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I barely recognize the man I once called “brother”

Only the long lashes of his eyes are the same

In the eleven years since I last saw him, his plump features, often an item of hushed ridicule on the Palatine, have e so surly, so passionate, so ht, in a drunken mo his own utter jealousy

Octavia was always disappointed in her little genetic experienetic union of Aja and Atlas au Raa, is a masculine specimen

By the phalera that bedeck Ajax’s armor, I see he has already fulfilled his childhood dreanifying the office of Storate infantry commander

With my scarless face and hts, I feel my ten-year absence more acutely than ever

“You are the man who claims to be Lysander au Lune,” Ajax sneers

“Ajax” Mistaking his tone for banter, I reach to embrace him The Stained block nize me?”

Ajax’s eyes narrow to slits “Test him with the Manteío”

In Greek, it means “oracle” I’ve played with oracles before My heart sinks Then a Pink slave glides forward to presentcreatures, but with a black ed with serpents In the center of the orb is an upturned needle

“A drop of blood, if it please the dominus”

Though it randmother’s oracles, I suffer no delusions The needle will be coated with a DNA-coded poison If I prove an imposter, ned by the cruelest of Venusian alchemists—the best of which Atalantia has on permanent retainer Even if I prove my identity, the fate may be the same

The fact that Atalantia has ence operations Owing to two sophisticated poisonings of Sovereigns and one dreadful incident of cloning, uards their DNA as if it were life itself

Why else would we convince the rest of the Aureate to e the deceased into the sun? Because it looks pretty? Nothing is to be left behind

I prick a thumb with the needle