The pause was longer. “Bakkon feels that there is a high probability that the front door—for those contained within the building—will not open to the porch; he urges caution. His attempt to portal through the window was a failure, and he is unwilling to try again—he feels that part of the space itself is slightly familiar—but it’s off, it’s tainted.”

Kaylin turned to Hope. “Well?”

The door. His next words surprised her. Bring Mrs. Erickson, if she is willing to take the risk.

Kaylin was not willing to take the risk. “She’s too old to be fighting.”

Not all fights require the vigor of youth, was the acid reply. But I will not argue if you feel her home is somehow safer.

“I hate it when you make a good point.”

Mrs. Erickson’s small front hall wasn’t meant to hold as many people as it now did. Terrano had drawn away from the window. “Bakkon says he can hide himself from the eyes of those who have no magical ability—but he feels it necessary to remain here until more information is forthcoming. The idea that something might traverse his personal webs has given him hives, not that you’d be able to see them given chitin and hair. I think we might be able to see how the Wevaran fought, though.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think? If we all get out of this safely, he’s going to murder Starrante.”

“Can we sic him on Androsse instead?”

Serralyn snorted. “The Arbiters can’t leave the library, and anyone who is stupid enough to attack them in the library deserves whatever they get.”

“You should remain on the Erickson side,” Teela said. “You can speak with Bakkon, and we can—hopefully—maintain that connection.”

“If we can’t, I’ll be on this side. Any research I’ve done won’t be accessible.”

“No. But Terrano is our best scout, for obvious reasons.”

The rest of the discussion was conducted in the cohort group mind.

Mrs. Erickson stepped into the silence. She looked at Kaylin, and held out both of her hands. “I can’t find the children,” she whispered.

Kaylin nodded. “I couldn’t, either. They’re not upstairs. They’re not in the bad room. They don’t seem to be anywhere.”

The old woman’s eyes went to the closed door. “Do you think they’re there?”

Kaylin hesitated. She did, but she didn’t want Mrs. Erickson to panic. “It’s possible—but they couldn’t leave the house, remember?”

“Dear, I’m old, not deaf. Serralyn believes these buildings are connected—the door no longer leads outside.”

“They didn’t open it.”

“They don’t have to open internal doors, either. If they left, I don’t think they left by their own choice—they would have said goodbye.”