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Hours after their near miss with the Giants while procuring Hanna's rescue, Timonus and the members of the Lupa Faction arrived at the edge of the sparse forest of Odalia, positioning themselves so close to the White Palace that they could actually see its eastern walls from where they stood. But despite their apparent readiness, Timonus was making them wait - though he had yet to give them a reason.
Timonus was at a mental crossroads as he stared up at the white walls. There was something in him, a fear of some kind, preventing him from moving forward but he couldn't identify it.
Camilla walked away from the group and joined him in staring up at the wall, "Legate, I must say, I do not envy your position."
He nodded slightly, "Right now, neither do I."
"While I would never make it a point to question your judgment, I do wonder what it is that we are waiting for?"
He inhaled deeply, "I'm not sure, Camilla. I feel... uneasy but I'm not sure about what."
Her voice sounded slightly apprehensive as she asked, "The lookouts say the Gigantes are closing the gap between us. Are you not concerned for your men? Shouldn't we warn them?"
He looked upon the ground, "Yes, though I know that the minute we step foot into Odalia the life that I've known for nearly three decades will be over." He looked over at her, "I'm also asking a lot of you and the others. Almost certainly we will lose lives today but is it worth it?"
"Well, Legate, that is our choice to make - not yours." She looked at him thoughtfully, "But I think that is not the only thing that bothers you."
Timonus looked at her curiously as she continued, "I think it is the fear of what will become of your friend, the Emperor."
He nodded but said nothing.
"He must have been a great man to have you still supporting him. What was he like before?"
"Well," Timonus began, "it's hard to say. He was always arrogant... spoiled, entitled but never needlessly cruel. If anything, he seemed apathetic and unconcerned towards any affairs of state." He looked at her, "That's the thing that I do not understand. These laws and these ideas in his head are recent manifestations!"
She shrugged and said off-handedly, "Maybe he is ill?"
He looked at her, slightly alarmed, "I... I never considered that a possibility. Do you think he could be?"
"Has anything else been odd with his behavior?"
"He complains of headaches, constant headaches - and stomach issues. He never sleeps anymore, either. Says he speaks with the Two Brothers all night long-"
"He's being poisoned," Hannah spoke up at last from behind them.
"What?" They both turned to face her.
She looked uncomfortable under their scrutiny as she and the Legate had not actually spoken since her rescue, "The Emperor, from what you've just said, the headaches, stomach cramps - he's being poisoned."
He eyed her warily, "Are you sure of this?"
She grew a bit bolder as she asked, insolently, "You would ask a venefica if she's sure that someone is being poisoned?"
"But, if this is true, is there anything that can be done? Can he be cured?"
She shook her head, "It all depends on what poison it is and at what stage."
He looked back at the wall, "Then I suppose we'll need to find out."
A Sword Of Wrath, Book I: Blood And Dust Page 32