Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 178
faded. When he was confident he had them at bay, he let go of
the bannister. He could see again.
Jordan wasted no more time, but grabbed up the bucket
and went straight to Axel's room. He debated whether to knock
or walk in, knowing Axel might be with someone. He stooped
to peer through the keyhole, just in case.
A candle burned on the table by the window. Axel sat
there in a loose robe, his hands steepled. He was speaking in a
low voice to someone out of sight. Jordan craned his neck to
see who he was speaking to.
"...The local humans don’t seem to be in great awe of the
Winds they deal with every day," Axel was saying. "They
know the morphs and desals moderate animal populations.
People treat morphs like they do bears or moose, with caution
but not fear. But they mythologize the Winds they know the
least--you can see it in their names for the geophysical Winds-like
‘Heaven hooks’ and ‘Diadem swans’. They can’t connect
the activities of these Greater Winds with their day to day
lives."
He still couldn’t see who else was in there. Well, there
was nothing to be done about it. Jordan knocked lightly on the
door. Axel stopped speaking immediately. Jordan heard him
approach, and then the door opened a crack.
"What the hell do you want? Do you know what time it
is?"
"Come quickly," Jordan said. "We need your help."
Axel opened his mouth, thought better of it, and went to
dress. He left the door wide open, and Jordan was able to
satisfy himself that indeed, there was no one else in the room.
He was not surprised to find August asleep and breathing
easily when he and Axel arrived. Calandria had removed the