“Citizens of Aetheria, welcome, all of you, to the last day of the Grand Tournament!”
I borrow the senses of one of the pigeons roosting in the colosseum’s alcoves, waiting for any scraps of food dropped by the people below.There are somanypeople there in the colosseum, with more still streaming in, even though it seems impossible that anyone else would fit within.Selene is standing poised on the brink of the senate box as if she might leap down from it at any moment.
“This evening, you’ll witness the final bouts of the tournament, and whoever is victorious will prove themselves worthy of the greatest prize: the throne of Aetheria itself!”
There’s wild cheering from some quarters of the colosseum, but only some.It’s obvious plenty of people don’t like Selene’s plan.
“Such a prize is only fitting!”Selene calls out.“Aetheria is an empire built on magic.Itshouldbe controlled by those who can prove their magical strength.And they will prove it today, in contests that will test them to the limit.”
Selene gestures, and the colosseum starts to reconfigure itself.Water starts to pour into it, flooding the base of the arena, contained by spells.Platforms rise out of the water, linked by slender walkways.A gate opens, and gladiators start to pour out onto those platforms, taking up positions and watching one another warily.
I feel the moment when beasts are released into the colosseum.Giant crocodiles swim out into the water, rising from it and snapping to the delight of the crowd.
Selene doesn’t leap down onto one of the platforms; she floats, buoyed on a wave of violet magic.She discards her purple cloak as she lands, revealing the armor and curved blade beneath.
“Begin,” she says, her voice carrying even over the cheers of the crowd.
The other gladiators start to move from platform to platform, seeking targets.Some throw blasts of fire or ice, while others rush this way and that, trying to close the distance.One falls, and immediately, crocodilian jaws close on him as he screams.
Selene advances smoothly, gracefully, and with deadly intent.I know just from watching the way she moves that she intends this to be a showcase of her power, a demonstration of all she can do when the other matches haven’t challenged her.She has stacked up half a dozen gladiators, ready to face them all at once.They’re some of the finest gladiators of the games, the strongest magic users or fighters of Aetheria and beyond.
Selene slaughters them.
She sends out a blast of violet magic that cuts one man in half, then parries a sword blow, only to spin delicately and kick her foe back into the water and the waiting jaws of the crocodiles.She blocks a blast of flame with a shield of pure force, then throws darts of it that cut through her enemy, wounding him again and again until he collapses.
This isn't a free for all anymore.This is everyone remaining against Selene, and it still isn't enough.Magical attacks pour down on her, and she deflects them as if they're nothing, boosted by the stones of power she ordered incorporated into the arena.I watch her cut down foes with casual ease, until at last, there's only one woman left, who's defending frantically, trying to keep as far away from Selene as she can while looking around as if waiting for someone to stop the fight.
But Marcus isn’t up in the senate box.This will end when Selenewantsit to end.
“Come to me,” Selene calls out, beckoning, and I don’t need to be in the colosseum to know those words are laced with psychomancy.“Come on.”
Her foe hesitates for a moment and then walks forward, straight off the platform and into the waiting jaws of the crocodiles.Her screams as they tear her apart are enough to make me pull back sharply from the birds, feeling sick.
Alaric is staring at me.“What did you see?”
“Selene,” I say.“I’m not sure how I’m meant to beat her.”
Alaric moves behind me, massaging knots of tension from my shoulders.“If anyone can, it’s you, Lyra.”
Maybe, but I’m still not sure how.This is someone who wields magical force with precision and brutality, and who kills without hesitation.
“You’re the most powerful beast whisperer in a generation,” Alaric says.“You’re so powerful, the emperor of Aetheria tried to have you killed because he saw the role you’d play in his death.You’ve survived countless fights in the colosseum, and battles in the streets.You’re the reason Aetheria is a republic at all.”
I smile at the attempt to boost my confidence, but there are things I need to say.
“If I don’t come through this,” I say, “I need you to promise you won’t throw your life away in some desperate attempt at revenge.”
“You think I’d do something like that?”Alaric says, but his face is a very familiar mask of arrogance.
“Yes,” I reply.“I think it’s exactly the kind of thing you might do.”
“I love you, Lyra,” Alaric says.
“And I love you.”I turn to him, touching his face lightly.His features shimmer, revealing the real him.I kiss him deeply, savoring the moment, not knowing if I’ll have the chance to do this again after today.I hope so.I hope Alaric and I will have years together in Aetheria.“That’s why I want you to live if I don’t.”
“You can’t ask me that,” Alaric says.“You can’t ask me to stand by when I could put a knife in Selene’s back.”
"Or die trying," I point out."If I fall, then the city needs someone who can help its people and get them out of danger.It has to be you."
