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Did she think of hiedy of death is that I cannot ask, and her secret dies with her

Theodora is dead

The Obelisk rises, stained red all along the bottorooves People from the crowd rush forward to dip their kerchiefs and banners in the blood troughs They wave them around as Servilla au Arcos, Alexandar’s uered contempt Then the rerisly hook She shouts soain

Does Alexandar feel it on Mercury?

When all have been executed, th

e ie disappears

I hear voices moments later as the circus comes to the courtroom A dozen aides swirl around Publius, exultant with their newfound power What dreams these Vox must have What fools to think it comes for free ArchImperator Zan, surrounded by her own staff, walks with Publius

“Your agents missed their opportunity,” Zan says to Publius The Blue looks at lares back at the Copper “I advised you to use Dunhul instead of your mercenaries”

“If you weren’t so paranoid of Mars, ouldn’t be in this position”

Zan sneers “The Reaper’s brother runs two-thirds of Mars, the Obsidian bitch runs the other third, and you say I am paranoid?”

“He only runs Mars because your h ArchGovernor O’Sicyon As for the Obsidian, we knohom to blame”

They look at me

“We have h helium to act before we take the ustus armada is on its way here Turn your eyes to that, Zan I will deal with Mars”

After Zan departs, Publius dismisses his staff to the far wall and looks at n of evil Even now it is a pleasant face A s nose to add dra cold and distant, flicker with excitement

“Apologies, Virginia,” the Incorruptible says “I am sorry it came to this If your child had only been delivered to me as requested, we could have spared you this traue is not always pretty”