Serena Butler?
 
She glared at him. At least she didn't deny it. How did you know?
 
After capturing you, Barbarossa inspected the wreckage of your vessel. There were many clues aboard. You are fortunate the cymeks never needed to interrogate you in further detail. He glanced at his electronic notes. We know you are the daughter of Viceroy Manion Butler. Were you trying to hide your identity out of fear that Omnius might use you in some sort of blackmail scheme? I assure you, that isn't the way the evermind thinks. Omnius would never have considered such a thing.
 
She raised her chin defiantly. My father would never surrender a centimeter of territory, no matter what the machines do to me.
 
Yes, yes, you're all very brave, I am sure. Iblis gave her a wry smile, meant to be comforting. The rest is up to the robot Erasmus. He has requested that you be assigned to his villa. He has taken a particular interest in your circumstances. That's a good sign.
 
He wishes to help me?
 
I wouldn't go that far, he said with a hint of humor. I'm sure Erasmus wants to talk with you. And talk and talk and talk. In the end, it's quite likely he will drive you mad with his famous curiosity.
 
Iblis instructed other slaves to clean and properly reclothe this female, and they followed the trustee's orders as if he were a machine himself. Although her mannerisms exuded hostility and resentment, Serena Butler did not waste effort on pointless resistance. She had a brain, but her intelligence and spirit were bound to be crushed before long?