“The Warden and his many servants interpret for those of us to whom the green does not speak,” was the Consort’s more stilted reply.

“The Lady is beloved of the green,” the Avatar of the High Halls said quietly. “Beloved, as well, of the Hallionne. She does not require outside interpretation. I believe she is fallible in many of the ways the living are—but in this, I would trust the information she offers.”

Kaylin nodded. “I’m sorry,” she said, in her native Elantran. “I think it was the flower that most alarmed Teela.”

“Teela,” Teela said, “can speak for herself. Yes. The flower alarmed me. The flower, the style of hair—I could not quite put my finger on why it looked familiar; it is not a styling given to our kin. Or perhaps it is no longer used; I confess I did not study ceremony. I knew what was demanded of me by the green on the occasion I was chosen—by the green—to perform the regalia. No part of that involved this flower, although in the area where the telling was done, these flowers were present.

“None of the flowers were so visually deformed; in none was the green so livid.”

The Consort nodded. “There is a reason the flowers are not to be taken from the green. On the rare occasions it has been tried, the green has been displeased with the scholars who made the attempt. But in all of those cases, the flowers wilted. The soil could not be found that would allow them to thrive.”

“I’m not sure I would consider this thriving,” Kaylin replied, frowning. “Is it possible that she removed the soil from the green when she took the plant?”

“No. When removed from the green, the soil retains the characteristics of the West March; whatever properties it possesses within the green are inherent to the green. It is possible that she experimented with the soil while in the green—but I consider that unlikely.” It was the Consort’s turn to frown. She looked to Teela. “It is possible that such experiments might be conducted in one place, and only one that I can readily think of.”

Teela was silent for a beat. “Hallionne Alsanis.”

“The Hallionne Alsanis, yes. Although Alsanis is not of the green, he is connected to it; if she was adept at hiding her thoughts, she might have asked permission of Alsanis.”

“Alsanis wouldn’t require the permission of the green?”

“I would think that he would, but it is not a subject much discussed between us; of the Hallionne, Alsanis was closed to me—to all of us—for centuries.” Because of the cohort. “But I believe some of your cohort grew close to Alsanis, and they may be able to ask him. The loss of Alsanis did not occur in the criminal’s time.”