Elen had a hard time keeping a bland expression. Such words bordered on treasonous speech against the throne, to suggest the emperor had manufactured outrage in order to hurry along her demand that all aivur then living within the borders of the empire depart to the frontier.

Luviara went on without pausing, wrapped up in her enthusiasm for the topic. “A link between the mysterious builders and the living aivur of today is not one I have been able to confirm, one way or the other. That’s why this set of statues interests me particularly. At other walkways leading to other Spires I have seen wrecked plinths, broken legs, those with no head or torso, and an occasional damaged but mostly complete statue, some of which wear the heads of animals. Usually with the features partly smashed. But never have I seen six intact, untouched statues as we see here. I did not even know this group existed, which is a complaint I intend to file with the surveyors when we return.”

“Return from where?” Elen asked.

Luviara shook a hand in a scolding gesture. “When we return from the prince’s mission, which is no business of yours, Deputy Courier.”

Elen dipped her chin, ready to be done with this troubling conversation, which skated far too close to dangerous waters for her liking. Maybe a theurgist had some kind of protection that allowed her to speculate so freely in a public space. A deputy courier did not. “As you say, I am merely a guide. To that end, I should fetch my pack, so I do not delay our departure.”

“I have not finished my questions. According to Wisdom of the Four Sages, the statues are intended as representations of the builders. But in Catechism of the Lost Days, it is suggested the statues might actually be the builders.”

“Are you saying the theurgists believe magic can turn a person into stone?” Elen thought of how the statue had vanished and reappeared.

“Theurgy cannot do so, but perhaps sorcery could. How can we know what the ancients could accomplish?” Luviara flicked a gesture heavenward, as if in appeal to the High Heavens. “No theurgist kens the root of sorcery.”

“You said you don’t believe that the wicked sorcerer-kings of old ever existed.”