"Hespatia is a clusterfuck. She didn't trick me about much in awakening, but she did manage to undersell it. If I'd gotten a Guild awakener I'd probably be with ORC. And redeeming it is probably not going to work. But trying has to start somewhere, and I think she's the one to do it."

"Why?"

She ticks things off on her fingers. "Connections to old families and covens to keep the Crowns off her back for a few centuries to gather power. Ability to be ruthless, and perform ruthlessness, with the best of them. And a genuine conscience that doesn't get damaged when she's ruthless, partly because she half the time refuses to believe it exists."

"Or she's convinced you it does, and half the time doesn't bother to pretend."

"I'm very sure that's not it. I can't manipulate people like she does. I can't get them to want to do what I say. I'm even slower at reading people than she is, probably. But I'm just as good at it. Better, even. Once I'm sure, I'm not wrong."

"How do you know?"

"I always knew I was good, but I picked up magic for it and it means I can check. And it helps... a little. Speeds it up. But usually I already know what answer I'm going to get."

"What am I feeling?"

"Oh, that's easy mode. Angry. Frustrated, in several senses. You were angrier when you came downstairs but just as frustrated. Background paranoia, and that's not always a bad policy but I promise Tes isn't that good. Curious about me, but you think you can probably trust me. Tired, emotionally - can you even get physically tired? And... no, skipping that. Fits under a broader thing, though, hmm. I think the right word is disappointed."

"In what?"

"Lots of things. Her. Me. The unveiled world in general, I think. Probably some other specific people. I'm not a mind reader, and you're all but immune anyway."

"And you aren't?"

"Two ranks off the bat, haven't gotten the third yet. Maybe when I'm not getting ready for a murder."

"Not going to call it an execution?"

"Honestly, even if it was the ORCs I'd call it a murder. If you want a legitimate execution, set someone up to commit murder in Lunabella. Or Alfheimr, if you can find a lord's holding that's basically legitimate."

"I thought you liked the ORCs. What's even your standard, here?"

"Mortal logic, basically. Consent of the governed. People fund the ORCs for veil enforcement but I don't think anywhere close to a majority actually approves of how they go about it. There's worse corruption in the world - good job on that so far by the by - but I'd bet a vigilante who did better would get more support, fast."

"Witches and nonhumans seem to be... worse, on that.  I like the ORCs fine but they're not really trying to fix it."

"Worked with them much?"

"Not officially. Officially they disapprove of my replicating their tech and consider it potentially illegal."

"At some point I may produce some information I want passed to them anonymously."

"I could probably get it to them anonymously. Not sure about getting them to take it seriously."

"Give me a nonsense source name. Just not bloody 'Deep Throat.' They'll learn eventually."

"I think my sense of humor's more mature than that. With your fancy oracle nonsense you might even work out the name means you. And the handful of those around, but if it's not relevant to them they won't learn."

What possible reason could Thea have for knowing significantly more about the advantages and limitations of Oracles than most witches, let alone other unveiled society? The world may never know.

"Mmm. Right. That's.. a bit of a problem. Possibly."