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Octavian raked his fingers through his hair "Of course not It'll be a good start But there will be severe repercussions for the balance of power in our society thathere, and we'll have to reach so with the to back the same set of laws that allowed them to be enslaved Not to ently "Young man, I submit to you that your standards of victory are set rather high If you continue that way, no h"

"That is exactly correct," Octavian replied "Are the men and women the vord have already killed only partially dead? Are they only technically dead? Only legally dead? Can a coiven back some portion of their lives?" He shook his head "No No compromise My duty to the less than everything I can give theh So are the stakes They're a matched set"

Fidelias stared at him, then shook his head slowly Gaius Sextus had held an air of absolute authority, of personal power that arrested one's sense of reason, at times, to extract support and obedience Gaius Septient, always looking to the future He could have inspired men to follow hi

But Octavian ullet if he asked it of them And crows take hi lunatic would probably discover sos and crowns of a devoured treasure ship and soions and the Canim," Fidelias said quietly "Not alone But if you , then Valiar Marcus could serve as Crassus's advisor, his huntive him the chance to stand on his own merits in that case And I would direct him as best I could"

"You know the Canim," Octavian said "Better than anyone else I have" His eyes glinted "You've spent time with Sha, I think"

"I've met the Cane," Fidelias said calmly "He seems most professional"

"And have you ever met Khral?"

"I do not believe ht me into contact with hi suddenly "Very smooth"

Fidelias inclined his head, his mouth touched with amusement at one corner

The Princeps turned to him and put a hand on his shoulder "Thank you, Marcus"

Fidelias dropped his eyes "My lord"

"Whatever else you've done," Octavian said gently, "I have seen you I have trusted you with my life, and you have trusted me with yours I have seen you work tirelessly to serve the First Aleran I have seen you give your body and heart to the Legion, to your men I refuse to consider the idea that it was all a ploy"