“There’s no guarantee they won’t be able to possess Helen,” Terrano cheerfully said. Given his expression, he didn’t consider it a credible risk, but felt the need to point it out.

Kaylin almost blanched.

“I don’t think they’ll do that again,” Mrs. Erickson quickly said. “But I can’t promise. Could you maybe bring them to my house instead?”

Sanabalis growled. There was only one answer, and Kaylin dutifully offered it. “No.” To the Dragon she added, “Mrs. Erickson can talk to them; they can hear her. I’m not sure they’ll be able to hear me. Or us. They couldn’t hear Terrano, and he’s the most flexible of all of us.”

“And Mrs. Erickson cannot remain with you?”

“I’d love it if she could—I think Helen would enjoy her company. But the children are trapped in Mrs. Erickson’s house, and we can’t ask her to abandon them.”

“The children don’t appear capable of possessing people.”

Kaylin nodded. “Mrs. Erickson is a civilian. I can’t order her to leave her house. Neither can you.”

“That is true.”

Kaylin exhaled.

“The Emperor, however, can.”

Kaylin switched immediately to High Barrani. “That is not a good idea. Mrs. Erickson has done nothing wrong. She has broken no Imperial Law. Taking her into custody for her own safety is something she has to request.”

“If she is considered a threat to the safety of civilians, that is not the case.”

“She’s not a threat—your private, hidden room powered by the literal blood of the Ancients is!”

“Kitling,” Teela said.

Kaylin inhaled, lowering her chin briefly. When she raised it again, she said, “Mrs. Erickson is not a threat. If her presence gave desperate hope to the dead, that is not her doing. No warning was given to any of us.”

“Had we been in possession of that information, I assure you we would not now be in this chamber.”

“Which was your decision, not hers. She has been terrified enough for one day. I will return to Helen, and from there, escort Mrs. Erickson to her home.”

Mrs. Erickson wasn’t Kaylin or Teela or Terrano—who was no doubt always doing something dangerous, both to himself and others—she was a civilian. A lonely old woman who happened to bake for the Hawks who listened to her outlandish ghost stories. Well, no, her very mundane ghost stories, but still.

Kaylin was a Hawk for a reason.

“Perhaps you wish to speak with the Emperor yourself.”

“Perhaps I do,” Kaylin replied, standing her ground. “The chain of command doesn’t allow the Emperor to break the law.”

“The Emperor is the law.”

“That’s not the oath we swear.”

“An’Teela?” Sanabalis continued to glare at Kaylin as he spoke.