“Just don’t ask me to clean up the mess,” says Pal, knowing full well that he won’t be able to stop Gideon from gorging her way through the Serena Eterna. They haven’t even gotten to the buffet yet, for goodness sake. As long as she can aim her vomit towards a convenient toilet and she doesn’t do any permanent damage to herself, it’s probably fine. She’ll learn quickly enough. Hopefully.

Palamedes eats his ice cream more slowly, savoring each spoonful. He’s quiet for a few moments, but finally he asks the question that has been on the tip of his tongue since he spotted Gideon across the promenade.

“Did you kill her? The lyctor?”

Did it work? Has Dulcinea been revenged?