“Your magic seems very tied to context and circumstance. It seems—from observation—to respond to your will and your need. It does not respond in predictable ways. But the few documents the palace has retained that concern the Chosen imply that this has always been the case. My attempts to teach you how to channel your magic have resulted in very little conscious, deliberate control.”
“Meaning?”
“I have been attempting to teach you mathematics. I should instead have been attempting to teach you art.”
Kaylin blinked. She didn’t hate math. At least there were right and wrong answers. She knew when she’d made a mistake. She knew when she hadn’t.
Art wasn’t something taught in the Halls of Law.
“I have therefore arranged supplementary lessons. Before you ask, no. I am not an art teacher. Creativity is about expression.”
“Then... why are you here?”
Sanabalis smiled. With teeth in it. “Rumors have reached the ears of the Emperor.” He fell silent.
“Does this have something to do with the dead?” Kaylin finally asked, when Sanabalis failed to speak.
“Possibly the future dead,” he replied. “Although it is not clear, given my brief interactions with Mrs. Erickson, that the Barrani leave ghosts in their wake.”
Kaylin winced. “This is about the High Court?”
“There has been movement there that might become cause for concern. Our informants are not highly placed at the moment, for obvious reasons. In normal circumstances, we would ignore any difficulties from that quarter, unless the High Lord intended to foment open rebellion and war.”
Kaylin nodded.
“You are aware—of course you are—of the changes in the High Halls the most powerful of the Barrani call home.”
She nodded again.
“The changes have caused some social unrest. Those who might once have perished when they underwent the Test of Name do not perish now. The Lords of the High Court were once designated as such by the simple expedient of their survival. Now that is not the case. While some fail to pass that test—or so we have been informed—many have not. The number of Lords of the High Court has grown.”
Kaylin shrugged. “They can’t have as many as the human caste court.”
“Ah, no. But they consider the human caste court almost irrelevant. There are a handful of lords with significant economic power, but the rest are unremarkable. Adding to their number gives the lords of actual power people to rule, in a fashion that does not imply treachery.
“Prior to the recent changes in the Halls of Law, the hallowed Barrani ceremony weeded out those of insignificant will or power. It apparently does not do so now.”
“You want me to talk to people.” Bypeopleshe meant either Teela or Sedarias. She preferred Teela.
“I leave that decision in your capable hands. But you are aware that much of the Barrani economic power resides in the streets of Elantra. If divisions are brewing, if a Barrani war begins, it is from those streets that economic power will be withdrawn or leveraged.”
Kaylin nodded. “You think it’s that big?”
“We are uncertain, but we are concerned. That is not, however, the entirety of the reason I chose this block of time. I have, as you have noted, dispensed with the candle. Any attempt to force you to channel the power of your Marks through acceptable traditional means has failed to take. While you have managed, once or twice, to light the candle, you have scorched the table, melted the candle, and missed the wick.”
“So... what did you want me to do?”
“I want you to consider who, and what, you are. I want you to access the emotions that seem to be the largest driver of the power you use. Do not look at me like that; it is considered disrespectful—at best.”
“Like what?”
“As if I have taken leave of my senses.”
“You realize that almostallof my training has been aboutsuppressingrandom emotion, right?”
“Acceptable. Do not punch people in momentary rage.”
“I mean it, Sanabalis.” Ugh. “Arkon. You have my Records. You know what happened before I became an official Hawk.”