Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 639
yet. So at least for now, I’m in command of it, if I want to be."
"In command..." She shook her head. "It’s hard to
believe."
He snorted. "I wouldn’t get too excited. I’ve only got
this power as long as everybody ignores me. Armiger knows
about Mediation, since I told him about it, but he hasn’t even
contacted the geophysical Winds yet. I can’t figure out why.
He must be waiting until he reaches the Gates before revealing
himself."
"So?"
"Well," said Jordan. "This is the question: do we just let
things unfold? After all, who are we to interfere in a war
between the gods?"
"Of course we just let things unfold," said Tamsin.
"What other choice do we have? I thought we were going to
rendezvous with Armiger. Then he takes over the Winds, and
that’s that."
He shook his head. "But what if he fails? If Thalience
kills him... well, you heard it yourself in the desal: Thalience
thinks of humans as vermin. Who’ll defend us against it then?"
"I don't know."
"And lastly I’ve been wondering about Armiger himself.
Does he really mean to conquer the Winds? And if so, what is
he going to replace them with? Do we have any say in what he
does? It sure doesn’t look like it."
He stood up, straining into a stretch. "Armiger hasn’t
contact Mediation. That worries me. I can see all sorts of
things that the geophysical Winds should be doing to prepare a
defence against the swans. They’re not doing anything--at
least in any organized way."
She looked up. "But you could order them to."
He nodded. "I’ve been getting Mediation to tell me what