“I don’t want to start a fight—or join one—but yes, since you ask, I agree with Mandoran. But I also agree with Sedarias. If lords of power decide that your investigation is a genuine threat to their interests, you’re being too careless with your own safety.

“Terrano is pretty capable, even if he doesn’t look it.”

“Oh, believe we’re fully aware of that,” Kaylin replied.

Serralyn flushed.

Terrano grinned. He was clearly willing to let bygones be bygones, but he would be: Kaylin hadn’t made any attempt to kill him. On the other hand, the Consort had forgiven him, and appeared to have forgotten about the actions that had been such a threat to her. Kaylin loved some of the Barrani, but admitted she would never fully understand them.

Then again, she could sympathize with Terrano’s goals at the time, and could understand why everything had happened. So maybe she could.

Severn was quieter, but she noticed that he didn’t branch off to return to his own home.

“You’re coming with us?”

“If you have no objections.”

She didn’t. She wouldn’t have minded having Severn under Helen’s roof; Helen could make a home within that home for anyone of any race, and besides, things were almost too quiet since Bellusdeo had taken on her Tower and become absorbed in her new responsibilities. Kaylin had offered once or twice; Severn had never accepted. She understood that his need for privacy, for space of his own that did not magically shift beneath his feet when it felt change was necessary, was completely valid. It was, until Helen and the cohort, what she thought she’d wanted for herself.

Severn smiled and shook his head slightly. He didn’t speak.

As there were no waiting assassins of any stripe—and Kaylin and Severn paid attention at street level and everything above it that seemed like a likely place for assassins to park—they made decent time. Helen was, as she always was, waiting at the door from the moment Kaylin stepped across the fence line. All of it—fences, manicured lawn, garden, and house were part of Helen; once you crossed that line, you were in her territory.

If you intended harm to her tenants—or their guests—you were in for a world of pain.

Still, no one mentioned Azoria or the Academia outing until they had entered the house—Kaylin pausing to accept a welcome home hug that was not extended to anyone else, although Helen did beam happily at Serralyn—and the door had shut behind them.

“I feel that you should all eat first, and dinner is on the table.”