“When I said dissolve, I meant it. The wings fade. They disintegrate, starting from the flight feathers and moving in. It isn’t—I’m told—a painful process. It doesn’t physically hurt.”
Kaylin disagreed with this, but did it silently. “It’s considered civilized? That’s why they don’t throw them off cliffs anymore?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
Civilized people could be incredibly cruel. Kaylin thought of the Barrani and their High Court. “Civilized,” she said, in a tone that was anything but, “would be leaving their wings alone.”
“Being outcaste isn’t a trivial matter—and before you attempt to bite my head off, I understand that the power can sometimes be abused. I could hardly fail to understand that; Lillias lost her wings because I’m still alive. But intheory, only traitors to our race are cast out from it.”
“So the wings aregone?”
“Yes.”
“They’re not removed—they disappear?”
“Yes.”
Kaylin deflated.
“Why are you asking this?”
She glanced at Teela, who shrugged, leaving it in Kaylin’s hands.
“...We were wondering—”
“The private was wondering,” Teela corrected her.
“Fine.Iwas wondering if the wings that were removed could be transferred.”
“Not apparently. The wings don’t survive.”
It was Teela who asked, “Are you certain?”
Moran started to answer, and stopped. “...No, actually. I know what I saw—but I’ve been a Hawk for years; appearances are often deceptive. I’m not certain. It’sbelievedthat the wings are destroyed—the destruction being symbolic.”
“Which brings us back to the original question. Sort of.”
“And that?”
“By what? What’s the mechanism for the removal of wings?”
“Thepraevolo.”
“You didn’t remove her wings.”
“No. But the guidance of theIllumen praevolois very like a deity, to the Aerians. The loss of the wings is deemed the judgment of the power thatalsobestows wings like mine on an Aerian.”
“This is going to get confusing.”
“Welcome to my life.”
* * *
“Aren’t you on a leave of absence?” Clint asked pointedly. He’d lowered his weapon to bar her entrance. This was going to cause him problems because the person behind her was Moran.
“A leave of absence wasrequested,” Kaylin replied. “I happen to think it’s unnecessary.”
Tanner whistled. “Wasn’t the leave ‘requested’ by the Hawklord?”