Kell nodded, straightening -- and his lips parted as her thoughts reached out to him, her voice as clear in his mind as if she'd spoke aloud. She so rarely did this when they were near each other, he'd actually forgotten that she could.

He hesitated in his answer, thinking of the King and Queen, and how they were prepared to view her. There were a few seconds of silence before his measured answer.

When I Travel I come as I am.

He wouldn't tell her what to do. There was power and drawbacks in both options, and it would be up to her to decide how she weighed it.

"I'm down the hall," Kell told her, tilting his head as he strode to her doorway, looked back. "I'll leave the door open."

The door clicked shut after him, but his thoughts came steadily, keeping the thread of communication open.

... and don't worry. They're keeping an eye on me, not you.