Another theory, Kali is programmed to protect the bloodline, if the prince tries to kill his sister, her loyalty is to the one in danger...
which would not be the prince at that point.
Acantha used to be among my favourite characters; but over time I came to realise that she's really quite an immature spoiled brat, who thinks herself very clever pushing Lord Headcase's buttons, all while hiding behind her scary special friend... Seeing her winning grin here while rereading only confirms my lowered opinion of her :-(
Upon another re-read, I guess many of the things she said are actually not entirely unreasonable... Still, this smug grin is pretty immature; and shows that she has probably been enraging him unnecessarily on purpose, while counting on this outcome.
Hmmm, on the other hand, Acantha has a strong sense of fairness, and has for years been trying to get through to Deck that his behaviour is stupid, without success, in the face of apparent indifference from the Cassians and Gen. Valerious. Plus (spoiler?) Deck's Omega protocols...
This is a finely calculated, rather desperate attempt to draw fire away from Lynn, judging that Aeneas will intervene, despite his own sorry stare of being.
which would not be the prince at that point.
This is a finely calculated, rather desperate attempt to draw fire away from Lynn, judging that Aeneas will intervene, despite his own sorry stare of being.