I hurry past them with Alaric, heading for the viewing gallery of the senate chamber.There are a few people in it already, but fewer than usual, given the restrictions on access to the palace.Lady Cassandra is there, watching with obvious interest.There are nobles, too, all accompanied by their bodyguards, as if afraid to go out into the city alone.
Below, the senators sit on stone benches, all wearing the white togas that denote their status.Senator Olivia is standing there, festooned with jewelry, her blonde hair bound up with strands of gold.
“The violence on our streets is unacceptable,” she says.“These so called supporters of Lyra Thornwind are causing chaos.”
“It isn’t just them,” Marcus insists, from his place on the benches.“Selene’s supporters are causing at least as many problems.”
“Are you trying to blame this violence on the arch-magistrate?”Olivia asks.
“Selene Ravenscroft hasn’t been the arch-magistrate in a long time,” Marcus says.
"And perhaps that lack of real authority in Aetheria is part of why we have this chaos," Olivia says.She seems determined to back Selene to the hilt, even though it must be obvious to her by now that Selene doesn't care about her and certainly won't reward her.
“The lack of law on the streets is disturbing,” Senator Octavio says.“Steps must be taken to restore order.”
“Yes,” Olivia says.“Which is why I propose that martial law is imposed on the city.Anyone found outside should be arrested.Anyone engaged in violence should be summarily executed.”
“Does that include anyone going to attend the games?”a senator asks.
The stone benches rumble as Rowan stands up from the one true seat in the room, shaking his head.His power over stone makes it easy for him to command attention.
“No.This chamber willnotimpose martial law on the city,” he says.“I won’t let Aetheria slide into a dictatorship.”
“Are you trying to tell the senate how it should vote, First Senator?”Olivia asks.“Well, then, I say we should start with a simple proposal: for the removal of Senator Rowan as First Senator.”
There’s a gasp in the chamber, but it doesn't last long.I think everyone, including Rowan, has been expecting this moment sooner or later.
“A bold proposal, Olivia,” Rowan says.“Who supports it?”
Senators start to stand up, one after another.Normally, this is a process that would involve each of them speaking as they stand, casting their vote one way or the other, but now their sheer numbers seem to be the most persuasive thing.Rowan looks around at them, obviously counting even as I do.I hear his sigh, even from up in the gallery.
“Very well,” he says, stepping aside and moving to the ordinary benches.“I assume this is where those senators Selene has bought or threatened hand her the role of First Senator?”
Olivia shakes her head, though.“That would allow those like you to pretend that she only got the role through such machinations.And anyway, we’ve all seen just how ineffective the role of First Senator is.”
I hold my breath, wondering what she’s about to propose.
“The truth is,” Olivia says, “that Aetheria has become chaotic and ungovernable in the days since we had an emperor.That is why one must be crowned.”
“You’d dare?”Rowan demands.“That goes against everything we fought for.”
“We fought against amademperor,” Olivia says.“But that doesn’t mean the idea of a strong ruler is foolish.The senate has a place, but we need someone who can act when it’s needed, without having to wait for the majority to decide.”
I hadn’t thought Selene would dare go this far, this quickly.I assumed, like Marcus, that she might try for First Senator initially, and try to elide the difference between that role and the power of an empress.Instead, it seems she’s using the violence in the city to justify simply grabbing power.
“You’d really return us to the days of empire?”Rowan demands.“You can’t do that.”
“This senate can make any decisions it wishes,” Olivia says.
“And you wish to simply hand power to the woman who controls you,” Rowan snaps back.
Olivia looks angry at the insult, but she shakes her head.
“As I said, we won’t allow people to make those accusations.That’s why Aetheria will run as it always should have done.The one who can prove themselves the strongest in magic and martial might will be crowned.The winner of the games should be recognized by this senate as empress.Or emperor, of course.”
This is the same plan Selene’s supporters were putting forward before, the one violence in the streets disrupted only a day or two ago.Only now, that violence has let them push for more, for the full role of empress to be given as a prize in the games.
“This is insane,” Rowan says, standing.“I won’t have any part of this plan.”
