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My respect for the rows As does Kalindora’s, it seems

“There is yourto strike at Venus, As over a delusional suicide Why, I daresay we shan’t ever need bring the fight to the Riet them to all lie to one another, their honor will take care of the rest!”

“Romulus was an Iron Gold,” I say “Honorable by any measure”

“Several steps short, it seems,” Ajax corrects

“He deserves your respect,” I snap “Or at the very least the courtesy of not laughing before his progeny”

The militant Falthe finally breaks his silence “I will not be lectured about honor by a scarless boy, noman Romulus slew my sister He drew his blade across her belly until her spine cut down the one ru”

“You ask us to respect Romulus, Lysander?” Atalantia asks “Respect for a ood? Respect for the fool whose very rebellion allowed for the Reaper to rise? Respect for the traitor who fought side by side with the slave hordes at Ilium? Who forsook his duty so terribly that even his own brother could not stand at his side?” She wags a slender finger at me “I think you’re still lost, Lysander Or are you as mad as them? What do you think, nephew?”

Ajax tongues his teeth in contemplation “He doesn’t look mad”

“So you’re not mad,” Atalantia says She co “Then what are you? Confused? Did they torture you?” Her eyes flick to Diomedes and Seraphina “Was it the brute? Or the dusty little mouse? We’ll peel them apart if you like Put them on one of Atlas’s poles”

“You need an ally to tip the scales”

She frowns “No All I needed was ied his conventional retreat Apologies, war For a hybrid foe, you need a hybrid warrior I have turned the tide, Lysander My agents spread poison in the enemy’s citadel Atlas spreads it to the cradle of their birth Soon the rabble will slaughter one another We need no traitors here We are upon the cusp of victory”

I search their faces and find nothing but arrogant isolation Each is barricaded behind their oer and prejudice It is warranted Some recall relatives lost in the Rim’s two rebellions Many believe in the cultural superiority of the Core But all remember the taxes the Rim’s rebellions cost them

They cannot stand to admit the Rim would be helpful So they must be humbled first It would be far easier had I battles to ions at my call A scar on my face But the tools I do possess are not exactly toothless

“Perhaps you are right Perhaps you do not need the Ri look “…if you have all you need, then why are there so ed by the Battle of Caliban?” I ask “Orion did not go doithout a fight Why not send the crippled ships back to the Dockyards of Venus for retrofit?” I look around innocently No one answers “Unless there is some reason you cannot? Perhaps the Minotaur did nus after he was freed by Darrow Did he, by chance, take the dockyards while he was on Venus?”

“You little sche weasel!” Asmodeus cries “How could he possibly know that?”