“Here.An order from the first senator for the release of the prisoners.”
Marcus puts his name to it as well.“So they can see it has the authority of the senate behind it as well.”
I take the order, running from the senate chamber and hurrying from the palace.As I move out into the open air, I can hear the sounds of fighting taking place in the streets, people crying out and steel clashing against steel.Domitian’s guards are advancing along the streets toward the palace, but Marcus and Rowan are already moving to the palace gates, ready to hold against them.
I can see the Colosseum is changed as well.It's hung now with the flags of the empire, the purple burst of magic cut through by a sword.It's clear that Domitian has decided to make it the heart of his coup attempt.How could we have missed all this?How could he have built up to such a violent attack without the Senate noticing?
The truth is simple: we were distracted.Distracted by arguments over the games, and by the Anniversary Games themselves.Distracted by the unrest in the slums and by the political games Domitian was engaging in.Even I was distracted by talk of death matches and corruption in the games.
I can't afford to be distracted now because the birds above show me that a small contingent of Domitian’s guards is advancing towards the prison tower.My guess is that they plan to kill those within.
I start to run through the streets, taking in every scrap of speed and power I can from the animals around me, not caring about the risk that comes from taking in so much.I use the sight of the birds above to plot my course through the streets, avoiding the guards for now, not slowing down even for a moment.
The prison tower is just ahead.I run to the doors, hoping even as the guards move to stop me that, they’re ones loyal to the city.
“Halt!”they say in unison.
I hold up the order from Rowan.“Don't you know what's happening?Domitian is trying to take over the city.His guards are marching through the streets.I have an order here for the release of the prisoners.”
“Oh, we know what's going on,” one says with a cruel smile.“And I figure Lord Domitian will reward us well if we throw you in a cell.”
He's corrupted them as well, and that realization makes anger bubble through me alongside determination.
As they reach for me, I call birds down from the sky, flying into their faces, pecking and clawing.I use the opportunity to attack, slamming an elbow into the jaw of one guard, grabbing the other, and smashing his head into the doorpost.Both fall into unconsciousness, and I snatch up their swords, rushing inside.Another guard moves to intercept me and I don't even hesitate.I kick him as hard as I can, ducking under the swing of a club and hammering the pommel of one of my swords into his skull.
I snatch the keys from his belt and keep moving, heading up through the tower even as more guards start to shout below.I race to the top of the tower, and Alaric stands as I reach his cell.
“Sonowyou’re breaking me out?”he says.
“Domitian is trying to take over the city,” I say, as I unlock the door to the cell.“His men are coming here to finish off any rebels.I have an order from Rowan to release you and the others.We need your help, Alaric.”
“Oh, so nowyou need me,” Alaric says, with that sardonic smile he does so well.The door swings open and he steps past me.I think for a moment that he might be about to simply run, but he snatches a sword from my hand and lunges.
I realize there was a guard sneaking up behind me only as Alaric thrusts a blade through his chest, killing him with a casual ease I could never manage.Alaric withdraws his blade from the man’s chest, letting him fall, standing there with a look of satisfaction.Alaric snatches up the man's weapon, throwing the sword back to me.
“Well then,” he says.“Let's go to take back this city.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The first thing we do is free the other prisoners, moving from cell to cell and letting them out, even as we fight off the guards.Some stumble out of the cells looking frightened and confused, so badly beaten they can barely stand.Others rush from them.
Many flee, but others snatch up weapons.Sorrel is in a basement dungeon, along with a pressed mass of humanity, which pours out into the sunlight, just as a group of Domitian’s guards approaches on the street.Sorrel doesn't look afraid but instead takes up a club.
“Time to make them pay!”he calls out to the others, and Alaric’s rebels charge with a battle cry.There are fewer than a dozen guards.More than enough to deal with caged prisoners, but not with a mass charging at them.Alaric’s followers slam into the contingent of guards, attacking them with whatever weapons they've been able to grab.
I see one guard thrust a spear through a woman's body.Another batters at a young man with his shield.But the sheer numbers of those attacking are far too many for them.In just seconds, the guards are dragged to the ground, beaten, their weapons taken away.
“Don't kill them!”I call out.“Lock them in the cells instead.”
To my surprise, Alaric’s followers listen to me, dragging the guards back to the prison tower.They take their weapons, the small force around me building in strength.
“What now?”Alaric asks.
I'm not sure.There are plenty of things we could do, plenty of places where we might be needed.I don't know how many troops the nobles will be able to rally or how many people will be helping to defend the city.We could head back to the palace to help with the defense there, but if we do that, aren't we just abandoning the rest of the city to Domitian?
I find myself looking over at the Colosseum.Do the flags on it mean more than just a statement of intent?Are they a declaration that the Colosseum is at the heart of his attempt to take the city?I reach for the minds of the animals there, looking through the eyes of a carrion crow at the emperor's old box.
Domitian is there in it, receiving reports from his cronies even as a group of guards controls the arena floor.He's obviously made this his base of operations, using the central position of the Colosseum as a spot from which to strike.
