Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 713
went out everywhere except near the deep blue horizon. Way
out there, clouds and the edges of the furthest vagabond moons
lay in shadow; nearer in, they gleamed in pure sunlight.
Axel squinted up at the light. "Solar mirror," he said.
"Big sucker."
Jordan nodded. He had seemed subdued ever since Axel
and Marya had told him what they'd learned about thalience
and Turcaret. Axel had seen him shake his head several times,
scowling.
"So we're going to meet the infamous Armiger," Axel
said. "I've been wanting to do that for almost a year. You say
you spoke to him once? You still think he's not a resurrection
seed?"
Jordan hesitated. "I don't think so," he said. "But I'm not
sure."
"Don't say that," said Axel. "Say, 'Axel, he's not a
resurrection seed, and I can prove it.' That would make me
happy, if you could say that to me."
"He's up to something, and I'm not sure what," Jordan
said. "I don't think that proves anything either way."
"You said he took the secret of commanding the Winds
from you, but he hasn't used it. And you don't know why not."
Jordan shook his head. "He should have started using it
right away. He could have taken over the world by now if he'd
been able to."
"He has the technology, but not the keys," said Marya.
"It's exactly like Turcaret. He can speak to them, but they're
not listening."
"Oh, they're listening," said Jordan. "They hear what I
say, and they talk back. That's not it."
She shook her head. "But thalience..."
Jordan barked a laugh. "Whatever thalience is, the swans