‘Slaving away under some fat master for years while he takes credit for everything you do would be soul-crushing,’ Timo reasoned as he dropped silently next to us. How do you drop silently from six feet? Spending most nights prowling the dangerous rooftops of the Capital is how Timolen developed the skill. He also had an uncanny ability to disappear into a shadow. Timo claimed no magical abilities, but the rest of us were not so sure. ‘At least as a Praefectus Fabrum you get better pay and can order all the Fabri around.’ 

‘My reasoning exactly!’ I beamed at Timo. He did not beam back. Timo never beamed – it would detract from his sinister air. 

‘This is going to end very badly. I can already feel it,’ grumbled Septimus. I laughed; Timo did not. 

‘So, Timo, you’ve never told us your plans once you leave the palatial settings of COB House. Any grand designs?’ I was still in an exceedingly good mood. 

‘I am going to get paid to kill Patricians,’ and he said it low and evenly with no inflection.