Wolf Boy, Chapter 13, Part II

Pan knew he was—what was the phrase Allec had dug up from antique movies?—jumping the gun, and he took deep internal breaths. He hadn’t expected to care about his origins. He wanted answers, but he hadn’t predicted the urge to extract them now that that he had a chance. Earth was unsettling him.

Political know-how 101: Don’t determine what matters until I know what matters.

“Or your Cubus is blowing smoke,” Pan said, borrowing another Allec term and attitude.

“No,” Francesca said. “Will isn’t.”

“Did you see what Will saw about Pan?” Kaiden said. “Whatever it is.”

Francesca gave Kaiden a studious stare. He gave back a genial face with a cocked head. Asking what Cubi saw was something everybody wondered but weren’t supposed to ask.

Yet Kaiden said, “Cubi can show people things they’ve seen, things they’ve learned.”

Pan studied Kaiden from his long eyes without turning his head. Lider and Rhys rarely discussed their investigations, preferring to present their conclusions rather than their process. And Lider made a point of presenting evidence that could be admitted human courts. Cubi “hearsay” didn’t count. But that was Rhys and Lider’s public face. They did have an entirely private relationship—to which no one but themselves had access. What did Lider reveal to Rhys?

Kaiden said, “That first investigation—the one that started on the ship—everyone—okay, most people—believe that Lider did an incursion. But it was okay because the guy was—well—really bad.”

Francesca said, “Lider was officially pardoned for that act. He doesn’t share images of the past with Rhys. According to Will.”

“Will says.”

Francesca conceded the point with a stately nod.

Pan said, “Will has shared images with you.”

“Yes.”

“Of Bettelin? And his companion? Do I look like him—that wolf boy?”

“Yes.”

And that means? Pan didn’t ask. There was no point in asking. An observation was an observation only. Meaning got added later.

Francesca must be used to people asking anyway. She said, “Cubi prefer not to give opinions about the human past.”

“Anybody else would,” Kaiden muttered.

An almost wry expression rippled across Francesca’s face. Her brows raised as her eyes focused on the altar. Pan recognized that pensive expression. Rhys did it all the time. Francesca was listening.

She said, “Will reminds us that Cubi are not human. Their pronouncements are often taken as gospel. Or threats. Saints or demons. They are neither. Will, for all his age, is somewhat orthodox. Cubi should remain in their proper sphere—until they become corporeal.”

“Lider isn’t exactly a rebel,” Pan said. “He doesn’t think Cubi should keep information to themselves.”

“Lider chases God. That’s Will’s explanation. Why else would Lider tag a priest?”

“Everybody chases God,” Kaiden said.

“Not everyone has Lider’s faith.”

Pan said, “Is knowledge such a game changer?”

Francesca sighed. “I don’t know. We need it. We can’t move forward without it. We certainly can’t control how others handle it.”

Again, her gaze drifted, this time to the reliquary with Saint Oswald’s arm. 

She said, “Will wonders if you connect your near assassination to a lack of knowledge or—more precisely—to a lack of warning.”

“Is he asking if I blame someone? The Alands for taking me to Mars? The Mars Council for sending me to the station, so my story ended up on the forums? Does he blame himself?”

“Will feels entirely justified in his past actions. At least, he has no regrets. I’m not sure I agree. But he didn’t know you were on Mars until he went there, and he wonders where knowledge takes a person. Can the direction be anticipated?”

Pan could read between the lines.

Where will knowledge take you, Pan?

Did I always intend to become a prince? Before Demographics revealed my Anthros nature? Before Raine and Ruella couldn’t place me? Before I learned I was linked to a medieval saint? 

Whatever Will might guess about the inner workings of Pan’s mind, Pan wasn’t going to vocalize his thoughts. Not yet.