“Ah—possibly, ma’am,” said Ana.
“I’d encourage it. The conclusion of your investigation will no doubt be interpreted as a good omen, and your presence will boost morale. Which we need now, of course. Very much.”
“Understood.”
Vashta sighed once more. “Captain Strovi has volunteered for the firing crew of the massive bombard. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen, of course…He is valiant to excess, I find. Perhaps you all can grant him a blessing of your own at the banquet.”
“I shall go, of course,” said Miljin. He yawned yet again. “Though I should like to find a bed first.”
“And Din will be there,” said Ana. She bowed her blindfolded head low. “I thank you for your approval, ma’am. We shall leave you to attend to more important affairs.”
* * *
—
“BANQUET?” I asked Ana as we crossed the central atrium of the Iudex tower.
“The Banquet of Blessings,” Ana said, gripping my arm. “An old religious rite practiced before facing a titan. They haven’t done one in years—usually the wall and our artillery are enough—but this time is different. The Legion must wait for a titan to come to the breach, fire the giant bombard, and kill it dead in one shot, plugging the gap. All hands that touch the bombard must be blessed, then. It should be a very interesting affair. Ritual celebration. Lots of smokes. Lots of animal bloods, and wine and chanting. You will go in my stead.”
“Afraid I don’t feel much like banqueting after that, ma’am,” I said.
“Ahh…you don’t feel any of this satisfies, either, Din?”
“No,” I said.
We started up the stairs. The sight of Jolgalgan’s corpse swaying in the dappleglass lingered in my mind.
“Suberek and Aristan, ma’am,” I said, “have not found justice.”
“No,” she said. “They have not.”
“The ten Engineers have not found justice.”
“That is so.”
“And the canton can’t spare a care for it, it seems. Not with the leviathan coming. Feels wrong.”
“It feels wrong because it is wrong, Din,” she said. “Civilization is often a task that is only barely managed. But harden your heart and slow your blood. The towers of justice are built one brick at a time. We have more to build yet.”
I helped her up the last steps. “You don’t think it’s really over?”
“Hell no,” said Ana. “I don’t think Jolgalgan was looking to damage the Empire. I think her killing of Blas and Kaygi Haza was personal. I just don’t yet know why. And then there’s what Ditelus said…‘He did it to her, didn’t he?’？”
I opened the door for her. “I take it you don’t think it was the twitch who poisoned Jolgalgan, ma’am.”
“Of course not. The twitch doesn’t kill with dappleglass. So Jolgalgan’s death either really was an accident—something I consider unlikely—or it was someone else. Possibly this third poisoner, whom I worry about. Fearing they were to be caught, they sabotaged Jolgalgan’s lab, and when she fired up all her brewing kits, she poisoned herself—and then Ditelus, when he came to check on her. And they left us a neat little story.” She sat at the open window, blindfolded, and tilted her head, listening to the churning city below. It was the one time I’d ever seen her expose herself to such stimulation. “The city awakes, and empties…with some going east, to fight, but many more going west, to flee. Yet you and I shall stay here, Din. We shall stay until the work is done. And it is very nearly done. Yet I must now think.” Fumbling, she shut the window, and the room was veiled in darkness. “A third…” she whispered.
“Pardon?”
“A third—that was what you overheard Fayazi Haza saying as well. Someone from her clan was looking for a third…For a long while, I thought they meant the third poisoner, the one I now suspects exists. But now I am unsure.”
“Then…what are we to do, ma’am?”
“I…I will do what I do best.” She sat on the bed. “I will think. But you—you should go to the banquet, Din.”
“Beg pardon, ma’am. But I don’t—”
“Yes, yes, don’t feel like banqueting. But a Banquet of Blessings is a profoundly rare occurrence. More so, Vashta has specifically requested we be there. Since she’s basically the dictator of the canton, it would be wise to keep her on our side. I will have use of her soon. And besides, you’ve had a horrid few days, and I think you need reminding of what the Empire is even for.”