Now and truly dead, the man fell backwards, landing on the floor beside Zardria. Now she could move; she scrambled away. Caelum helped her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, his sword on the ground. She was shaking.
Lares had re-holstered his pistol; now he walked up to them. He kicked the foot of Lord Exsil Vis; there was no response. His gaze darted across the room and Zardria's followed, where her sister lay dead. For some reason she felt her heart twist in pain.
"It's over then," the Vocan said, and she nodded.
"Find the Admiral and tell her, if you would, Lares," Zardria said, surprised to find her voice so steady. Lares bowed and left the room.
Her eyes hadn't left Yarrow's prone form. She found herself walking to the corpse, then, and standing at Yarrow's head. The wom
