Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 324
whole life has been lived in vain. I wanted to change things,
that was what ruled me. I wanted to change what could not be
changed, what had never been seen as anything but absolute. I
wanted to dissolve the absolute. Maut... Maut, says this has
been done before.
"I knew that everything now absolute was once a
phantasy. What is good was once evil. He is unaware how
devastating such a realization is to human beings. In fact, he's
not really bothering to speak of that. He takes it as a starting
point. Takes it as given that this upheaval which has been my
life is like the dance of dust-motes in sunlight--just an
alternation, and change in height of those motes in the galaxy
of relations visible to us. He neglects that I am such a mote
myself..."
Bothered, Ninete combed silently. In the mirror Galas
could see her uncomprehending look. "We could die in two
days," she said.
"I know," says Ninete simply. Galas waited for more,
but it didn't come.
"Aren't you afraid?"
"My Queen, I'm terrified." Ninete’s expression shifted
from the neutral silence it had held to an ashen tautness. Her
lips thinned, her eyes lost their focus. "I don't want to die
now."
Queen Galas looked at her, her own eyes taking on a
certain coldness Ninete had seen so frequently in them. But
Galas's hand trembles as it searched among the combs,
hairpins, pots of makeup on the dressing table.
"You don't want to die. But you understand what death
is."
"The soldiers will kill us, Lady. I've seen people die."
"Resume." Ninete brought the brush up again. "Ninete,