Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 640
the Titans’ Gates do, and how they work. Right now it treats
me like an equal, so it’s giving me access to all the systems.
Now, do you remember yesterday, when Ka told us about
codes? --About how everything the Winds do is controlled
through them? Well, that’s not quite true. They often use
passwords, like the sentries in an army camp. The Winds use
them when one of them wants to lock something for its own
exclusive use. Well, I asked Mediation if the Titans’ Gates
could be locked by passwords..."
When Jordan told Tamsin what he had decided to do, he
had the great pleasure of seeing her smile for the first time in
days.
The first ally to arrive was a jaguar. It padded into the
circle of firelight as they were preparing for bed, and lay down
opposite Jordan and Tamsin, its head on its paws.
Tamsin clawed at Jordan, who had been drowsing in
Vision. "Jordan, look look oh no oh no."
He flopped his head over and blinked at the animal. "Ah.
I’ve been expecting this. I asked Mediation for protection. It
said it was sending troops."
The jaguar gave a cat smile: a slow two-eyed wink.
"Troops...?" Tamsin relaxed her tight grip on his arm.
"Is that... one of Mediation’s Winds?"
"Not a Wind. Just a cat." Jordan sat up, looking grimly
at the animal. "Part of our escort."
"Ah." He had told her to expect guests. She hadn’t
known what was coming, but had imagined morphs or
something equally hideous. "Is it... wild?"
He shook his head. "The Winds can cohabit the minds of
animals. It’s our lieutenant. You can trust it completely."
"Lieutenant jaguar." She rose to her feet, slowly. The