I can't believe it has already been five months.

Corvo took another look out of the Tower window. The Wrenhaven stretched off into the distance as a track for the body carts ran alongside it. There was still so much to accomplish. Even with Piero and Anton now working together, the plague was still rampant in many districts of the city, and the cure couldn't be created fast enough. Anton insisted that he could get the cure produced and perfected more quickly, but Emily forbade him from using her citizens in any more experiments, despite how "expedient" such methods could have been.

Speaking of which, it was time to attend to Her Majesty. As he strode to the Empress' study, he considered the political climate. Corvo worried about Emil, even with Campbell exiled from the Abbey, Burrows awaiting trial, and Havelock imprisoned as well. The nobles never gave up on their ambitions, each scheming to fill the voids left by the old Spymaster's regime, then that of the Loyalists. Each posturing and preening, hoping to gain Emily's support, promising empty favors. In the end, nothing changed for the politics but the faces saying the lies.

Things would never be the same, though. The Isles were badly affected by the plague, and it would take time to repair the relations between the disparate regions. People took the opportunity to test Emily's reign. She had yet to choose a new Lord Regent, and until then, many saw her rule as vulnerable. Some saw chance to depose a child, others the chance to become her advisor and gain power. None knew that she was still a scared 11 year old girl that cried herself to sleep each night. The servants believed Emily wept for her people, for the weight of a crown thrust on her, and for the trials faced daily. Only two people knew the truth behind her tears. That she cried over the death of her mother, brutally taken from her in front of her eyes. Callista tried her best to ease the pain when she could. And Corvo was there in those late hours to put her back to rest. He knew her pain. They were the only ones that understood how it felt.

Corvo slowed just outside the doors to the study. Emily wasn't holding court at this hour of the morning. Her schedule had become much stricter now that she was Empress. Mornings were spent with tutoring and lessons on the Isles, Callista's patience being tested every day. Even Callista had to admit the lessons became easier now that they were not required to hide in the dilapidated tower of an old pub. Afternoons were spent in the court, either listening to Parliament or hearing the cases of the people. Obviously the nobles tried to press their cases as the most important, but in an unprecedented move, Emily allowed merchants and people of the lower classes to come and have their cases heard as well. None of the rich and affluent enjoyed being mixed with such "rabble", as they called it, but they never said anything like that in front of her.

Corvo pondered the situation. While there was never any evidence to connect him to the "Masked Man", there were more than a few whispers regarding his position of Lord Protector for not one, but two Empresses, and his mysterious pardon from guilt. Some still accused him as being Jessamine's killer. Others that he was Emily's father. And the gossip only grew stronger as he resumed his post, and Emily constantly asked him for advice. He addressed none of those rumors. His service may have been to the office of the Empress, but his loyalty was to the little girl sitting in that office.

Corvo knocked on the doors, a muffled "Enter" coming from the other side. He edged into the room, revealing books sprawled out over the central table. Instantly recognized were some maps and diagrams, each detailing the direction of trade and common travel within the city.

"So you're saying that the plague reports stated infection spreading fastest along these routes?" Emily inquired.

Callista nodded, "Yes, your Majesty."

"I've told you before Callista, you don't need to call me that in private."

"I know, but I do it so that you can grow used to hearing it at all times. It is who you are now."

Corvo smiled at the exchange. It was like this every day, Emily trying to allow people to act relaxed with her, but Callista constantly acting in a manner that she believed would best school the young ruler. Corvo himself referred to Emily as "your Majesty" just as regularly. At first it hurt the girl, until she saw the gleam in his eye. She knew that she would now always be Empress, but to Corvo, she would also be that little girl that insisted on playing hide-and-seek each day.

"So if the plague spread across these primary lines of travel, would it make sense to administer Anton and Piero's cure along the same lines?"

Callista knitted her brow, "It may work, your Majesty, though you do realize the plague was spread by living things? The cure can't be spread by the rats themselves."

Emily's gaze wandered, her mind lost in thought.

"Your Majesty?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry, I was just wondering if there may be a way for our two geniuses to make that happen. It would be much more convenient than having our men out distributing it themselves. Anyway, I believe I would like to meet with General Curnow to start organizing guards to administer the cure. If Burrows used these roads to spread the plague, I will use them to be rid of it."

"As you wish. I will send a message to him later this day." Callsita said. There was a note of pride in her voice. Corvo thought it was because of her uncle now occupying such a highly ranked and trusted position, as head of the City Watch. He had to admit, Callista was right about him, Geoff Curnow was indeed a "good man". He inspired trust in the guards under his command, and goodwill in the people he served. The fact that he did not respond to either the bribes or threats of the aristocracy was just as impressive.

But he then realized that Callista's pride was not in her uncle. It was in Emily, her student and Empress. The zeal with which Emily wanted to help her people, great and small, was inspiring. And while the nobles did not like it, the commoners already looked to her for direction. The Empress, in turn looked to him for guidance. So much pressure and responsibility, unjustly thrust onto her. He tried his best to relieve it. Today, unfortunately, would not be one of those days.

Corvo cleared his throat to gain their attention.

The ruler and tutor turned to face him, both a little surprised at how they had forgotten his entrance.

"I apologize for interrupting your deliberations, Milady, but I have an urgent matter to discuss with you. In private, if you will."

Emily looked a bit puzzled. Why would Corvo wish to talk alone? He is always willing to speak freely in front of Callista. "Yes, of course." She turned to Callista. "If you would, kindly deliver my request for a meeting with General Curnow now. I know you said you would do so this afternoon, but the sooner the better."

"Of course, your Majesty." Callista did a slight curtsey and then left the room, giving the Lord Protector a quizzical glance as she left. As always, the man's face was inscrutable. She gave an inwards sigh as she closed the study door.

Emily fixed her gaze on her guardian. "What is this about Corvo? You never ask to see me in private these days, I always come to you if I need your help."

Corvo took a deep breath, knowing how difficult this next part would be. "It is about the man who killed your mother."

Emily's breath hitched in her throat. The man who killed her mother. His face was frozen in her mind's eye. The short hair, the angular cut of his face, the cold eyes. At times it was his face that woke her up at night. "What of him? You told me he had fled the city with the rest of his band."

Corvo lowered his gaze. "He owes me a debt. I spared his life, but on a condition. He knew, as I did, that I could have taken his life. I didn't. Instead, I let him live. When he asked me why, I made it clear. Just as he was a weapon used by Burrows, I am a blade held by the Kaldwin's. First your mother, and now you."

He looked up into Emily's eyes. "As such, his fate was not mine to judge, but for you to decide. Today I have called in this debt. He wishes to meet you, for this purpose." As Corvo finished his words, the thoughts swirling through Emily's head were clear to see. She never wanted the power to take a life, and hated seeing Corvo called an assassin. But this man haunted her thoughts, both waking and sleeping. And he had killed her mother.

"I will see him. Now. I'm sure you have a way to contact him. Tell him to meet me where we first met each other, all that time ago." Her voice was strained, whether between fear or anger, he could not tell.

"As you wish, your Majesty." Corvo strode toward the door, intent on contacting Daud and clearing the Tower roof so their meeting could be in private. He stopped at the entrance. "Before I forget, I believe you should listen to these before meeting with the man." Corvo held up two slips of audiograph machine paper, and placed them next to the appropriate machine.

"And what are they, exactly?"

"Perspective, your Majesty."