Through their eyes, I also see the figures marching in proper formation, their spears held ready.
“The guards are coming!”I call out, pushing another wave of fear into anyone close.“Scatter!”
People do it, but Marcus is there then, grabbing my arm.
“We need to go, Lyra.”
“I can still help here,” I insist.
Marcus shakes his head.“And get arrested by the guards?They might throw you back in a cell.You might miss the rest of the games.You can’t save the city if you’re in chains, Lyra!”
He’s right, even if I hate that he’s right.This situation has gotten out of hand, but I can’t stay and make sure everyone is safe.Marcus and I set off through the crowd, heading for the side streets.I lead the way, because the birds above let me see any threats ahead of us.We take one turning after another, quickly leaving the sounds of violence behind us.
“I hadn’t expected it would be like this,” Marcus says.
I should have guessed that it would be.The city is a tinderbox at the moment.Tensions are running high, with Selene and her supporters only stoking them further, hoping to use them as an excuse to seize power.It’s a dangerous dilemma: we need the support of the people to stand against Selene’s attempts to take authority in Aetheria, but if we fuel conflict on the streets, we risk ordinary people being hurt.
“We need to be more careful,” I say.I look over at the colosseum.Influence on the streets will make a difference, but I’m more convinced than ever now that it’s in the games that this will be settled.
Ultimately, this conflict will come down to a fight between me and Selene, one we’ve both wanted from the start of this.Now, I have to make sure I win.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Why do you want to go to today’s games?”Marcus asks.“You aren’t fighting until tomorrow.”
“But Selene is,” I explain.
She’s the opponent I need to prepare for the most.She’s the threat waiting at the end of all of this.Selene wants to kill me on the arena sands to prove to Aetheria that she’s the most powerful magic user in the city, deserving of power.Every scrap of information I can get about the way she fights is useful.If I can just find one weakness in her style, one gap in her magic or fighting technique I can exploit, it might be the difference between life and death for me.
“I can’t take you,” Marcus says.“There’s a session in the senate to consider Selene’s proposal.I need to be there to lobby against it and delay it.”
Delay it, not stop it.Marcus obviously isn’t confident that he can prevent the law from going through and allowing the winner of the Grand Tournament power in the city.
“Alaric will take me, then,” I say.“He’s coming over to train me anyway.We can hide in the crowd and no one will know it’s us.”
Marcus looks troubled, and I wonder if it’s because of the risk to me or because I’ll be with Alaric.
“If you’re spotted in the crowd, there could be trouble,” Marcus says.
“I’ll be careful that I’m not,” I reply.
Marcus sighs.“All right, but be careful.”
“It sounds likeyou’rethe one who needs to be careful,” I point out.“Standing up to Selene in the senate will make it clear you’re not on her side.”
“As you and Alaric have pointed out,” Marcus says, “there comes a time when I need to stand up and make the most of the power I’ve built up.”
That’s true, but even so, I hope he’ll be safe as he heads off, dressed in his formal toga.
I already have a cloak wrapped around my shoulders when Alaric arrives.He frowns as he sees me.
“Are we going somewhere?”he asks.
“To the games,” I say.“I want every scrap of information I can get on Selene’s fighting style.”
Alaric nods.“That makes sense.We’ll have to make sure no one spots us, though.”
That’s easy for him, because he shifts his features as we head into the city, turning himself into a handsome young man who looks almost angelic in his gentle features.I must make do with keeping the hood of my cloak up, trying to make sure no one glimpses my features.
