“I do not believe Mandoran would be considered an entirely reliable witness.”
Kaylin nodded, slightly relieved. But the weight of the earlier request bore down on her, adding a gloom that the Halls weren’t supposed to have. “You can’t,” she said, “believe that the Hawks would hurt me. Maybe other Aerians—but I’ve known the Aerian Hawks for almost half my life.”
“It only takes one,” the Hawklord replied. “Do I think it would be done easily? No. Without personal cost? No. But the Hawks who work here have families. They have children in the Southern Reach. They have flights there. None but Moran are dar Carafel, but dar Carafel rules the Caste Court. Dar Carafel rules the Southern Reach.
“It may be that the Hawks will defy dar Carafel. But even that will cost them, Kaylin. I would just as soon not put the pressure of temptation in their way. At the moment, two members of the Caste Court—neither dar Carafel—have heard of the Records capture.”
“That was fast.”
“Indeed. They are now claiming that Margot is using deliberate deception—at your urging. They are claiming that the Records capture is fraudulent.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time Margot’s been accused of fraud. It’s impossible to make it stick.”
“The Halls are not inclined to throw their resources into making that charge stick. The Aerian Caste Court will certainly bring more of their resources to bear in this particular instance. I have discussed the situation with Moran—or rather, I’ve discussed this morning’s attempt with her. I believe she will soon be taking a leave of absence.”
“But she—”
“Not for her own good, no. For the Hawks. If it is known that she is taking a leave of absence, there will be other demands made of her. But the Aerians who are under pressure will find some of that pressure relieved.”
“So...they’ll just try to assassinate me.”
“I believe that is what I was implying, yes.”
* * *
Sergeant Kassan was having a bad hair day.
In Leontines, this was significant. His eyes were a steady orange, his face was an inch or two larger because his fur was standing on end, his claws had already started work on the new desk, and his fangs were prominent. He looked up as Kaylin entered the office from the Tower side, and nodded. She could practically hear the growl in the back of his throat from the stairs. It wasn’t a loud sound, in the volume sense, but it killed all petty office conversation dead.
She made her way, Severn by her side, to the sergeant’s desk. She didn’t bother to stand at attention; his clipped nod made it clear that he considered it irrelevantright now. That was the problem with Leontines. They lacked consistency, and it didn’t matter. If Kaylin lacked consistency in the same way, it was Kaylin who was likely to suffer.
“What did he want?”
You don’t know?She managed not to ask this question out loud, but it took effort. “He’s going to deny the remand.”
The growl that had killed small talk in an office-sized circle around the Leontine desk returned.
“Did you see Margot’s transmission?”
“I’m asking the questions, Private.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You heard Moran’s taking a leave of absence?”
Kaylin exhaled. “I’ve heard it’s been requested.”
“Consider doing the same.”
“My leave of absence is usually unpaid, sir.”
“Are you doing anything useful to me while you’re on leave?”
“...Sir. I’d rather not. Take the leave, I mean.”
“Go pick up the sergeant. You’re finished patrol for the day, and rumor has it you’ve got an important visitor for dinner tonight.”
“Tomorrow night.”