The Listener's Journal -
"I realize now that killing that fool Cicero was an ironic mistake. I cursed him for betraying Astrid, our mistress, the one who represented leadership and family. He must be cackling from his grave, wherever that may be, about this cruel twist that has made Astrid the betrayer instead of the victim. Let him laugh. I will turn this family around, though Nazir's non-cooperation worries me. We should be able to rely on each other now more than ever, and yet I catch myself sometimes watching him for signs of treachery and deceit."
"I regret having to kill the Emperor. He was a wise man and a wise leader. He would have made this empire whole again. The madness of age hadn't affected him, as it sometimes does. His heir is an entirely different matter. I see a pattern. Good rulers often make bad fathers, and this was true in this case. Astius is a fool and a drunkard. The empire will not do well under his rule. I still cannot see what Motierre tried to achieve with this contract. Maybe I should have asked before I killed him."
"Nazir has been even more tiresome than usual. His questions have been annoying and deceptively stupid, and I've seen him whispering with the new recruits, always breaking the conversations up when he sees me approaching. He must be leading me on, trying to make me paranoid, because I refuse to believe he would be so careless. Babette has grown more distant too, ducking away from conversation, not even bothering to hide her disdain. Must I, who was betrayed once, fear this again?"
"Yesterday I made the final arrangements with Mallory for the furnishing of the new Sanctuary. I watched them at their Guild, while Mallory signed my papers, and I was jealous. They weren't the most groomed or refined of people, but they trusted one another. That is something I fear I can never have. Their Second in command, Brynjolf, made me an offer to join. Apparently he valued my skill at sneaking and lockpicking. Maybe I should take up that offer, once things at the Sanctuary are settled and I have devised a way for Mother to pass on the contracts to Nazir directly."
