"The dead," Raine repeated, thoughtful. "Not much, I'd imagine. Hm. Some kind of necromancy, or simply a different state of existence after death? And if the latter, what else sets your dead apart from your living?" For the ability to use magic implied sentience beyond what the dead could usually achieve.

The third group question made her blink a little, before she caught the assumption. "Ah-- no, not specifically. Rather, it was the Emperor Eshai who set up the spell in the first place, and she wasn't one of the kedan. They, too, are a people she summoned. It's since been maintained by others."