“An atrocity,” snapped Commander Azaharo. “You’re proposing killing thousands of innocents as a preemptive measure.”
“It’s a calculation we have to make,” Ogden countered. “Thousands of innocents against the future of this planet.”
“We can limit Akkani’s options by locking the white room from the inside,” Jacen said firmly. He refused to entertain the part of himself that wondered whether Ogden was right. “And then, yes—we pray that our plan proceeds in secrecy. She can’t be everywhere at once, and if I were her, my focus would be here on Otavok. We won’t achieve anything without risks, and this is a reasonable one to take.”
Ogden shook his head, impatient. “Must I remind you all that Var Naxal is not integrated? Should we fail to reach the orbital station, we don’t have the means to destroy it from the ground.”
“Enough,” Hesaya snarled at Ogden. “Do not suggest that again, or I’ll have you removed from this hall.”
The old man’s face might as well have been stone as he slipped the cube back into his robes. From the shadows, Jacen sensed Nines’ relief.
“Hold on a moment,” Ged cut in, raising both hands. “You said he’snot integrated.” He looked at Ogden, then Neri. “You can’t access the demon’s full power?”
Neri stared at the table, shoulders hunched.
“Are you telling me,” Ged went on, “that it would be possible to destroythe station itself—and yet we won’t do it?”
“Var Naxal would have to be integrated to access the necessary power,” Hesaya said tightly. “He’s haddaysof training, and that station is almost as massive as Ixion. If he were to lose control—if something the size of a moon were to collide with this planet—it wouldn’t just mean defeat. It would mean extinction.”
Because he owed it to Seth, Jacen added quietly, “If Neri were to integrate, we also remove any possibility of an exorcism.”
“Andthere’s the matter of our own people on the station,” Hesaya said. “My sources estimate two or three hundred have already been Harvested from Zivora this cycle, likely more from Alendal and Lun. We may yet save them.”
Ged was skeptical. Ysira’s face remained utterly blank. She leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms and hooking one foot over the other. She refused to meet Jacen’s eyes.
“I killed Rakalem,” Neri said at last. “If we get to the station and I save my energy, I . . . I can do this. It’s enough.”
“Integration cannot be forced,” Hesaya agreed. “In due time, perhaps Var Naxal will take that step. Butnow? It would be a drastic last resort. The power it took to destroy Rakalem is . . . a mote of dust before a sandstorm. We cannot trifle with it. I’m prepared to face the Holy Mother, should it come to that, because I would sooner run afoul of her than Naxal.”
“I’ve been to the station,” said Neri. “I know what to expect, and Iknowwe can win this without . . .” He wouldn’t say the word. He held his father’s gaze, half-pleading, half-daring him to argue. “I’m the one with the demon. I decide. And I say”—his voice hitched—“we’re not there yet.”
Though Ged carefully concealed it with his usual bluster, he had been watching his son with something just shy of trepidation. He may not have been convinced, but he nodded shortly and turned to Urien. “If we’re doing this, you’ll have to come along.”
“Out of the question,” said Ogden.
“I’m the only one who knows how to pilot a transport. I’m also the only one who can guarantee us clearance to dock.” Urien fixed his friend with a hard stare. “I am not yet finished atoning. I will go.”
A deeply conflicted look passed over Ogden’s craggy face, but he said nothing more.
“So, the transport lands between the spires, and Urien”—Jacen couldn’t quite manage the wordfly;it sounded so strange—“brings us up to the station. How many can this transport carry?”
“Twenty is standard,” Urien replied. “We might fit an additional ten.” Ged nodded. “You, me, my son, and my knights makes seven.” “And me,” said Ysira. “Eight.”
Ged would have been a fool not to notice the way everyone assembled took her word as law. He had the sense not to argue. But the tension between the two was a rotten, seething thing, and Jacen prayed they could set it aside long enough to do what must be done. He hadn’t a clue what was going through Ysira’s head, and she still refused to look at him.
Ged told Jacen, “We need telepaths.”
Jacen inclined his head. He’d expected as much.
“What’s her specialization?” Ged pointed at where Nines was hiding. “Can she fight?”
“Not her,” Hesaya snapped. “Leave her out of this. I’ll go. Kheris and I will handle Akkani if she turns up.”
“Fine.” Ged made a cutting gesture. “Sister Ilusha, you put us at eleven.”
Ilusha’s throat bobbed. “An honor. My lord.” “I’ll go,” offered Dacil Var Solai.
“You’rethe last demon priest.” Ged looked her up and down. Solai straightened on her throne. “I am.”
