“And your reason?” Helmat asked, deciding to abandon the third person.
Severn’s hands were behind his back, his chin slightly tucked. He lifted that now. “In a technical sense, the Barrani we’ve been attempting to find did not commit murder.”
“Yes, and?”
“He’s considered important because we’re to find his master. It’s the master who’s the target of the execution orders, yes?”
Helmat said nothing.
“Are we empowered—no, are wecommanded—to find and arrest the person or persons responsible for the murders, or are we instructed to execute him or her?”
Helmat’s eyes narrowed.
“And if there is more than one, are we then instructed to either arrest or execute all of them?”
“En.”
“It is a fair question, Helmat.”
“It’s a selective question. Private, you are ordered to assist Elluvian.Youare not ordered to execute anyone. You are on probation. If you survive probation, you will be a Wolf. You will not be a Shadow Wolf. Any killings that occur in the line of duty had better be for self-defense, or you won’t continue to be a Wolf.
“You are required to unearth the individuals responsible for the murders. You are then tasked with arresting them. If, as we suspect, the person responsible is Barrani, you will not succeed. If, as you imply, there is more than one criminal, you are then responsible for apprehending two people. Or three. Or four.”
“If the perpetrators weren’t Barrani?”
“It is highly likely that they will also perish. Three witnesses didn’t survive to grace our jails; none of the three were Barrani. Regardless, that is not the command the Emperor has given. You are, of course, to preserve your own lives in any conflict that arises. If your attempt to apprehend becomes a fight, survival is your immediate imperative.”
Severn nodded again.
“You cannot believe that the human caste court is somehow involved?”
“The humans hate the Tha’alani as much as the Barrani do—maybe more,” Severn replied. “We know a Barrani was involved in the killings—but each of the murders was carried out by a human crowd. We assume that the Barrani was responsible for the behavior of the crowd.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Why else would Barrani be present?”
Severn nodded and moved on. “If, in our opinion, the cost of bringing this case to a conclusion might involve more deaths, and far more conflict, are we free to abandon it?”
Helmat coughed. “Are you Wolflord, boy?”
“No, sir.”
“Are you Emperor?”
“No, sir.”
“When you are either of these things, you can feel free to make those decisions. Or,” he added heavily, “if you are Elluvian. Why have you come here to ask?”
“I believe,” the private replied, in his careful Barrani, “this is a case in which solving all elements may cause irreparable damage that was not foreseen when the request was made.”
“First, the Emperor does notrequest, he commands. Second, Elluvian has some discretion in that regard—as, of course, does the Emperor. Let Elluvian decide whether or not the cost of your mission is far too high a price to pay for its completion. Let Elluvian make that argument to the Emperor.
“Now, get out. I have an angry Scoros on hold.” This was not entirely true, and it would be some minutes before Helmat chose to return the interrupted call. He was now mulling over the question Severn had asked. Elluvian had allowed the private to interrupt Helmat for a clarification the Barrani Wolf was entirely entitled to make.
Regardless, it was not an angry Scoros that caused Helmat’s jaw to clench; it was a graciously furious Hawklord.