“Your interest is not in the contents of the library itself; you consider the library a puzzle to be solved, a lock to be picked. Your compatriot has made no attempt to enter this library through anything but the channels provided to students—but of course, being a new student, the permissions required to visit have not yet been formally established.” She spoke to Serralyn. “You have, however, proven yourself of aid to Kaylin Neya, and we are indebted to her. If Killian did not prevent your approach, we will assume he considers it acceptable.

“Do not, however, tell all of the other students in your year. No one likes to be forced to say no, even old Dragons.”

“I thought they turned the askee to ash,” Terrano said.

“In the library? Fire? Don’t be ridiculous.” She then turned to Kaylin, her eyes gold-flecked orange. Terrano had amused her. Somehow.

Serralyn turned to Kaylin, as if seeking permission. And maybe she was, if she was here because she was Kaylin’s escort. She nodded and Serralyn wheeled on foot, tracing a jittery circle as she looked at books in all directions. She finally closed her eyes and started walking because clearly, she couldn’t choose, and she knew her time was limited.

Bakkon met her halfway to wherever it was she was blindly heading, and navigated carefully around her. His eyes—all of them—were up on stalks, and he was clicking excitedly. He came to a stop as he noticed Kaylin, and switched languages.

“My apologies, Lord Kaylin—there are books here that even I have never encountered. I cannot, of course, know every book ever written—but so much has been lost to history. It is good to see you again. You have been well?”

“I’ve been well, but... I’ve been having a bit of a ghost problem.”

Starrante and Bakkon froze. “A...ghost?”

Kavallac answered. “In mortal terms—and Kaylin is mortal—they are the...remnants of the dead. Things that remain behind when the body has died.”

Clicking started immediately.

“Clearly there is more to your difficulties than that,” Androsse said. “You would not have been given permission to even approach the library if you meant to speak of mortal children’s bedtime stories.”

“We don’t tell ghost stories to children at bedtime.” Kaylin folded her arms. She’d gotten used to Barrani condescension, understood that Androsse wasn’t actually Barrani, and still felt annoyed and a bit defensive.

Androsse compounded this by ignoring her correction, because clearly being accurate was beneath him.

Kaylin ignored him, turning instead to the two Wevaran. “What do you think ghost means? Why are you reacting that way?”