“Bellusdeo’s previous home was lost to Shadow. It was lost to the Shadows at the heart of Ravellon, because Ravellon existed on her world.”
“Ravellon is believed to have existed on many worlds before the fall.”
Kaylin nodded. “If the ability to use Shadow as if it were normal magic—or elemental magic—was known, maybe worlds wouldn’t have fallen. The thing is,” she continued, “if you summon a big-enough fire, all it wants to do is burn things. Anything. All the things. If you summon too much water, it’s the same—except it wants to drop on things or drown them.”
“Indeed.”
“But there’s part of the water that doesn’t want those things. And when I’m in the elemental garden, the fire doesn’t try to burn me.”
“It’s probably too terrified of Evanton,” Bellusdeo pointed out.
“Fair enough. The Shadow wants to devour things—to alter them, to change them, to absorb them somehow. What if the Shadow is like the fire or the water?”
“Fire and water are necessary to life. They are part of the natural order.”
“Yes, but—”
“But?”
“What if Shadow is part of the natural order, as well?”
Bellusdeo, who had lost most of what she valued in life to Shadow, did not bite Kaylin, but it was probably close.
“What if, on the original Aerian world, Shadow was simply used the way we use fire or water? What if Shadow was the only power they could call upon that could carry them across the sky, or the emptiness between worlds?”
“You are asking very dangerous questions.”
“I’m trying to understand what we’re facing. I’m trying to understand how it works. Even the Shadow that inhabited our human criminal wasn’t transformative in the way Shadow normally is. What if thatisthe power?”
“It would be forbidden use.”
“What if they don’t understand itasthe source of their power?”
“Ignorance in this case is not an excuse.”
“It’s an explanation.”
“It is, and explanations often displace accusations of high treason.” He exhaled. “The questions, while dangerous, are also somewhat perceptive. The dangers, I believe, outweigh the possible benefits in the use of this kind of magic. If Shadow is, indeed, an elemental force—”
“The thing is, Gilbert was Shadow. I’d swear he was. But...he wasn’t like the one-offs we fought in the fiefs of Tiamaris. Or anywhere else. And I’m now wondering if that’s because hehasShadow as power, the way maybe thepraevolodid, but the power doesn’t control him; he controls the power.”
“Have you asked Moran dar Carafel about this?”
“Not yet.”
“I would be interested in her answer, if you do ask. I believe that your Helen would be aware of the presence of Shadow within her own boundaries; has she mentioned any danger?”
“No.”
“You understand that if this becomes a commonly asked question, it will doom the Aerians in the city.” It was almost a question, but didn’t rise at the end. “You are an officer of the Halls of Law, one-third of which is committed to keeping the peace, such as peace is.”
Kaylin nodded.
“You understand that there will benopeace if even a whiff of this rumor reaches the general populace?” The Arkon frowned. “Clearly, the answer is no. I invite you to spend some time in thought. Fear makes humans incredibly unwise. Shadows—for good reason—breed fear in the populace of Elantra. I am almost certain that the Aerians do not use Shadow as their locomotive force.”
Kaylin nodded.
“What now?”
