Tain smiled. It didn’t change the very blue shade of his eyes. “We’re here to take your prisoner off your hands.”
Kaylin nodded. She was fairly certain that the man—whoever he was—was no longer contaminated. If something killed him here, it wouldn’t be Shadow. Given the death of the Aerian would-be assassin in the holding cells, she wasn’t certain it mattered.
The Barrani knew. It was to the Barrani that the man was turned over. He had not regained either color or bravado since they’d left Elani, and it was very, very hard not to feel sorry for him. She thought of Moran, which dimmed the pity to manageable levels. There was no way his visit to Margot wasn’t related to Moran. But he was human. Mortal. He could be prosecuted in the normal courts. Whoever was pulling rank in the Aerian Caste Court, his wings would be clipped now.
She was looking forward to that until she glanced at Clint. Anticipation went the way of ash in a strong wind.
* * *
Margotdidtransmit the Records capture to the Halls of Law. Kaylin was surprised; she’d expected more of a political tussle. Actually, she’d expected Margot to erase those Records and apologize when the official command made its way by courier to her shop. But if Margot was a fraud, she was a fraud on the right side of the law, by a tiny fraction; she probably couldn’t plausibly deny obstruction.
Kaylin was still surprised she hadn’t tried.
Margot didn’t deserve to die. She told herself that as she entered the building. Margot might deserve to have her nose or her jaw broken by a particularly fortuitous punch—but she didn’t deserve death.
* * *
Marcus was not in a good mood. His new desk had been delivered, and some of the sediment on the surface of the previous desk had been moved to the surface of the current one, but the move had not yet been completed. Marcus was not, therefore, sitting behind his desk—and the piles of paperwork that had grown so much in the past few months they could kill someone simply by falling on them.
Kaylin wondered if sergeants wereeverin good moods. They probably took humor or joy as a sign of personal weakness and stamped both out without mercy.
“The Hawklord,” the sergeant said, “wishes to speak to you.”
“When?”
“Fifteen minutes ago.”
“Marcus—”
The Leontine growled. “You’ve brought a man who was, in theory, in the thrall of Shadow into my office.” Technically this was inaccurate, but now was not the time to argue technicalities. “On aroutinepatrol. I have a would-be assassin in the infirmary. I have—” he glanced at a pile of new-looking papers on his desk “—no less than four missives from a Caste Court demanding immediate inaction. I would appreciate it if you could find less trouble for the foreseeable future. Go talk to the Hawklord.”
* * *
The Hawklord was, as Marcus had stressed, waiting. The doors weren’t open, which meant Kaylin entered the meeting with a numb hand, courtesy of the door ward.
As was customary, he was standing when the doors opened. He wasn’t in the center of the room, though. He was in front of his mirror. The mirror wasn’t reflective—it was active. “Have you watched this?” he asked, without looking at her.
“If you mean Margot’s transmission, no. I saw part of it while I was in her shop. I didn’t see the rest. I’m still surprised she sent the damn thing.” She was very, very aware of the items she now carried on her person, but failed to mention them.
She wanted Moran to see them first.
“I do. Were you aware that Oracles could be forced?”
“No. Have you asked the Oracular Halls?”
“An inquiry has been sent. Sergeant Kassan is not best pleased with your ability to find trouble,” he added. “He is, however, impressed.”
And not in a good way. Kaylin said nothing for a long moment. “Is the Aerian Caste Court attempting to somehow claim this is part of the embargo?”
“They would have a very difficult time, given the race of the man in question.”
Which wasn’t a no. Kaylin stifled a yawn. “I think it’s highly likely that the Emperor will laugh in their faces if they make that attempt.”
“I am pleased to see that you now know the Emperor so well you can predict his reaction.” The Hawklord’s gaze made winter seem balmy.
Kaylin gave up. “The sergeant said you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. You will no doubt be happy to hear that there is a small possibility the entire case will no longer be remanded to the Caste Courts.”
