You always dream of fire.
Theodora stands within it, untouched. The flames do not consume her yet. They await instruction. The law requires judgment.
By statute, hesitation is failure. By duty, mercy is forbidden. And the fire names her guilty.
Verdict rendered not by desire, but by necessity.
Deferred.
Not for lack of evidence.
For excess of consequence.
This judgment binds you as much as it binds her,'
That was what was written in the paper. It was a message to Aurelius and Theodora had just finished reading it. The law requires judgement for her? What the hell was she guilty of?!
She looked back at Aurelius. His eyes were closed, but he kept murmuring under his breath. Whoever had dropped this here wanted to give it to him, so she dropped it back where she picked it up.
