The city was quiet. Not peaceful quiet, but nervous quiet. The restaurants were shuttered and doors were bolted. Trash and wine bottles lay scattered around where they had been abandoned. The people of Remas were not unused to civil strife, it was like a spring storm, something that couldn't be avoided but only weathered. Luckily both Kian and Muller were willing to listen to my advice as to the route of march and we were able to avoid quarters that were historically loyal to any particular Triumvir. Occasionally we passed a group of soldiers huddled around a small manor or town house. These were the Republican Guard. In theory they were the soldiers of the Republic, but in practice they were paid for by subscriptions from wealthy merchants and minor nobles, over the years they had become something between private bullies and fire brigades. It was of no surprise at all to find them guarding the homes of their patrons at times like this. For the most part they were beardless boys and old men, and more than one hand trembled on the handle of a crossbow or haft of a pike as we passed.

As we approached the western gate there was an audible sigh of relief. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw the silhouette of the Kestus hill in the waning light. To my surprise I saw a light burning in one of the town houses on the hill. I knew the place to be an old family possession of Marco, but it had been empty for many years as his status had carried him higher than his modest birth.

"The gold..." I murmured to myself. He must have moved it out of the palace. I like to think that I'm not a greedy woman, I'm not some blonde chit from the Altdorf docks, but even a few handfuls would set me up for months. Besides I was going to have to set myself up somewhere new, I had somehow managed to offend ever single one of the Triumvirs, though Romeo probably didn't know that. I glanced at Kian and the Imperials as they picked up speed towards the gate, then slipped across the street and started up the hill.