Kaylin shook her head. “I’ve met two mortals who I believe are...trapped in the same way the occupants of the Academia were trapped when the Towers rose. But I think part of that entrapment was centered in the High Halls itself.”

“Why?”

“Because they recognize the High Halls as they are now. I don’t think they’ve ever seen the High Halls that took shape after the disastrous battle in the first war. It’s only recently that they’ve been...awake, in a fashion. That’s suspiciously the same period in which you’ve been awake, or at least more aware of things that occur outside of the Tower of Test.”

He frowned.

Hope squawked loudly, and the Avatar stopped moving, arrested. He replied in a language Kaylin didn’t understand. Hope continued his squawk while Kaylin attempted to cover the ear closest to the noises he was making.

“You feel that the power used was somehow mine?”

“Or that it was attached to you in some subtle way, yes. I’m not certain. I’d hoped that you’d remember if you were somehow asked to house a couple of mortals.”

“I have housed rare animals that required very specific care; mortals would not be difficult.”

Kaylin’s knee-jerk reaction—which the Avatar was no doubt aware of—was instant annoyance at the comparison. She kept it to herself not because she hoped the Avatar wouldn’t be aware of it—she had no illusions on that front—but because Teela would probably be annoyed.

“And An’Teela is indeed more terrifying,” the Avatar said, smiling. The smile faded. “These mortals would have belonged to Azoria?”

Kaylin hated the use of the word belonged, but nodded. She knew that before the Empire rose, Barrani owned slaves, and most of those slaves were human. “Yes.”

“I will retreat to examine my history. It is not as simple a task as you believe it to be. Ah, but first, I have a lesson with Terrano. He is teaching us—”

“Chess, yes. I know. I’m certain Terrano would be forgiving if the lesson was put off.”

“Perhaps, but others would not be.”

Kaylin wondered if those others included the Shadow in the High Halls.

“I will lead you to where the Consort now waits. I was reminded that you have not been to the High Halls of late, and the changed geography might cause both confusion and delay.”

Geography, as the Avatar called it, had indeed changed. Although the High Halls remained composed of towering stone walls, arches, and ceilings, natural light—for a value of natural that involved a sentient building—was far more prominent. Where arches opened to the right as they walked, they opened into forest—aged forest that reminded Kaylin very much of her uncomfortable journey to the West March.

“At least there don’t seem to be insects,” she murmured.