I check the sands themselves and the areas for the healers.I check that the crowds will be suitably contained in the stands so that there won't be any violence there.I check the boxes for the nobles and the senators.I even go to the preparation areas for the gladiators, their dressing rooms already laid out with their armor and weapons.
When I run my fingers over the weapons, I wince, feeling the sudden prick of them, seeing blood beading on my thumb.That isn’t right.These weapons shouldn't be so sharp.They're certainly sharper than the ones I inspected back in the armory.
Someone has tampered with them or swapped them out for sharper versions.Someone has taken one of the main protections for these new games and sought to subvert it.I don't know who would do such a thing, who could.I was able to access the colosseum easily, but only because the guards know me.Does that mean someone else they knew was responsible for this interference, or does it just mean that someone was stealthy enough to slip past them?
It's impossible to know, and right now, it isn’t the point.Thepointis that the gladiators are suddenly in danger, and that thought makes fear run through me.At least I can undo this damage.I go back to the armory, finding blunted weapons and swapping them back for the sharpened ones.It isn't much, but hopefully it will be enough to keep the gladiators safe.I check over the armor as well, making sure that its links are solid and that it will do the job of protecting the gladiators’ lives.
When I'm finally satisfied, I still stay there in the Colosseum.I'm not just making sure that everything's perfect now; I'm guarding against further tampering.I will not allow anyone to make these games into a deadly contest, even if it means staying awake all night.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: LYRA
I can feel the capital buzzing with excitement as the morning of the games arrives.People start to flow into the arena in the early hours, getting ready to play their part in putting on the spectacle to follow.
“Have you been here all night?”Marcus asks as he arrives.He looks worried about me.
“I couldn't sleep,” I say.“I know you were trying to distract me from being here but-”
“Last night wasn't just about distracting you,” Marcus insists, moving close to me.He tilts my head back, and his lips capture mine.“I hope you don't think it was a mistake.When you weren't there when I woke up, I was worried I'd done something to drive you away.”
I shake my head.“You didn't.I just needed to make sure everything would be perfect one more time.”
“Everything's under control,” Marcus says.
“Whosecontrol, though?”I reply.That makes Marcus frown.
“What do you mean?”
“Someone replaced the weapons for the fighters with sharpened ones,” I say.“Lethal ones.I had to swap them back for blunted examples.”
I see the surprise on Marcus’ face, and I'm grateful for that because it means he didn't have anything to do with this.Did I think he might have?I've spent time around him.I know he's a good man who's trying to do what he thinks is the right thing for the city.Did I really think he would risk the lives of the gladiators?
“I hope you don't think I had anything to do with that,” Marcus says.It’s uncomfortably close to my thoughts.“I was with you after we left the armory.”
“No, I don't think it was you,” I reply, pushing back my doubts for a moment.“But it was someone with access to the colosseum, and there were guards on the doors last night.”
“Meaning that whoever did it was either stealthy enough to find another way in without being spotted, or they were someone who guards would obey,” Marcus says.He sounds worried, but only briefly.“But it sounds like you dealt with the problem.This person thinks they've succeeded, so they won't try again.”
“I'm not so sure about that,” I say.“Someone prepared to try this will try other things as well.The question is, who it could be.Who has this kind of access, but also wants the games to be lethal so much?”
Marcus hesitates.
“What is it?”I ask him.
“There's one obvious name.Think about it.Who’s been asking for the return of the games in their most deadly form?Who's been pushing for more than I would contemplate?”
He's right, the answer is obvious.
“Domitian.”
Marcus nods.“But he's a senator.Without proof, we can't even think of accusing him.”
I don't like the idea that we must hold back like that, but I nod my agreement.
“And in any case, there's no time to deal with him now,” Marcus says.“We need to focus on putting on the best version of the games we can.I need to check that the guards are in the correct places and that the preparation areas are safe.I'll check the weapons again just in case, too.”
“Thank you,” I say.“I'll try to go through everything else I can think of.”
I’m nervous, and it has to do with more than just my lack of sleep.I'm starting to see all the ways the games could go wrong.There could be violence in the crowds, a riot like the one that broke out beyond the city walls.There could be attempts to poison the gladiators.There could be manipulations among the nobles and the senators.The games are a huge thing, with many interlocking parts, providing feasting and entertainment, opportunities for wagering, and, of course, the fights.Everything must go smoothly, and above all, safely.
