“I didn't hear anything about any nobles being brought before the courts,” I say.
Marcus shrugs.“This was something that called for a subtle touch.”
He seems to have that.Marcus has friends everywhere we go and political connections that run throughout the city.He's much more comfortable working within these strings of favors and bribes than I am.I can't deny in this case he's done it to try to help someone, but sometimes I wonder if he isn't perpetuating a system that is ultimately worse for the city even in his attempts to do good.
Marcus raises my hand to his lips, kissing my fingers.“You're thinking far too hard about all this, Lyra.How about if for now we both forget about being senators, both forget about everything going on in the city, and we just enjoy each other's company?”
“I can try,” I say.Because I like spending time with Marcus.I like so many things about him.It's so easy to fall into romantic moments with him.I lean across the table to kiss him lightly, not caring if anyone sees us.
As I pull back, I see a crier striding through the entertainment district.I would expect him to announce some grand piece of theater, except that he's wearing the colors of the city.
“Citizens of Aethria!”he bellows.“I stand before you to announce a new chapter in the games of the colosseum.”
Those words catch me by surprise, because I haven't heard about any such new chapter.
“Before, the games had the Champions’ Trials.Now they shall have the Champions’ Challenge, a contest of skill and bravery, in which gladiators will not just be tested in contests against one another but will have to take on more elaborate challenges, in which the arena will be reshaped for every contest.”
The words hit me hard.I took part in the Champions’ Trials, in which rather than just normal fights, we were forced to take on one another even as we tried to deal with obstacles and mazes, creatures and traps.It was something a step beyond even the violence of the normal games, and now it seems that a version of it is coming to the city.
“What's going on?”I demand of Marcus.
“I was going to save it to be a surprise,” he said.“I know you fought in the Champions’ Trials.I thought that this might be a way to inject more excitement into the Colosseum without the need for more blood.We can have gladiators fighting across obstacles, fighting with tame beasts hemming them in.There would be multiple rounds, and the fights would produce a champion of the arena.”
“And you didn't tell me about any of this?”I say.“There hasn't been a vote on this that I know of.”
“The other members of the senate agree with it,” Marcus says.“Enough of them, at least.And as a former champion, it's not something you could exactly be impartial about.”
He says that as though it's a reason for keeping me out of the decision-making process rather than making sure I have a voice.
“So this is going ahead without me even getting any say on it?”I say.
Marcus’ hand covers mine.“I thought you'd be pleased.If we give the people more excitement in the games, they won't call for so much violence.This could be good for everyone, Lyra.”
It doesn't feel like it, and I'm not sure I believe Marcus' explanation.It feels as though I was sidelined precisely because everyone knew I wouldn't agree with it.More and more, I feel control over the games slipping away from me.
I'm worried about them now almost as much as Alaric.We might choose very different methods, but at least he's against the slow escalation of violence within the arena.At least he sees the dangers of it rather than constantly trying to show me the benefits.He would have given me a choice.
Marcus hasn't, and now it seems I must attend some new and even more elaborate form of the games.I must stand there and smile during the Champions’ Challenge, and hope against hope that no one is killed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Let the games begin!”
I wince as I sit in the emperor's box in the Colosseum while Marcus stands at the front, looking impressive in his toga.Although it seems that's become trimmed with gold now, an affectation for the Champions Challenge.
He was right about this being popular.The Colosseum is full to the brim, and we could have filled it twice over because there are still crowds outside.The noise of so many people is almost overwhelming.
“You can see what's set out before you,” Marcus says, gesturing to the floor of the arena.
There's a series of obstacles there, such as walls and balance beams, steps, and hanging bars.
“The gladiators will enter two by two.The goal is to get to the other side faster than their opponent.Of course, they can do anything they wish to slow their foes down.”
Meaning that it will be a mixture of a race and a fight across the obstacles.It's the kind of thing that would have found a place in the Champions’ Trial, only there the aim would have been to hunt and defeat an opponent, fighting to the death.I try to tell myself that at least that isn't the aim here.That much is better.
“And now our first gladiators,” Marcus says.“Entering from this side of the arena, Talon!”
The crowd roars as a tall, muscular man with a shaggy mane of hair steps into the Colosseum.He's barely wearing any armor, in an uncomfortable reminder of how much the protections have been reduced.He carries a hatchet in either hand, each attached to his wrist with a loop of leather.
