He winced, giving in for a moment to amusement. It died fairly quickly. “Other than that. Do you know what happens to outcaste Aerians?”
She didn’t. She shook her head. “Was it covered in racial integration classes?”
“No. The human Caste Court adopted many of the practices of the Barrani Caste Court. They adopted many of the same attitudes and the same pretensions. If Barrani are made outcaste, and they are powerful, they are simply shunned.
“But the Aerian Caste Court adopted many of the practices of the Dragons. Do you know what happens to outcaste Dragons?”
“They die. Unless they fly into Ravellon.”
“Yes. It is the duty of each and every Dragon to exterminate the outcaste.”
“Well, yes—now. There’s only one remaining flight, and its boss happens to be the Eternal Emperor.”
“The Aerian Caste Court is far crueler, in my opinion, than the Dragon Court.”
Kaylin almost gaped, and pressed her mouth into a tighter line to stop that. “What happens to outcaste Aerians?” She had never asked. It had never occurred to her that it would be relevant, and—damn Teela, anyway—she had never truly imagined that an Aeriancouldbe outcaste.
“They cut off our wings and abandon us on the ground.”
She stared at him. “Cut off your wings.”
“Yes.”
“Yourwings.”
“Yes.” He looked down at her, some of the harshness leaving his expression.
“But Moran—”
“The sergeant will never be made outcaste.”
“So...they’ll just murder her instead.”
“Yes.”
“Clint, I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“No. But, Kaylin—you have a knack for kicking the hornet’s nest, even when you can’t see it. Look, I’ve known you since you were a kid. I know that you’ll only kick the nest when you’re in a big hurry to help someone; you probably won’t see it until there are swarms of angry insects buzzing around your face. I canaskyou not to get involved.” His acute stare made it clear that he already had. “What I need you to understand, in this, is that the hornets aren’t going to stingyou.
“If you kickthisnest, they’re going to sting Aerians. In the worst cases, we won’t get welts. We’ll lose our lives in every meaningful sense. And yes, before you ask, mutilationiscovered by the racial laws of exemption as long as both the involved parties are Aerian. The only person—theonlyperson—who can safely discuss this with you is Moran. Ask me, ask anyone else, and get any answer...” He trailed off, his meaning clear.
“I can’t even look at the attack site?”
“No. The exemption has been granted.”
* * *
There were no more detours on the way to Elani.
Mandoran’s eyes were a restless green with hints of blue when he turned to Kaylin. “He’s wrong about the Barrani Court. In theory, itisthe duty of Barrani Lords to kill the outcaste.”
“Nightshade,” was her flat reply.
“We’re a pragmatic people.”
“You invented freakingtable manners, I swear. How is that pragmatic? Using utensils I get, but why do weneedfive forks?” Kaylin had to force herself not to march.
“It’s almost never five.” More seriously, he continued, “We’re pragmatic. Only when politics are heavily involved does it become trickier.”
