“It is, indeed. But it differs greatly from the Imperial Library. Ah, forgive me. By visitor, I mean they are not part of the Academia.”

“Did they have to sign in?”

“Of course. In theory, they don’t require the chancellor’s permission to visit the library, merely to reach it.”

“I can,” Terrano said.

Killian sighed.

Serralyn swatted her cohort member across the back of his head. Her eyes, however, were green. She desperately wanted to visit the library, and she hoped her presence here would be overlooked—she could enter as part of Kaylin’s party. Kaylin intended to speak up for her if Killian attempted to divert her and send her back to classes.

To Kaylin’s surprise, Killian’s lips curved up in a slight smile as he glanced at Serralyn. Killian had led them to a wall, a smooth stone face that was curved into the shape of an otherwise empty alcove. “Please wait here,” the Avatar said, the smile fading. “There may be some difficulty among the newer students.” He vanished, the last syllable echoing against stone.

The library doors appeared perhaps five minutes later, laid against the shape of this wall; they were curved, as was the frame. It looked wrong, but Kaylin had given up expecting things to conform to her concept of correct. The doors opened inward, the curve of the wood flattening.

Standing in the doorway was a familiar giant spider. Kaylin had almost gotten used to Starrante’s nightmare-inducing appearance. He opened his mouth and emitted a series of clicks, stopped, and tried again, those oddly clicking sounds now wrapped around Barrani.

“Please, enter, Corporal Neya. We are pleased to see you again, Corporal Handred.” Arbiter Starrante then paused. “I see you brought trouble with you.”

Kaylin nodded. “We call him Terrano, if that helps.”

“And the student standing beside him?”

“She lived with me and Helen until she became a student here. I’d really appreciate it if you’d allow her to attend as an aide.”

“Killian agreed?” Starrante sounded dubious.

“He didn’t disagree.”

“Very well. As you cannot keep Terrano out even without a door, I shall not place responsibility for his actions or their consequences on your shoulders.” Which heavily implied that she was responsible for Serralyn’s. That didn’t worry her.

“I heard you had a visitor?”

“Have,” he replied. “Bakkon is visiting.” Starrante paused for a long beat. “I am truly grateful for your intervention on his behalf. It gives me hope. He feels indebted to you, and I am willing to carry some part of that debt.”

“How does he find living in Liatt’s Tower?”

“Confusing, in part. He also feels that the Wevaran who live there do not get out enough.”