not pursue any of those possible errors. Why is it , the question came instead, that you did not allow your submissive the birth scream?
To admit that Rool Tiazan had been out of her control was to admit that she was unfit to undertake the work for which she had been created and trained.
To express an untruth to an Iloheen was—not quite unthinkable. They had drilled her well in deceit, that she would succeed in those things they would require of her.
There was an infinitesimal flutter at the edge of her perceptions. She ignored it and formed her response with care.
It was experiencing a great deal of confusion, Edonai. I judged the additional stress would do harm both to the vessel and the inhabitant.
She breathed, eyes on the slick tile floor, and awaited annihilation.
The judgment is not without precedent , the Iloheen stated.
The Shadow passed. She was alone and alive, having lied to one of the Masters of Unmaking.
Not ...quite... alone.
Perceptions wide, she considered the submissive Rool Tiazan as he lay sweetly sleeping in his bonds.
The ley lines, she thought. The ley lines had shifted within the lesser aetherium at the moment she triggered the egress port to download her chosen tumzaliat . They had shifted again, just a moment ago, moving them to an all-but-unimaginable possibility where an Iloheen was fobbed off with a novice's lie.
You . She formed the thought gently, without imperative—and was not ...entirely... surprised to see the delicate lashes flutter, and the fierce gaze seek hers.
I . His thought was a ripple of cool greens.
You are no tumzaliat , she said.
He did not reply. She tucked her hands into her sleeves, and formed a question.
Why did you manipulate the ley lines?
His eyes narrowed, but this time he answered: Did you wish to be destroyed?
You manipulated the lines twice , she pursued.
I did not wish to be destroyed. He closed his eyes.
Rool Tiazan , she sent, sharply.
No reply.
She probed and found only a blank wall of exhaustion, as if he truly slept now, on every level. As well he should—- zaliata , tumzaliat , or mere biologic.
Briefly, she looked to herself, sublimated toxins into sugars, and replenished depleted cells.
The needs of her envelope answered, she sank to her knees on the tile beside her submissive, transferred the possibly redundant communications module, and also the motor skills module, weaving them into the sleeping consciousness.
That done, she considered her situation.
Impossible though she knew it to be, yet it seemed clear that she had bound a zaliata to her poor vessel. Only a zaliata would have strength enough to manipulate the ley lines within the lesser aetherium, or the boldness to manipulate them in the very presence of an Iloheen. How it might have happened that a zaliata had come into the lesser aetherium was something to discover from Rool Tiazan.
Her best course from this unlikely event—that was less plain.
Once bound to the vessel, there was no release for the tumzaliat , save destruction. Perhaps a zaliata , with its greater abilities, might withstand the destruction of its vessel?
She accessed and reviewed all she had learned of the philosophy of zaliata , but did not find an answer. Very likely because no zaliata had ever been bound to a humble biologic vessel. It would be madness to limit it so; and the Iloheen who commanded the zaliata had other means to ensure obedience.
But, once tied to the vessel, might not even a zaliata be subject to domination?
There was a flicker at the edge of her perceptions. She caught at it, tasting enough of the pattern to understand that Rool Tiazan had attempted to manipulate the ley lines again.
You , she sent sharply. If you do not wish to be destroyed, have done. The Iloheen see all here. They will notice your attempts at the lines .
Not before I am gone .
I am your dominant and I forbid you to depart this place , she replied, lacing her thought with
To admit that Rool Tiazan had been out of her control was to admit that she was unfit to undertake the work for which she had been created and trained.
To express an untruth to an Iloheen was—not quite unthinkable. They had drilled her well in deceit, that she would succeed in those things they would require of her.
There was an infinitesimal flutter at the edge of her perceptions. She ignored it and formed her response with care.
It was experiencing a great deal of confusion, Edonai. I judged the additional stress would do harm both to the vessel and the inhabitant.
She breathed, eyes on the slick tile floor, and awaited annihilation.
The judgment is not without precedent , the Iloheen stated.
The Shadow passed. She was alone and alive, having lied to one of the Masters of Unmaking.
Not ...quite... alone.
Perceptions wide, she considered the submissive Rool Tiazan as he lay sweetly sleeping in his bonds.
The ley lines, she thought. The ley lines had shifted within the lesser aetherium at the moment she triggered the egress port to download her chosen tumzaliat . They had shifted again, just a moment ago, moving them to an all-but-unimaginable possibility where an Iloheen was fobbed off with a novice's lie.
You . She formed the thought gently, without imperative—and was not ...entirely... surprised to see the delicate lashes flutter, and the fierce gaze seek hers.
I . His thought was a ripple of cool greens.
You are no tumzaliat , she said.
He did not reply. She tucked her hands into her sleeves, and formed a question.
Why did you manipulate the ley lines?
His eyes narrowed, but this time he answered: Did you wish to be destroyed?
You manipulated the lines twice , she pursued.
I did not wish to be destroyed. He closed his eyes.
Rool Tiazan , she sent, sharply.
No reply.
She probed and found only a blank wall of exhaustion, as if he truly slept now, on every level. As well he should—- zaliata , tumzaliat , or mere biologic.
Briefly, she looked to herself, sublimated toxins into sugars, and replenished depleted cells.
The needs of her envelope answered, she sank to her knees on the tile beside her submissive, transferred the possibly redundant communications module, and also the motor skills module, weaving them into the sleeping consciousness.
That done, she considered her situation.
Impossible though she knew it to be, yet it seemed clear that she had bound a zaliata to her poor vessel. Only a zaliata would have strength enough to manipulate the ley lines within the lesser aetherium, or the boldness to manipulate them in the very presence of an Iloheen. How it might have happened that a zaliata had come into the lesser aetherium was something to discover from Rool Tiazan.
Her best course from this unlikely event—that was less plain.
Once bound to the vessel, there was no release for the tumzaliat , save destruction. Perhaps a zaliata , with its greater abilities, might withstand the destruction of its vessel?
She accessed and reviewed all she had learned of the philosophy of zaliata , but did not find an answer. Very likely because no zaliata had ever been bound to a humble biologic vessel. It would be madness to limit it so; and the Iloheen who commanded the zaliata had other means to ensure obedience.
But, once tied to the vessel, might not even a zaliata be subject to domination?
There was a flicker at the edge of her perceptions. She caught at it, tasting enough of the pattern to understand that Rool Tiazan had attempted to manipulate the ley lines again.
You , she sent sharply. If you do not wish to be destroyed, have done. The Iloheen see all here. They will notice your attempts at the lines .
Not before I am gone .
I am your dominant and I forbid you to depart this place , she replied, lacing her thought with
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