Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 489
one thing at a time here."
She scowled. "You asked earlier."
"The Swans will not destroy desal 447 so long as
Mediation is holding you," explained the desal. "They want
you."
"Why?" he asked.
"That," said the desal, "is what Mediation was going to
ask you."
He and Tamsin looked at each other. Her eyes were
wide; she spread her hands and stepped back, symbolically
leaving the conversation to him.
What would Armiger do in this situation? He had no
idea.
what we know if you tell us what we want to know and if you
get us away from the swans."
Tamsin was pacing, head down, hands behind her back.
"Why should Mediation help you escape?" asked the
desal. "They will destroy desal 447 if it does that."
The desal did not answer.
"If you had the power to compel the information you
Again there was no answer.
Tamsin returned to the start of the circle she had walked.
"Great, now you made him mad," she said.
"Ask it," she said with a shrug.