‘That I cannot tell you, Eagle,’ Nara said softly. ‘I expect no one but the Great Octave herself can answer that.’

Elaq was watching her, waiting. Judging. Ilandeh licked her lips. ‘Chorus Leader, you mistake me,’ she began and Nara narrowed his eyes in alarm. She held up her empty hands. ‘I am loyal, unto death. But I am no eagle. I am a Whisper of the macaws. The High Feather himself decorated me as subterfuge, knowing it would make it easier for me to infiltrate the Singing City and learn Enet’s plans. But you should not do me the honour of naming me eagle; it is not my place, nor my blood.’

The shock and dawning horror on Nara’s face made Ilandeh’s wound throb as blood rushed into her cheeks. Shame followed it. She looked away, swallowing thickly. These men were both full bloods; they outranked her militarily, socially, and in status. And here she sat among them wearing their pride in her hair.

‘You knew about this?’ Nara spluttered. Elaq shifted, uncomfortable, but nodded. ‘I thought I could trust the High Feather. I thought I had found allies to help me save the Singer from the Great Octave. To allow such, such sacrilege towards our blood … I cannot believe it.’

‘And yet it is done,’ Elaq said. ‘Just yesterday, Flight Ilandeh killed one of her Whisper subordinates who showed signs of treachery. She did it without hesitation. I believe her loyalty is without question.’

‘Her loyalty, perhaps, but her blood is tainted. That weakness will show through eventually.’

Ilandeh breathed.

‘And yet hers is the only face Enet doesn’t know. I cannot go; none of the High Feather’s household can. But Ilandeh can.’

‘Could you put me into the source as a steward, even a slave?’ she asked, steering the conversation to firmer ground.

Nara sucked his teeth and glanced at Elaq. ‘You’d willingly become a slave for this cause?’ he asked.

‘I am a Whisper, Chorus Leader,’ Ilandeh said calmly. ‘I will be and can be whatever my High Feather and the Empire needs me to be.’

‘And the slave marks?’ Elaq pressed.

The flesh on Ilandeh’s back crawled at the thought of that brand being pressed to her shoulders to mark her for eternity as property. She licked dry lips. ‘When it is over, the brands will be amended to show I am a free woman. As I already am,’ she added with a hint of fire. ‘I am a Whisper. We know our duty.’

‘Even an eagle would balk at such a task,’ Nara admitted after an uncomfortable pause. ‘And yet a half-blood will do what we fear to.’

Ilandeh kept a neutral expression with only a little effort.

‘The High Feather has already marked her as an eagle. Another choice would be to make her one of the Chorus – their numbers are still too few and Enet is supplementing them with her own guards.’