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"Power leaves us just as it finds us; only great natures grow greater by its means."
[Le pouvoir nous laisse tels que nous sommes et ne grandit que les grands.]
Honoré de Balzac, La Peau de Chagrin (The Wild Ass's Skin), 1831.

BMS — carnation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD13tT9abKI

"Her face had fastened with most lustrous pearls a veil of radiant stars around the moon.
The pearls, her ears, to which fine pearls were hung, rendered the market of her lovers brisk.
The moon she fastened in a camphor veil, like to the Syrian rose in jasmine placed.
When, led by coquetry, this fortnight’s moon had well disposed the seven needful things,
Like a full moon she went up to the ox—the moon when she’s in Taurus is in strength.
Her head she lowered and raised up the ox—See how an ox had honour from her act!
When step by step she’d run up to the roof, she went then to the foot of Bahrām’s throne.
She stood on foot, the ox upon her neck; the lion, when he saw the ox, was moved.
In wonder lost, he thought what may this be? Interest of his? What interest he knew not.
The moon then put the ox down from her neck; with coquetry the lion she addressed.
She said, The present which I now submit, unaided all alone, by my own strength—
Who in the world by strength and cleverness from this high room could carry to the ground?
The king replied, This is not from your strength, but from your having practised from the first.
Little by little, during many years, you have prepared for it by exercise;
So that without the slightest toil or pain you can at present weigh it in your scales.
The beauty, silver-formed, bowed low to him, with invocation true to what was due.
She said, The king owes much for having said, The ox is practice, the wild ass is not.
I who can carry to the roof an ox—for "practice" only credit has been given.
Why when you hit a little onager, should no one use the expression "practice" too?
The monarch understood his Turk’s reproach; like Hindū acting, he rushed up to her."
Nizami, The story of Bahrām and the girl named Fitna of Chinese Turkistan, 
in The Haft Paikar (The Seven Beauties), trans. C. E. Wilson.

Erika supposes the Arishok is possessed by a Command spirit ready to make the leap.