“He did not wish to publicly make that claim, not immediately; he flattered the Arcanist, implying that he had far too much to learn about the duties of thepraevolo. Instead, he set about proving that he had the abilities expected of him.
“The Arcanist has some influence with the Caste Court. In time, he arranged to have the outcaste take the most dire of our tests: he donned the bracelet. Because he lacked the wings, the ceremony was conducted in privacy, but most of the Caste Court was in attendance. I believe he hoped that the pretender would fail; he had begun to have doubts.”
Kaylin already knew that it had not destroyed him. “How convenient for him.”
Moran grimaced. “He was thus provisionally believed. But he did not have the wings.”
“I don’t understand why—if he could make himself look like an Aerian—he didn’t. Why couldn’t he have your wings?”
Moran shook her head. “I don’t know. I told you that I had worn that bracelet once. It was a test. But the bracelet didn’t destroy me, either. There had never been twopraevolobefore, and I had the wings. The Caste Court was split.
“But the Arcanist began to question things, and as time passed, he became less certain of the outcaste. He knew that the outcaste was attempting to harness the power of thepraevolo, but that power was not—and is still not—well understood. Not even by me.” Her smile was rueful.
“When I was injured, when I could not fly, it was ‘proof’ that I was a fraud. The outcaste—and his supporters—pushed heavily for my death. But the Arcanist’s worries were gaining traction among the Caste Court, and it was the Arcanist who pushed for the Oracle. It was also the Arcanist who talked the Caste Court into allowing the three items out of the Aerie. It was the outcaste who created the enchanted statue given to Margot, and the outcaste who created the enchantment worn by the human who visited her.”
“Did the Arcanist expect that they would end up with you?”
“He hoped, at that point. Or so he says.” Her smile was sardonic. “They did end up with me. I did wear the bracelet. And Iflew. At that point, the outcaste was pressured into taking a more active role. He suspected the Arcanist of treason—there’s not another word for it—at this point, and he once again proved that he waspraevoloby denying the Arcanist flight.
“And then an appointment was made—with the Arcanist, who was always under observation—and we arrived.”
“What did the outcaste want?”
“I think he wanted to understand how thepraevoloharnessed and controlled Shadow.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t feel like Shadow, to me—but it wouldn’t, would it? And according to the Arcanist, he did learn. He learned enough that my control of the Aerie and its skies could not control him. And it makes sense. He lives—according to the Imperial Court—in the heart of Ravellon. He can command the Shadows that move and think and speak, but he cannot use them the way thepraevolouse their own power.” She stopped speaking and stared at a pristine tabletop. “What do you think I should do with the people who believed that the outcaste was thepraevolo?”
Kaylin shrugged, a fief shrug. “If they’ll serve you?”
“At all.”
At the moment, Kaylin didn’t really care. She tried to see the world from the eyes of the grounded, misled Aerians, and couldn’t. Kaylin was certain that the would-be assassins that characterized Moran’s first few days with Helen would be found among the Aerians Moran had grounded.
They were just following orders.
Kaylin had once followed orders that were very, very similar. She wanted to believe it was different. She could argue that she had been a child at the time. But she’d followed orders because she was afraid of what would happen—to her—if she failed. She hadn’t obeyed Barren because she worshipped him; she hadn’t obeyed him because he was almost a deity. She’d obeyed him because he had hurt her, and would hurt her again if she failed.
She wanted these Aerians punished. She wanted them punished for doing what she had done. And why? Because it meant Moran had all the power? That Moran was no longer going to be their victim or their target?
“You’re thinking,” Moran said.
“Teela says I think very loudly.”
“She’s right. You do. I’ve gotten used to Helen explaining what you’re thinking,” she added.
“You could just ask me.”
“I have, once or twice. Helen’s answers make more sense.”
Kaylin exhaled. “I was thinking about my answer to your question.”
“And?”
“I don’t trust my own answer. I want you to take their wings. And I hate the idea of it. I want you to throw them out. I want them to suffer for trying to kill you. For killing your mother or your grandmother. For removing Lillias’s wings. For treating you so badly when you should have been treated well. I want them topay.”
“So...you see my problem.”
Kaylin nodded. “I guess that’s why I’m not Emperor.”
“You’re not telling me to do it.”
