I'm worried about what he has planned, though, worried about what his supporters might do.What would it take to stop the games?I start to run through the city, dodging around people as I go.My sandals clatter on the cobbles as I make my way towards the Colosseum, hoping I can reach it before anything dangerous happens.
What might Alaric be about to do?I hope it won’t be anything violent.I don’tthinkit will be, and if I did, I would have gone to Rowan with the message Alaric sent me.Even for Alaric, I won’t let people be hurt.
But his last stunt wasn't about violence.It was about speaking out, trying to get people to see the truth of the Colosseum.It's possible that he might escalate from there, to try to burn down the Colosseum or destroy enough of its structures to prevent games being put on there, but I think it's more likely to be a new stunt designed to grab the public's attention.
The Colosseum is just ahead.Even on a day like today, when there are no games scheduled, the streets outside throng with people.A kind of market has sprung up around the Colosseum, hawkers setting up booths wherever they can, selling a shifting mixture of goods, food and small services.One man is sharpening knives, another writing letters for those who don't have the skills to do it themselves.
Even as I approach, I hear a loud bang from within the Colosseum and fear knots in my chest.I worry that Alaric might have done something violent or destructive after all.
Then, brightly colored smoke starts to pour out from every opening of the stadium, filling the air around it in a way clearly designed to catch the attention of the citizens around the Colosseum.A group of people comes running out from the stadium, spreading out among the crowd, handing out leaflets wherever they can.
One shoves a leaflet into my hands.I have time to see the headline:The Corruption of the Colosseum!Before a figure steps out onto a balcony overlooking the square beyond the arena.
It’s Alaric.
"My friends, you know me!I'm Alaric!I fought in the Colosseum.Many of you will have watched me there.You'll have seen me fight, seen me kill, for your entertainment."
People are stopping to watch and listen.Part of it might be down to the colored smoke still pouring from the Colosseum, but I suspect a big part of it is simply that it's Alaric, and his name catches attention.
"You're probably excited that the games are running again.I understand that excitement, but it isn't all that's come back.The old corruption has returned.Nobles and senators use the games to line their pockets and to have power over you.They run illegal fights in hidden corners of the city.They make everything more dangerous to distract you.Here, we have proof!"
Alaric flings papers from the balcony, which flutter down towards the waiting crowd.
"We took these documents from within the Colosseum.They show some of the bribes, the deals you weren't meant to hear about!Read them, my friends.Read them, and know the truth about what the games have become."
He looks as though he might say more, but at that moment, guards come rushing through the crowd, pushing them out of the way and trying to get to Alaric and his people.I see a small child knocked out of the way, almost trampled underfoot.I move to grab the child, pulling her out of the way, and a guard lifts a club.
I fix him with a hard stare.“I’m Senator Lyra Thornwind.If you swing that, you’ll regret it.”
The guard hesitates and backs off, but the rest of the guards aren’t doing so.They’re pushing forward through the crowd, trying to get to Alaric’s supporters, lashing out at anyone who gets in their way.
I see them grabbing one of Alaric’s supporters, beating him even as they go to tie his hands.Another guard is struggling with a supporter, a flash of steel showing before the man reels back, clutching a wound.
Around me, people are screaming, trying to flee in every direction, or watch what’s happening, or fight back.There are so many guards that their presence seems almost overwhelming, so it’s like being stuck in the middle of a battle, with violence all around me.People are screaming, weapons clash, and the guards seem to be lashing out indiscriminately.I try to step into their path, stopping them from hurting innocent people, but I can’t be everywhere.
I think of reaching out for the animals close by, trying to create a distraction, but I'm not sure it will do any good here.It would only add to the chaos, resulting in more people being hurt.I can't risk it.All I can do is stand and try to keep people safe, watching the attempts by the guards to capture Alaric's supporters and dragging them away along the streets.
Eventually, the conflict fades into silence, the space in front of the Colosseum emptying except for a few guards.Discarded pamphlets litter the floor.There's no sign of Alaric.I can only hope that he found a way to escape before the guards got to him.
I don’t know what to do for several seconds, but then I turn and head back towards the palace.With something like this, I know that there will be an emergency senate meeting.I need to get to it to try to limit whatever damage is going to come from this moment of chaos.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"An attack like this cannot go unpunished!"Domitian roars as I rush into the senate chamber in the palace.I ran all the way back and changed into my toga as quickly as possible, and still, the meeting started without me.The news has clearly spread quickly.
“These rebels become bolder by the day,” Octavio says.“The laws of the Republic must be respected.”
"Do we have the full details of what happened yet?"Rowan asks.
I stand up.I could leave this to someone else, but if I say it, I can at least control what the Senate hears about the events in front of the Colosseum.
“I saw some of it,” I say.“Alaric’s protestors stole documents from within the colosseum, which Alaric claimed demonstrated corruption among those connected with the colosseum.”
"Spurious claims," Domitian says."And I note that you don't have any of this so-called evidence with you, Senator Lyra."
“I was too busy stopping people from being killed by the guards,” I counter.“Did you send them, Domitian?”
He spreads his hands."What else was I to do?I heard that a group of malcontents had attacked the Colosseum.I gathered any guards I could find and sent them to apprehend those there."
