The Emperor's Wolves (Wolves of Elantra #1) - Michelle Sagara Page 0,115
of Law.
The Barrani Hawks?
That is the most probable, but no. Money, favors, extortion will affect anyone who works in the Halls. The Halls of Law are examining all Records and all Records access even as we speak. The leak itself will be found.
Severn nodded, although he wasn’t as certain. Did the man Tessa called Ollarin come to visit Random?
Yes.
After Tessa’s second visit?
Yes.
Severn exhaled. What oracle did Random give to Tessa when they first met?
A warning, was the bitter reply. A warning I understand only now, and Tessa did not understand fully until it was far too late for her.
Ybelline.
I know. But you understand far better than I the weight of, the pressure of, guilt. Give me a few minutes to attempt to set it aside.
You understand what happened.
I understand what I think happened. I am not certain—I cannot be yet.
Random’s oracle?
It was—Ybelline was silent now. Severn allowed it. Her first comment when she once again engaged seemed to have nothing to do with the question Severn had asked.
You are aware that the entirety of the Empire is comprised of different races.
Severn nodded.
And there are obvious differences between them. The Tha’alanari have the distinguishing antennae; the Leontines have fur and fangs; the Aerians have wings.
Yes.
We are all mortal.
Severn nodded, waiting.
The Immortals are different again. Pardon me for belaboring the obvious. It is not widely understood why they can, if they live peaceful lives, exist forever, but there are theories. At the heart of those theories—accepted by academics and the Immortals themselves—are their names. Not the names by which we know them; not the names by which they are identified. True Names.
True Names?
They believe there are words at their core. The words are like souls in mortal religions; they are the source of both strength and life. The words endure.
Severn said nothing, absorbing the information. Ybelline waited. Are these beliefs religious, or are they grounded in provable fact?
The latter. The names are never shared. To share the name is to invite control, or perhaps loss of control. In theory, if one knows the True Name of even the Emperor, one might, with force of will, command the Emperor—and be obeyed. She fell silent again.
I don’t understand.
Ybelline bowed her head, her antennae slightly flattened against Severn’s forehead. I didn’t, either. Did you know that if you know the True Name, you can speak to the person who possesses it? You can speak as you and I are speaking now?
He hadn’t known. Although he’d heard whispers and children’s stories, he’d had no factual knowledge of what True Names meant. The communication is like that shared by the Tha’alanari?
...Yes.
You’re certain?
Yes. Now I am certain.
But you can’t control people with the Tha’alaan.
No.
The children—Tessa in particular—learned that they could bespeak the Barrani as if the Barrani were part of the Tha’alaan? As if they were Tha’alanari?
...Yes.
Severn’s hands clenched in fists around Ybelline’s.
You understand, she said, her voice devoid of light.
Random told her someone’s True Name. Gods. And then, as the information sank roots, he said, That name—that experience—existed in the Tha’alaan.
It is not there now.
Ybelline—
Do you understand? Do you understand why this is a caste court matter? Why it must remain unknown?
He did. He also understood why the matter did not immediately fall under the laws of exemption.
She didn’t know, Ybelline continued. She knew that she could meet, could speak with, this Ollarin. She knew that death lay in the future, and she was young enough to believe she could communicate with this single Barrani man, and those deaths might be avoided.
He understood Random’s guilt, then. He understood the castelord’s decision. He understood why oracles were considered unreliable. All the information had been there, but none of it made sense until long after the fact. There was nothing useful that could be done with it.
It would have been far better for everyone concerned if the Tha’alani children, in their daydreaming, hopeful optimism, had never visited Random, or the Oracular Halls, at all.
Severn said nothing for a long, long moment. Tell me, he said, about Teremaine. Tell me everything—everything—in Records about Corvallan, Cassandre, and the line Mellarionne. Tell me about Sennarin.
She nodded, understanding that he had chosen these questions to return the interview to what might pass for neutral ground.
And then, because she was there, he added one more name. And An’Tellarus.
* * *
When Ybelline left both Elluvian’s office and the offices that contained Wolves who were not on mission, the office was almost empty. Rosen was gone. Mellianne was gone.
The Wolflord and Elluvian, however, remained. The Wolflord’s