Rowan isn’t done with his tour yet, though, because the two of us walk up out of the city, heading for the dark stone expanse of Ironhold.The gates are open, and I can hear the clash of weapons within as we approach.
I frown.“Gladiators are training?”
“Not gladiators,” Rowan says.“We train the city guard up here.We want them ready to fight against any threats to the Republic.Come on, let’s see them in action.”
He heads inside before I can say anything, leaving me to follow.Inside, I see lines of guards in the same white and gold armor as all the others around the city moving in concert, drilling with swords and shields.Some of them work at training posts, battering them with their weapons, working smoothly.
It reminds me of the days I spent training here, sparring with blunted weapons, running and carrying rocks.I can see the guards taking breaks here and there, in a way we wouldn’t have been allowed to.Our trainers would have beaten us if they caught us slacking, and in any case, we didn’t dare to stop.We all knew we needed to be at our very best for each set of games, because any hesitation, any weakness, might be the difference between life and death for us.
“They need to spend more time sparring with each other,” I say.“They look good, drilling in neat lines, but you know as well as I do that isn’t how fights work.”
“It isn’t,” Rowan agrees, “and I’ll say something, but they might not listen.The soldiers insist that fighting in the arena is completely different to fighting in orderly ranks in a battle.Even when it comes to something I know about, I get pushback.”
He clearly isn’t enjoying his time as the first senator of the Aetherian Republic.Which makes me wonder why Rowan hasn’t stepped away from the role.Maybe he doesn’t think he can.Maybe he’s convinced he can do more good if he stays.
We start to make our way through the buildings of the fortress, through places that have been turned into barracks for the soldiers, rather than spaces to imprison gladiators between bouts.The spaces higher up that used to be for nobles now seem to be for officers and administrators.
One room seems to have retained its use: a grand, open place on one of the upper floors that used to serve as a combination of temple and gallery holding statues and paintings dedicated to gladiators of the past.
I’m familiar with the statues of this room, the plaques telling those who read them of the achievements of those they depict.This room contains a history of people who have fought and died for the entertainment of Aetheria’s crowds.
I’m shocked to see new statues there, too.There’s one of Cesca, the young gladiator I defeated and left bound in one of my last bouts after she betrayed me.There’s a likeness of Vex, with daggers suspended around him on wires.There’s a statue of Rowan, which is crafted to look as though he’s the one shaping his own likeness out of a block of stone.
And there’s one of me.
The sculptor has taken liberties with my appearance.They’ve made me into something sensual, dressed in the barest scraps of armor.I’m also terrifying, standing with a collection of creatures gathered around me, looking as though they’re on the verge of pouncing on anyone looking my way.
“What’s this?”I ask Rowan.
“You didn’t think there would be a statue to you?”he counters.“There are plenty.You’re a legend, Lyra.One of the most important gladiators to have fought in the games.You’re the one who slew the emperor and proved to Aetheria that beast whisperers aren’t the monsters the emperor made them out to be.”
“And you couldn’t get them to sculpt me with more clothes?”I say.
Rowan smiles.“Maybe I wanted to be able to picture you this way.”
He moves closer to me, then pulls away quickly.There’s too much between us for things to be easy now.I chose Alaric over Rowan, even if Alaric isn’t here with me now.And I walked away from the capital, while Rowan chose to stay and do what he could to help.
“You still haven’t told me exactly what you think I can do here,” I say.“You’ve shown me a tangled up political situation, but that’s not something I’m skilled with.”
“You managed to balance the different groups trying to overthrow the empire,” Rowan says.“And I think you’re underestimating yourself.You’re a famous, respected figure, Lyra.People will listen to you.Maybe you can help to influence things here for the better.”
I don’t know what I’m going to be able to do, but I must admit it’s hard to just ignore the things that are happening in the capital.If Icando anything to help, I will.
CHAPTER EIGHT: LYRA
When I get back to my rooms, there’s an invitation waiting for me, left on a side table.
Join me for dinner in my villa?Marcus.
The invitation catches me by surprise.I've only met Marcus once, and now he's inviting me to dinner?Maybe I should ignore it, refuse to meet with him.He was the one to tell me that various members of the Senate would try to influence me, to get me to work with them.
But precisely because he gave me that warning, I feel as though I can trust him, at least enough to meet with him.And what’s the alternative?Sitting here, still not quite sure what I’m meant to do in the city, what I’m supposed to do to help Rowan?
I turn and leave, heading out of the palace.I stop one of the servants on the way out.She looks at me with something like awe.
“Where can I find Senator Marcus’ villa?”I ask.
“It’s down on the line between the noble district and the merchants,” the servant says.“I could have a palanquin brought around to take you there.”
