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Valerius rose to his feet, raising a hand "A point of order, honored Theoginus The burden of proof to establish legiti and able to do so, upon the child Legiti the Citizenry, inus said "With the signet ring of Princeps Septimus, the eyewitness testined hand of Princeps Septih the a Senators and observers alike, then eyed Valerius, waiting

"Gaius Sextus never formally presented Octavian to the Senate," he replied snized"

"As a Citizen in his own right," Theoginus countered "Which has no bearing whatsoever on Gaius's choice of an heir - which is a clear matter of public record"

"It is to be hoped," Valerius replied, "that the First Lord of the Realrace to be a Citizen as well"

"Semantics, Senator We have all seen ample demonstration of Octavian's evident skills with our own eyes The proof was, after all, good enough for Gaius Sextus Why should it not be good enough for the rest of us?"

"The testimony of Gaius Sextus's personal physician has established that Sextus had been a victi by means of refined helatin," Valerius said soberly "Helatin da the mind It is entirely possible that Gaius Sextus was non co the last year of his life - "

Valerius's voice was lost in a sudden uproar of protest, and Aain First, he ument, then atte the need for prompt action Granted, such tactics had been successful in the Senate before, though generally not in the face of any serious opposition But this calling Gaius's mental coh of the Senate illing to go along with the idea, it wouldthe vord invasion could be found an illegal action, invalidated by the power-thirsty Senate After all, Sextus could hardly defend his actions now

There was a way to head off Valerius's true thrust, though, if Theoginus was clever enough to see it

Theoginus raised a hand, a silent call for order, and the noise diminished to a susurrus of rapid whispers "Honored brother of the Senate," Theoginus said, scorn open in his voice, "nearly every Lord and High Lord of the Realn last year Surely you do not suggest that so ifted watercrafters, could have simply failed to notice an

"And if he was gone to his dotage," Theoginus continued, "then surely his adoption of Aquitainus Attis into his house must be viewed in a manner every bit as suspect as his declaration of Octavian's legitirin and pounding her fist on Bernard's thigh "He saw it"

Bernard enfolded her fist in his hands "Easy, love, you'll leave bruises"

"Aquitainus Attis," Theoginus continued, turning to speak to the seated Senate at large, "is without a doubt one of the finest examples of talent, ability, and effective leadership that the Citizenry has to offer His skill and personal courage in battle against the vord cannot be questioned" He drew in a deep breath, and spoke in a voice like thunder "But those facts give no one the grace to defy the law of the Realm! Not Aquitaine Not the Citizenry And not the Senate" He turned in a slow circle to face each of the seated Senators "Make no mistake, honored Senators To defy the will of Gaius Sextus now is to betray the laws that have guided the Real - laws that have allowed us to overcome centuries of turmoil and war"

"For tradition's sake," interrupted Valerius, "we ought to needlessly throay the lives of our fighting inus faced Valerius squarely "Half of our Real have been lost Alera Imperia herself has fallen and been devoured by earth and fire But most of what is left of the Realible bedrock of the ood steel of those Legions outside the city walls, ready to give their lives in Alera's defense It floithin the veins of her Citizenry, called to arms and ready to face whatever foe should try to haresture, to the west "And it is out there, in the living uided the Realm since time immemorial It is in Gaius Octavian"

True silence had fallen on the ainus kne to speak to a crowd He kne to draw upon their emotions - and the constant hum of low fear that permeated all of Alera in these desperate inus's eyes raked the gathered Senate again "Remember that, when you vote Remember the oaths you have sworn Re to defend our lands and our peoples Turn aside from the law, from what the Realm has always been, and Alera will be no one And we here will have murdered her: murdered her with quiet words, loud speeches, and raised hands Relare that ht have set the man on fire Then he took his seat once more and folded his ar, silent azed at the rest of the Senate Ainus had eambit One could never be sure that an impassioned speech would move an audience in the intended direction - but the Ceresian senator had spoken well The power of his words still resonated in the room Any opposition Valerius raised, at this point, would earn hilares His best course of action was alathered in the days previous to this confrontation It was a close vote He h to tip the scales

Valerius nodded slowly and raised his voice "I call the vote of the Senate upon the issue of the legitie to one freeman Isana of the Calderon Valley A vote of yes will confire A vote of no will deny it"