Solokov volunteered to take the bottom room, where there was plenty of space. That left Corvo with a slightly more cramped space upstairs. A bed and some dusty furniture. It was adequate for his purposes.
Once Holmes returned, he instructed Mary to prepare some food. He also presented Solokov with some expensive whisky and left him to drink himself into a peaceful slumber.
"Worry not for him. Mary's a good maid."
"She's a maid?"
"We have rude company sometimes."
As they ascended to the room, Corvo could see the light of dawn breaking through. It cast a bright orange-red glow across the horizon, seeming to set the entire city of Dabokva aflame. The ships in the harbor gently stirred as the waves came crashing against their sides. The sound of activity could be heard as the people slowly awoke from their slumber and got about their business.
Holmes tapped Corvo on the shoulder. He pointed to a large building in the center of town, overlooking all. Straddling the building was a great arch with a mural painted on the side in vivid colors. In the center was a young man of roughly thirty-six years of age, dressed in a fur cloak adorned with a gem bearing the royal crest. To his left stood General Barakhin, wearing a Dabokvian military uniform of dark blue, hand on his sword. To the right stood a younger woman in a sleeker uniform with her hand on the young man's throne. Next to Barakhin was a man in a suit straight from the tailors of Dunwall holding his right hand inside his coat. Next to the woman was some sort of doctor or natural philosopher in a rumpled suit. His glasses reminded Corvo of Pietro. In great big letters across the top and bottom of the mural, it read: "TYVIA'S LIBERATORS FROM THE TYRANNY OF THE EMPIRE. EVERY TYVIAN MUST SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF THE MOTHERLAND."
"Alexis had that hideous portrait put up to celebrate his ascension. For me, it's a reminder of what's at stake. Imagine every other province of the Empire entertaining such foolish notions of freedom."
"Who's the woman?"
"Lieutenant Zhukov. The one who tried to catch you at the port. She and Barakhin have an...understanding. She helps him keep Alexis in line."
"Where is she now?"
"The Bulwark. The military school founded by Euhorn Kaldwin the First. Now it'll be used to turn out fine new officers for Barakhin's armies."
"And who are the other two?"
"The merchant is Dimitri Eschevin. He's the one who persuaded Barakhin to turn on the Empress. His business reaches into all corners of Tyvia, and his gold funds the rebellion. The other man is Mikhail Vyklan. A doctor in name only. They say he has a special room at the top of the public hospital in Dabokva where he tortures the "enemies" of the rebellion."
"Where's Barakhin?"
"You will not get to him while his allies remain in control of the city. I have a plan to deal with each of them, and now that I have the Royal Protector, things are much easier than I had anticipated. We will start with Vyklan."