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"And to think," Invidia said "I've spent the last half an hour scouring this entire plaza looking for the singulares I was sure Attis had hidden Quite unlike hih I suppose it did make them impossible to find Hello, Countess"

Alance, swept her eyes over the plaza below, and clenched her teeth "Go to the crows, traitor"

"Oh, I have," Invidia said lightly "They'd begun to peck at my eyes and lips when the vord found me I am disinclined to repeat the experience"

Amara felt a chill smile stretch her lips "Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?"

"Come, Countess," Invidia replied "It is far too late for any of us to seek redemption for our sins now"

"Then why haven't you killedher chin to bare more of her throat to Invidia's blade "Lonely, are we? Missing the co soiveness? Approval?"

Invidia stared at her for a h she weren't there A frown creased her brow "Perhaps," she said

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before you begana collar, like the others They're slaves You're free You're here by choice"

Invidia let out a harsh laugh "Is that what you think? That I have a choice?" A your own kind You could defy the vord and die of the poison still in you - die horribly But instead you've chosen to let everyone else die in your place"

Invidia's eyes widened, and her lips peeled back froriing in her voice, "is that in the end, it will make no difference The moment you are more of a threat than an asset to them, the vord will kill you You selfish, petulant child All the blood on your hands has been for nothing"

Invidia's jaws clenched, and spots of color appeared high on her cheeks Her whole body began shaking "Who," she whispered "Who do you think you are?"

Amara learned into the blade and met Invidia's eyes with her own "I knoho I am I am the Countess Calderonus Amara, Cursor of the Crown, loyal servant of Alera and the House of Gaius Though it cost me my life, I knoho I am" She bared her own teeth in a wolfish smile "And we both knoho you are You've chosen your side, traitor Get on with it"