The news reached the Serpent Society before the Penitentiary knew exactly what had happened to its transport.
Noctis stood in the Year Five lounge with one hand pressed against the edge of the table while a projection flickered above it. The image showed the wrecked transport, broken trees, dead Extractors and a road blackened by lightning.
One body had been thrown so far from the vehicle that the investigator speaking through the projection had to move the feed twice just to show where it landed.
Noctis's face remained calm until the report ended. Then his hand tightened.
The table cracked beneath his palm.
"The Terrible Three are gone."
Oden looked up from the couch. Reon stopped adjusting the thin frame of his glasses. Several lower Serpents shifted around the room, suddenly very interested in saying nothing.
