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“That’s a daood reason” He winces “Sorry, not supposed to curse Don’t tell Mother It’s not genteel”

“I’d be too terrified to tell yourto hide my bitterness with a smile

“She can be a fright, can’t she? She’s really the kindest person you’re likely to meet”

Sophocles has done his business and is staring at et Sophocles back”

“That’s right Kavaxfrom separation anxiety”

“Kavax is a great man”

He looks horrified “No, of course he is He’s odfather? I think hi Anyway, I was just japing Where are your brothers stationed?” he asks, joining me on my walk back

“They’re in the Eighth,” I say “They were on Mercury”

“Harnassus’s Own,” he says knowingly “He’s ArchLegate A Red general They’re in the dune cities doing aid work, I think”

“They said it was classified”

He nods “Our secret? You haven’t talked to them?”

“Most of the satellites are down Too expensive”

“Because most were blasted out of the sky” He says it like it just happened naturally, not like his father led ten million men in warships down onto the planet I want to hate him I have hated him I hated him when he walked by his mother’s side on the silver carpet, and when I saw hiraphers and journalists swar now to have hated him He’s not so different than Liam—just a boy with circles under his eyes who arden to find a moment’s peace

“May I ask you so, Lyria?” he asks aardly “I don’t kno to ask…” Then don’t “I knohere you’re frorandmother and father won’t tell me much What’s it like? The mines?”

There it is