“They were there in my name,” I point out.
“And you sent them home again,” Cassandra says.“Oh, don’t look surprised.Of course I was watching.”
Part of the reason Cassandra is so brash is because it catches people off guard when she’s subtle.No one imagines she might be capable of working as a spy.
“So you’ve...what?”Marcus says.“Come here to declare your support for Lyra’s cause?”
Cassandra laughs.“Surely a senator can’t be so naive?Of course not.Nothing so open.And if you want our support, there will be a price.”
“What kind of price?”I ask.
Cassandra waves her hand vaguely.“Favorable trade arrangements, future political considerations, that kind of thing.Guarantees that Aetheria won’t attack Arboria, or seek to undermine its ruler.”
“Why would we do that?”I ask.
“Well, you’ve done it effectively enough with your own,” Cassandra says.“I think, after you got rid of your own emperor, our queen has a right to be a little nervous.”
“I don’t have any intention of getting rid of your queen,” I say.I get the feeling that there’s more Cassandra isn’t telling me.
“What’s really in it for Arboria, Cassandra?”I ask.“Oh, I know you’ll extract some kind of deal, and Marcus will probably negotiate with you over every detail.But why are youreallyinterested in helping us?”
“Maybe I just like you,” Cassandra says, sipping her wine with a smile.
"You've threatened to drag me back to Arboria on your chariot before," I point out.
Her smile widens.“Which is just proof of howmuchI like you.I wouldn’t take a weakling as my own, dear.”
I shake my head.“You’re deflecting again.What’s changed?”I think about the thing she’s asked for, about not attacking Arboria.“Is Selene attacking your kingdom, somehow?”
Cassandra curses in a way that would make most sailors blush.“Itoldmy queen you’d work it out too quickly.All right, the truth then.Selene Ravenscroft continues to build support beyond the borders of Aetheria.Our assumption is that, once she has power here, she’ll try to expand.”
“An ever growing empire,” Marcus says.
“Exactly,” Cassandra replies.“And, to stop that, we’re prepared to provide some support, making sure she can’t bring in resources and reinforcements, that kind of thing.But we have to work quietly.I’m sure you understand.”
“Because you aren’t sure whether I’ll win,” I guess.
Cassandra spreads her hands.“Well, sheisan Archon.I’m not sure if even you can deal with that.Although obviously, I hope you do.”
It’s one more pressure to add to those already pressing down on me.It’s a reminder that Selene is a threat beyond the walls of the city, and even the borders of the Republic.
“In fact, it’s essential you do,” Cassandra says.“Because the alternative...”
“What alternative?”I demand.
Cassandra sighs.“Simply what you already know.If you don’t finish this, if there’s chaos, our armies are already gathering.They will invade, unless you deal with the threat Selene poses.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I can feel the weight of expectation pressing down on me as I pace the preparation area beneath the arena, getting ready for my next bout.Using the birds to look out over the crowd with my powers, I can see that the colosseum is still full almost to bursting point, but the members of the crowd appear to have split into distinct factions.There are those who wear the purple of Selene's supporters, those who continue to wear flashes of white and gold, and still others in the colors of gangs or noble houses.
The whole city is splitting apart, each segment of it seeking power.I can see Marcus up in the senate box alongside Selene, but the two aren’t looking at one another.I guess she knows by now that he argued against her proposals in the senate.He’s made himself into Selene’s enemy, and that means he has as much to lose as anyone if she manages to take power fully.
There’s so much that could go wrong in Aetheria.The different factions fight in the street whenever they see one another, and if they don’t do so in the colosseum, it’s because they’re barely held in check by the presence of the guards and the desire to see the outcome of the games.Selene is still trying to push through the legislation that will give her ultimate power over the Republic, making her empress in all but name.And now there’s the threat of invasion from Arboria if Selene comes to power, or even if the fight against her creates too much chaos for Aetheria to hold onto all the lands it claims.
“You’re thinking too much,” Alaric says, beside me.He’s back in his illusory disguise as one of the trainers.
“It’s hard not to think, when there’s so much going on,” I reply, turning my spear around and around in my grip, trying to seat it comfortably.“What is the resistance doing to counter Selene’s influence out in the provinces?Is there anything I can do?”
