LATTIMER’S NOT GOING to stop cleaving once you hand yourself over,” Simon said. “I’m aware of that.” Her hands gripped the edge of the counter, despite her even tone. “But it will buy us time. Allow the rest of the Free Walkers to continue their work, and serve as a show of good faith. Randolph promised publicly to end the Tacet. By honoring our word as he breaks his, we show the Walkers we’re committed to our beliefs.” “You’ll show them an execution,” Simon shot back. “I’m too valuable to execute. I’m rich in secrets, and he won’t want to squander them.” “What a comfort,” I said. “In the meantime, the Free Walkers will attack, just as the Consort is feeling smug and victorious. That’s always been their problem; they assume people are irreplaceable. But the only one who’s irreplaceable is you, Simon.” “And his Original,”
