A Man of Honor.

Chapter 79: The Second Triumvirate.

"Can you believe in your country? Those Pezzonovante of the State who decide what we shall do with our lives? Who declare wars, they wish us to fight in to protect what they own. Do you put your fate in the hands of men whose only talent is that they tricked a bloc of people to vote for them?" Vito Corleone, The Godfather II.

The flagship's medic put my leg in a splint and gave Emerald something for her head with the assurance that her aura would see that she suffered no long-term damage. She didn't object much to being examined by the medic but she had been acting pretty numb the entire time. The medic also gave her some drugs that made her drowsy. When our bullhead left the flagship's hanger she was starting to fall asleep, though that didn't keep Neo from keeping a wary eye on her.

"So... what are we going to do with her?" Russel asked, sitting to my left as I stretched out my splinted leg.

"I'm not quite sure." I told him. "We'll have to figure that out later."

"She heard Cinder." Roman said confidently, taking a puff off his cigar.

I nodded, wishing it was that simple for her. But I knew that Cardin would want to help her, so I knew that we would. How much we decided to trust her was the real question, but it was a question that could wait for later. For now she was just a drugged woman sleeping in one of the seats. My mind kept replaying that sad look in her eyes as she lowered the gun atop the airship. It made me hopeful.

Neo rested her head down on my shoulder as we flew. Both of us were exhausted, I certainly wasn't going to be fighting the rest of the night with my leg messed up. I looked out of the little circular window on the side of the craft, watching as we passed over the dark city. The grimm seemed to be lessening, as was the chaos in the streets below, but they hadn't vanished. Here and there I could see signs of fighting, grimm running through the street, pockets of huntsmen and law enforcement fighting, groups of Ironwood's knights marching, bullheads making attack runs.

But despite all of that, I could see that the storm was breaking. I didn't know if that dragon being slain had somehow convinced the grimm, or if their ranks being blasted by the airships had taken the fight out of them, or if there had simply been enough killed. Whatever the reason it seemed that this battle was actually coming to a close.

"I should try to organize things at the Moonstone." I said to Roman. Even with the battle slowing down I was already thinking of a million different things that probably needed my attention, even if I'd have to do with a broken leg behind a desk. "But I think we should fly you to the estate to hide out for a bit."

"I thought we were going to open a bottle of bubbly." Roman told me.

"That can wait... It's possible that once Ironwood and his forces have the chance they'll try to arrest you. It's probably best if you stay somewhere where you can keep your head down." I told him.

"You're probably right." Roman agreed. "How has Gretta been?"

"Busy, the estate had a lot more houseguests than usual." I explained to him. "Sienna and some of her Fang friends stayed there for a while."

"I'll be sure to compensate her." Roman commented. "I certainly missed her tea."

"I'm sure she already has a kettle boiling for you sir." I said with a little smile.

The bullhead dipped down and I looked outside to see the craft lowering to the street just outside the Moonstone. I could see about a half dozen wiseguys outside keeping guard, and I saw a red cloak billowing in the wind with a massive red scythe catching the moonlight.

As the craft lowered itself to the street between the buildings the doors slid open. Roman remained seated, Russel carried Emerald and Neo helped me limp out, giving me her hand as I stepped out onto the street leaning on my cane while my other hand clutched Adam's sheathed blade.