“If it comes to that, you haven’t got any chances,” Raesinia said. “I’m offering you a bargain, and it’s only good for the next few minutes. Either tell your people to stand down, right now, or die, right now. Not imprisonment, not a trial, no second chances.” Raesinia leaned closer. “I will borrow a knife from Sothe and drive it into your fucking eye. Get it?”

He was silent for a moment, sizing her up. Kellerman’s sword came up again, until Raesinia glanced in his direction, at which point he became so flustered he dropped the thing entirely.

“You know I’ll do it,” Raesinia said. “After all, I’d only be returning the favor.”

“I believe I stabbed you in the heart,” Maurisk murmured. “Which, as Dr. Sarton tells us, is the seat of all sensation, and thus produces a painless death.”

“We can compare notes afterward,” Raesinia said. “But I’m certain you’re going to disappoint me and take the other option.”

“I am, am I?” Maurisk said. “Why is that?”

“Because you’re a coward,” Raesinia said bluntly. “You always were. You were happy to write speeches and print pamphlets, while Faro and Ben and I did anything the least bit dangerous. Then, when you finally had a chance to enact your beloved principles, you ignored them the moment they were a threat to your position.”

“I had a fucking war to fight,” Maurisk said, voice slurring a bit. “That doesn’t get me any credit?”

“Not with me. I don’t blame you for hating me. You have every right to that. I might hate me, in your position. But you made it about more than just me.” Raesinia lowered her voice. “There was a young woman, standing next to me, the day of the executions. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I had to pull her son off her body.” He’d grow up without a mother. Nobody deserves that. Another victim, another life ruined by standing too close to Raesinia Orboan.

“—you made it about everyone—” Maurisk was saying, but Raesinia was suddenly tired of the game. It had felt good, coming in here and having her say, but in the end it didn’t matter. It certainly won’t do Claudia and Emil any good.

“Enough,” she cut him off. “We’re done here. Are you going to call them off, or do I need to find a knife?”

Maurisk met her eyes for a moment longer, then looked away.

*   *   *

“Zacaros? Zacaros, are you out there?”

The pounding on the door stopped, and after a pause a deep voice answered, “President Maurisk?”

“You and your men are to stand down. Lay down your arms and leave the hotel. Send messages to the rest of the Guard. The fighting is over.”