Page 11 (2/2)

My path has never felt lonelier

"You’ll not be abandoned," Roque says, leaning in close "Other families ant you for themselves Don’t let Tactus in your head The Bellona won’t ainst you"

"Of course they won’t," I lie He can still sense my fear

"Violence isn’t allowed in the Citadel, Darrow Especially bloodfeuds Even duels are outlawed unless consent is given by the Sovereign herself Sirounds till you’ve a new house, and all will be well Bide your time, do what you must, and in a year, the ArchGovernor will feel like a fool when you’ve risen under the tutelage of another There is more than one path to the top Always rerips my shoulder

"You knoould ask ainst Augustus"

"I know" They could spend the millions on the contract and not even notice the loss, but Roque’s mother has not sat a Senator for twenty years because of her charity Her lot is thrown in with Augustus’s contingent in the Senate What he wills, she supports

"I’ll be fine You’re right," I say as Luna appears in the , hushing the aides, and fillingsatellites and installations encircle it like a steel angel’s halo wrapped around a ball of amber held to the sun "I’ll be fine"

6

Icarus

We land near the Citadel Sticky, polluted wind bends the towering trees near our landing pad Perspiration quickly beads along the top of ly place Despite the fact that we land here on Citadel grounds, which are far from the nearest cities and surrounded by forests and lakes, the air here cloys and sticks to the lungs

On the horizon, just past the spiked spires of the Citadel’s western ca ravity here is less than Mars’s, only one-sixth Earth’s, and makes me feel unsettled and cluh coordination quickly returns, s of claustrophobia

Another vessel lands to the north

"Looks like Bellona silver," Roque says quietly, squinting against the sunset

I chuckle

He glances back at ht about now"

"Well, that’s just … lovely of you" He walks along I follow, eyes lingering on the vessel "I do love the sunsets of Luna Like we’re in Hoed bronze"

Above, the alien skyof the sun For teeks, the daylight will disappear froht Luxury yachts cruise through this strange day’s end, while nilued together froravity lets these Luneborn build to their heart’s desire And build they do Beyond the Citadel grounds, the horizon is fenced with towers and cityscape RungPaths wind everywhere so that citizens can pull thes stretch between high towers as would ivy, linking the heavens with the hells of the lowDistricts Along them, thousands of men and women crawl like ants on vines, while Gray patrol skiffs buzz around the thoroughfares