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The tower yawns above us Purple, red, and green reat structure with vines of a thousand hues, wrapping the glass and stone like the fingers of greedy bachelors around the wrist of a richSix great lifts bear families skyward to the top of the tower

Beautiful Pink servants and Brown footles of the Society decorate their livery

The lift is flat,where green grass flutters in the wind Several Coppers rush forward to talk with Pliny, who, as Politico, speaks on behalf of the ArchGovernor There seems to be some confusion The Falthe family files into the lift ahead of us

"This is a social trap," Augustus mutters back to his favorite ward Leto draws closer "The fools See how they feign accident Soon they will tell us we rovel to have us go before them"

"Could it not be an accident?" Leto asks

"Not on Luna" Augustus crosses his ar is politics"

"The winds shift"

"They’ve been shifting for soustusan accounting of the razors we carry Some wear them coiled at their sides Others wear them around their forearms like I do with my borrowed blade Tactus and Victra each use the the ArchGovernor at all ti "No drinking"

Tactus ive orders

Pliny returns froh, we’re to share the lift with the Falthes But so fills the air Our Obsidians and Grays are to be left behind "All faala without attendants," he says "No bodyguards"

Muro," the Jackal says

"Don’t be a fool," Augustus replies

"Your son is right," Leto says "Nero, the danger …"

"Soerous to decline than to accept Alfrún, Jopho" Augustusmotion to his Stained The two men nod silently and join the others to the side Genuine emotion fills their eerie eyes, worry, as we join the Falthes on the lift and ascend The head of the Falthe house smiles His station improves