She stares up at him, her gaze still hollow. He has, perhaps, taken that more literally than she meant it; though perhaps it is because Oriencor is not so vulnerable as she. To kill Oriencor's creatures would be an affront because they are her possessions; Aeriel sees hers as her charges, lives she is meant to protect.

Oriencor will not be handled so easily, she imagines. But she cannot say that, cannot voice that doubt.