Her question remained unanswered, and Tenzin did not voice it again. Unless the Athari were fractured even more greatly than she believed, she did not understand how there could not be useful contacts in the hospital itself. Left unchecked the spirit-possessed always grew Sick, and here in the cities most would find themselves in hospitals such as this one: an obvious place to ensure the Athari maintained a solid presence. If a killing must be done, at least it had the chance to be peaceful there. When the fevers grew so bad the soul waned, even in Ladakh it was considered a necessary mercy to hasten the path to the last sleep.
Jacinda smelled of prickly emotions beside her, but for now Tenzin placed that turmoil from her mind. There would be time to nose those secrets out in the privacy of pack, if Jacinda so wished, but that time was not now or here.
“Lots of words to say not very much,” she grumbled. “Team works poor with devils swallowed inside. One enemy. Making more for sake of pride.” She shook her head. Translation failed her and her lip curled with the frustration. Fighting amongst themselves only bred dissention when they needed to work together, and she was growing tired of the little nips. She meant the inquisitor’s bait aimed clearly at Jacinda’s methods, but it was apt for wider meaning. The Athari simply couldn’t function while it turned inwards, biting at its own flesh while around them the times changed and Apollyon loomed over all. How he must laugh at the squeal of what had once been such a fearsome enemy. The Spirits could not be eradicated -- they simply were -- and she knew no way to cease the possessions. These men and women were the most equipped of all to fight the darkness of the world, given the right temperance and training. Likely they would prove to be the only ones capable of regulating their own.
Tenzin leaned to squeeze Jacinda’s knee, hoping to temper any snap tempted forth by the snarl of a poor leader, though she did not look at her. She was a natural mediator, but when she caught the scent of a hunt she was also singularly minded. She watched the inquisitor a moment longer in the rearview before her dark gaze turned to the woman alongside. She was here for a reason, and she was making every effort to maintain the control of her touch, yet they were still headed for the hospital. The direction suited her then, but what did she want?
“Knows Jacinda’s face. Not mine. Rākṣasa hatyārā have no use of ‘files’ in the mountains of my home. His hacker will not know me either. Small advantage, maybe,” she said. By the Athari’s practises the inquisitor was in charge here. Whatever her reservations about his capabilities, she deferred to that and allowed him another chance to prove himself capable of leading them. Sadly she suspected that without the sentient’s touch he would not be keeping his temper even half so well. It was useful for now, but with the hospital within sight now Tenzin would not risk any of the lives in this van for an unknown. “Why do you look for Nox Durante?” she asked the woman. “And will he know your face too?”
Jacinda smelled of prickly emotions beside her, but for now Tenzin placed that turmoil from her mind. There would be time to nose those secrets out in the privacy of pack, if Jacinda so wished, but that time was not now or here.
“Lots of words to say not very much,” she grumbled. “Team works poor with devils swallowed inside. One enemy. Making more for sake of pride.” She shook her head. Translation failed her and her lip curled with the frustration. Fighting amongst themselves only bred dissention when they needed to work together, and she was growing tired of the little nips. She meant the inquisitor’s bait aimed clearly at Jacinda’s methods, but it was apt for wider meaning. The Athari simply couldn’t function while it turned inwards, biting at its own flesh while around them the times changed and Apollyon loomed over all. How he must laugh at the squeal of what had once been such a fearsome enemy. The Spirits could not be eradicated -- they simply were -- and she knew no way to cease the possessions. These men and women were the most equipped of all to fight the darkness of the world, given the right temperance and training. Likely they would prove to be the only ones capable of regulating their own.
Tenzin leaned to squeeze Jacinda’s knee, hoping to temper any snap tempted forth by the snarl of a poor leader, though she did not look at her. She was a natural mediator, but when she caught the scent of a hunt she was also singularly minded. She watched the inquisitor a moment longer in the rearview before her dark gaze turned to the woman alongside. She was here for a reason, and she was making every effort to maintain the control of her touch, yet they were still headed for the hospital. The direction suited her then, but what did she want?
“Knows Jacinda’s face. Not mine. Rākṣasa hatyārā have no use of ‘files’ in the mountains of my home. His hacker will not know me either. Small advantage, maybe,” she said. By the Athari’s practises the inquisitor was in charge here. Whatever her reservations about his capabilities, she deferred to that and allowed him another chance to prove himself capable of leading them. Sadly she suspected that without the sentient’s touch he would not be keeping his temper even half so well. It was useful for now, but with the hospital within sight now Tenzin would not risk any of the lives in this van for an unknown. “Why do you look for Nox Durante?” she asked the woman. “And will he know your face too?”