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This is why I could not look Kalindora in the eye I kneould reht me the Praetorians in the desert How she helped me when my face was a tattered ruin But as she left me to the storm to save herself, so I must leave her behind

“Two can be a very aard number,” Atalantia says carefully

“Not so long as all knoho kneels”

“What a matchmaker you’ve become Rim and Core Lune and Grimmus” She ponders the idea “When the old milkbat sets the crown on your head, don’t take my hand”

That’s nal to whatever sniper lurks in the buildings Whether it is death or life, I will not know until it has happened

There are cheers of relief as we turn together toward the crowd, but the cheers are far too premature Neither Ajax nor Atlas knohat has happened, but down below, Rhone and Glirastes wait for the answer

The White steps forward, her dark face as ancient as her tattered robes Milky eyes watch reen laurel crown My heart thuds inmy vision into a tunnel

“Son of Luna” I barely hear her voice for the blood in s of old You join them in history You join theSun The women who dashed the Atlantic Alliance into the sea You are a Conqueror Accept this laurel as our proclalory”

She sets the laurel on ht hand, open as is the way, to grip invisible destiny Atalantia does not seize it

“Per Aspera…” I say

“…ad Astra!” roars the human sea of Heliopolis

No bullet finds me “Celebrate, my love,” Atalantia whispers “For you have lived before death In the immortal words of Plautus: ‘Let us celebrate the occasion ine and sords’?”

The Triu The sound of rooftop parties and the debauched celebrations of the Core Golds within the Mound itself lap at me as I stand with a cup of wine atop the stairs and watch the Brown and Red creeep the flowers from the Via Triumphia

I sauntlet squeezes my shoulder “Bored of the sycophants already, my love?” she asks On her neck, Hypatia stirs to eyeto her slumber My Gray Praetorians in the shadoatch her Obsidian Ash Guard with their hands on their rifles

We have not yet shared news of our pending union Considering how“As a boy, I alondered how you put up with them,” I say