I make no attempt to sleep. Each time I close my eyes, I see that twisted man’s hands on her body. I see him hungrily inhaling her scent like the fumes of vaporized dream leaves.

I’d heard tales of the imperial family. The kind of stories that were told loud, and with much laughter, by fire in the icy regions–and in hushed whispers nearer the capital.

It’s been said that staying in the eternal sun of the capital, surrounded by luxury and an easy life made the empereals weak. Some became bored, and in that boredom they became mad.

I never saw the Emperor himself, but taking this job brought me close enough to his inner circle that I knew he was not weak or mad. I saw respect in the eyes of his subordinates, and they spoke of him as I’d speak of my former clan chief.

The Magistros is another story. He’s completely mad and decadent. He ordered two his guards to kill themselves and laughed when they obeyed. I told Elsie that she would be better to stay here, but I was wrong. Horribly wrong.

She wouldn't look at me when I took her away from the throne room, when the Magistros shouted to us that he wanted his balls to ache before he released them into his new pet.

I didn’t dare to speak aloud what I’d planned. As I came near the capital, I was always surprised at what these ancient machines could do. Each time I underestimated their abilities, I was nearly killed.

I’ve seen statues three times larger than a man come to life and move as if they lived. I’ve seen a flying machine burn across the sky like a comet, brighter than our dying sun. To think that the Magistros couldn’t hear everything I say would be foolish.

So Elsie will have to hate me and think me weak for now. But not for much longer. The Magistros will not be able to restrain himself for long, and the time to act grows near.

I don’t know how I will get her out of this palace, but I know only that I will die trying.

Why, I do not know. I’ve only ever acted for pay. I abandoned my clan to fight for a better life further in toward the capital. I’ve done well for myself, and I’ve been my own man for many cycles. I took this job for the big payoff, and being trapped in this palace with a mad ruler was not what I’d intended. Still, were it not for Elsie, I know I would not cross him. At worst I would sneak out and never come back when he sent me on some assignment outside the capital. I’d never have betrayed him in the way I plan to now.

I haven’t even smelled Elsie, but something about her urges me to take care of her. Never have I seen something so frail and delicate, and never have I felt such a burning need to fiercely protect. It’s not about money, or even honor, it’s about making sure no harm comes to her, even at great cost to myself.

I wait in the palace’s central courtyard. I’m unarmed, as is required for my position, but I’m ready to kill. Being in the courtyard will mean I see when the Magistros calls for her. HIs chambers are on the imperial wing, while Elsie sleeps with the servants and slaves. If he sends his eunuch or one of his women to fetch her, I will see.

When I finally see the eunuch enter the courtyard, I’m surprised when he walks straight toward me.

“Titus,” he says. “His Magistros’ spear is ready to spill its seed.”

I want to tear his throat out for speaking like that about Elsie, but I hold my tongue.

“She seems to trust you,” the eunuch says. “So your job is to bring her to his chambers. He wants her to appear willing.”

I glare at him. “You want me to convince her?”

The eunuch shrugs and grabs hold of the balls around his neck. “I can’t pretend to understand these things. I see only that she is calm around you. And...the Magistros has eccentric tastes, so he’s ordered you to come with her into the bedchamber.”

I grab the eunch by his balls, pulling the metal necklace tight around his neck. I lean in toward him and growl at him. “What are you saying?”

The eunuch barely manages to croak out, “He likes to be watched.”

I let go of him, and I feel the veins in my neck bulging as my fury flows through me, ice-hot and and pure.

I clear my mind and try to think of a plan. I’m nearly certain I can get Elsie out of the palace–I’ll only have to kill five or six people–but I don’t know how I’ll make it through the capital with someone as beautiful and fragrant as Elsie at my side. I need to steal a mechanical wagon, or better yet a flying machine–and someone who can pilot it.

Then I hear her voice, and I turn to see Domina pulling Elsie by her arm into the courtyard. Cassia is beside her. Elsie is still wearing the strange warpaint all over her face, like a white mask. The red dots accentuate her cheeks, and her hair and crown reminds me of horns, though I find her lack of horns more attractive than even the smallest and most delicate pair of any female of my own kind.

I didn’t want to have to kill Domina or Cassia–I’ve never killed a woman–but I may have to kill them both if I can’t convince the females to help us escape.

“It seems she’s ready. Now convince her,” the eunuch hisses to me.

I look down at the eunuch, considering snapping his neck right now. “I’m a mercenary, not a wizard. I cannot make her want to do what no one would want.”

The eunch leans in toward me. “I heard you earlier, telling her of the horrors outside the capital. She doesn’t have to want him in the way a man with balls wants to drain his spear, but you can make her do it willingly enough...for fear of the alternative.”

So they can hear what I say, even when they aren’t near me. It’s good I kept my mouth shut.

“She knows only the horrors of the Magistros,” I say, meeting his eyes, and daring him to say otherwise. “Whatever is outside here couldn’t be worse than the Magistros.”

It’s risky for me to speak so poorly of the man who has paid me so generously, but I can’t imagine anyone as cool headed as the eunuch doesn’t see what I see in the Magistros.

He smiles and nods, not seeming to mind what I’ve said. He gestures with his head toward Elsie. “Convince her, or she will just be speared against her will by the Magistros’ full force and madness. It’s better if she at least submits. It will be less painful, surely.”

It takes all my force of will to not kill him there. How can he serve this madman? How can any of these people? I’ve often done terrible things for good pay, but I’ve always known the jobs would be over soon, and I’d move onto something else that could wash the taste out of my mouth. I can’t imagine living in this corrupt palace and serving the Magistros for a lifetime. Giving my balls to serve him.

I turn my back on the eunch and approach Elsie. She looks away from me as soon as she sees me approaching. She still hasn’t forgiven me.

“Elsie,” I say. I try to make my voice sound softer, but it’s distorted through the mask.