There was only one way to be certain the Emperor wouldn’t pursue us. We had to kill the Emperor.

Kordas fumbled with a pen and the papers in the folders, then gave up to spend another few moments with his eyes closed. Finally he said, awkwardly, “Can you please find me some blank paper? And take that body on the floor and put it in the Emperor’s bed.”

One of the Dolls extracted paper from somewhere behind him and placed it on the desk in front of him. Others dragged the body away. There was, surprisingly, very little blood. And very little else. The Emperor must have used the jakes before he’d sat down to meet with them.

Poised with pen above the paper, Kordas’s hand shook. “Beltran. Come—come help me here. Star—you too.” He felt queasy, but it had to be because of the enormity of what they’d just done. He took up the pen again and scrawled out:

As of now, and forever on, all vrondi are free.

He dated the paper, and turned the Imperial ring face-down on the page and pressed. The seal burned in. Tiredly, but with a hint of a smile, he said to Star, “Is that official enough for you?”

“The Record Keeper says that all Dolls are free of Imperial compulsion now. Our appreciation is immeasurable, my Lord.”

Kordas laughed a little. “You don’t have to keep calling me that, Star.”

“I don’t have to, my Lord. But I want to.”

Kordas knew there was still much to be done, but he did indulge himself for a moment in the feeling of wearing the Crown and sitting at the desk. It didn’t feel good at all. In fact, it felt repugnant. He heaved as he pushed himself away from the desk, knocking the chair over and stumbling. He felt the hands of Merrin, Beltran, and Star steadying him. This—this was not who he was.

“We have much to do, yet, and the Plan is still underway. Star, I know that every Doll is free now, but if you all wouldn’t be opposed, I’d still like your help.” Star nodded, so he continued. “Release the vrondi from the Trap, then break the damnable thing for good. Get the prisoners on their way. Release every prisoner held in the dungeons and holding cells, and get them to safety. And—let’s take everything in here that’s magical. Same for the Imperial quarters. We may need their power to fuel the Gates. Get them to Valdemar.”

He looked at Merrin. “If you approve, Duke.”

Merrin allowed himself a chuckle. “I’m a feather pulled along in your wake at this point, Kordas. Am I going to oppose the man who killed an Emperor?”

Kordas glanced to Beltran and replied, “We all got our shots in.”

Beltran still wore the bracers and had the pair of Spitters tucked in. “Might just keep these, if there’s no objection.”

Kordas said, “I don’t know. Last time you fired them, you shot an Emperor.”