s what they more or less resembled. Their eye color—and the inner eye membrane—were a giveaway only when you were close enough to examine the Dragon’s face. Most people had no reason to get that close.

      No one could mistake a Dragon in dragon form for a mortal—but when you were looking at giant scales, wings, claws and tail, that was understandable.

      Dragon armor, even wrapped around a human-size body—albeit a tall one—was distinctive. And at least one of the gargantuan statues of the Eternal Emperor that littered the more respectable parts of Elantra sported it—with metallic leafing. The first time Kaylin had seen that statue, she’d thought the artist a pretentious nit. The first time she’d seen the armor in actual use—on Tiamaris—she’d silently apologized to that unknown artist, which she felt was fair, since it was the same way she’d dismissed him.

      Bellusdeo therefore looked like a Dragon as she strode down Elani street by Kaylin’s side. It made the day’s work a lot easier, and as long as Kaylin ignored the probable consequences of the need for Dragon armor, she could be grateful.

       CHAPTER FOUR

      Mandoran was silent upon leaving Evanton’s shop. He was silent throughout the rest of their patrol. Anything that had caught his attention when they’d first reached Elani street failed to grab it now; he was almost grim. No, Kaylin thought, Teela was grim. Mandoran looked as if he was walking to—or from—the funeral of a very close friend.

      Kaylin wanted to speak with him, but given Teela’s expression and the casual way in which she now hovered, it wasn’t safe. But if it had been, what then? Words—especially words of comfort—weren’t exactly Kaylin’s strong suit. Sadly, inactivity wasn’t, either. She wanted to do something to help, while being privately certain that any attempt would only make things worse.

      “Kaylin?” Bellusdeo said.

      “Sorry, just thinking.”

      “About?”

      “If I had a suit of armor like yours, Elani street would be a lot easier to manage.”

      “Fear has that effect.” The Dragon grinned. “The only thing your citizens СКАЧАТЬ