It feels right, that there’s not a clever idea left in his head.

A few minutes ago, he was rather worried about that. Shameful lack of preparation, you know. Failure in observation. Dereliction of duty. Doom upon us all. Funny, now that they’ve come to it - an assassin loosed, Ember and Mosaic beaten bloody, the ringing screams, no time, no plans - he can’t find room for worry anymore. Not that it’s crowded out. Not that he’s accepted their fate, heavens no. He’s rather far from accepting any of this. There just isn’t a place for cleverness. Not here.

There is the story of Bella Aurelia, who overthrew Artemis, for love.

There is a quiet theater.

[i]“Once upon a time,”[/i]

The lights dim. 

[i]“There was a girl who didn’t know what she was,”[/i]

The screen flickers to life.

[i]“And she lived in a house in the center of the universe.”[/i]

Dolce takes the first step. Ahead of Bella. Towards Bella.

Won’t you follow him?