“Oh, Tomos, Matthews has given hope to the Republic,” Callahan prayed. “Judgement was slow for the thief who came from Zistreotov, but in the end his system paid, the population paid. Judgement was slow to disentangle Ydna from Kcokaep. Slow but sure. She that wielded a treacherous weapon has attracted your retribution, Tomos.”
“Come, Callahan,” said Matthews, returning to the great hall and beckoning the priest to follow her. “See the corpses of my begetter’s murderers, our president, Kirkland. They plundered when they were alive and shared the presidency, each other and the wealth of the Republic. Now they share death. They swore an oath to butcher my begetter. They swore an oath to live and die together. How happy they must be that they have fulfilled all of their oaths. Who will judge
