He doesn't rush. He moves through the chamber at his own pace, and every eye in the gallery tracks him, because Thane Valorix walking into a Council session uninvited is not a thing that happens without consequences, and everyone here knows who his father is.
"Lord Valorix," Aldric says, and there's a careful note in it that wasn't there before. "This session is not open to..."
"I have standing as Dragon House's senior student representative," Thane says. He stops at the edge of the central floor. "Unless the Council wants to contest that standing on record."
Nobody contests it.
"My father has requested I return home," Thane says. "Repeatedly, and through channels that have made his position on Angelic Fairmont clear. I'm aware the Council has received similar communication from him." He lets that sit for a moment."I'm standing here instead of on a transport to the Valorix estate. I think that's the statement I need to make."
Aldric's eyes move between Thane and Ryder and then to me with an expression working hard at neutrality. "The Council appreciates the input of both Professor Ashford and Lord Valorix. We will take it under consideration."
"Under consideration," I say. "Meaning you're voting yes anyway."
"Miss Fairmont..."
"Where's Caspian?" I ask, and I hear how flat my voice comes out. I scan the chamber. He's not on the floor. I look up at the gallery and find him in the second row, seated, watching the proceedings with his hands folded in his lap and his expression still. He meets my eyes. Doesn't move.
He's not down here. He's up there.
"Mister Thorne," Aldric says, following my gaze. "You submitted a written position to the Council this morning. Do you wish to address the chamber directly?"
Caspian rises. He descends from the gallery at the same unhurried pace Thane used on the way in, and takes a position on the central floor, but on the opposite side from where Ryder and Thane are standing, and the geometry of it is not subtle.
"My position stands," he says. "Miss Fairmont is a Conduit of unknown stability. The bond formation with Professor Ashford was uncontrolled. A second bond nearly formed yesterday without her full consent. The Veil breach frequency is increasing." He keeps his eyes on the bench. "Containment is the responsible choice until we understand what she is."
I stare at him.
"Until we understand what she is," I repeat.
"It isn't personal," Caspian says. His voice is even. "It's practical."
"Right." The word comes out very quiet. "You know what's practical? You, standing over there, telling nine people who want to lock me in a room that they should go ahead and do it. That's very practical, Caspian."
"I'm arguing for your safety."
"You're arguing for my containment. Those aren't the same thing and you know it." I take two steps toward him. He doesn't move back. "You've watched every attack. You've been in every room. You know what they do to people they contain." My voice doesn't rise. I keep it level, but it takes effort. "And you're standing there telling them it's the right call."
"Yes," he says. "Because the alternative is worse."
"For who?"
He finally looks at me directly. Those dark green eyes, and no readable expression in them, the careful blankness he puts on like armor. "For you," he says. "Eventually."
I hit him.
Not a swing. An open palm across his jaw, fast and sharp, the crack of it loud enough to carry through the whole chamber. His head turns with it. The gallery goes silent.
Caspian straightens slowly. His cheek has gone red. He doesn't raise a hand to it. He looks at me with an expression I can't name and don't try to.
"Noted," he says.
"Miss Fairmont." Aldric's voice cuts through the chamber. "The Council will vote. Please stand at the center mark."
I don't move to the center mark.
I turn and look at Ryder, who is watching me with the stillness of someone running calculations. Then I look at Thane, who gives me the smallest nod I've ever seen, a tilt of his chin.
"I won't be contained," I say to the Council. "I want that on record. If you vote yes, I want it documented that I told you, in this chamber, in front of witnesses, that I will not cooperate."
