“Some of that information would allow the resistance to disrupt my interests, as easily as Selene’s,” Marcus says.
I don’t try to argue that they wouldn’t do that.Of course they would.They’ve broken up Marcus’ illegal fights before, and probably work against him as much as Selene if Marcus is slowly seizing his share of the corrupt activities in the city.
“You have to ask yourself how much you want to stop Selene,” I say to him, moving to the far side of the room.I put my hand over Alaric’s as he reaches for another scrap of parchment.“Andyouhave to ask whether you want a few immediate wins against Marcus, or a real victory against Selene.”
Alaric’s hand twists to catch mine.“You really think he’s on our side in this?”
I nod.“I think he might be.”
Alaric lifts my hand to his lips.“Then I’ll hold off, for now.I… I wish I could have saved you, back in the prison.”
“I told you to go,” I point out to him.Alaric was with me when I was captured.If he’d stayed, he would only have been caught too.But I can see the guilt on his face at leaving me there.“You did the only thing you could do.I would have hated to see you suffer down there.”
“And instead, I was stuck thinking of everythingyouwere suffering,” Alaric says.“The others had to hold me back from mounting an escape attempt.They said it wouldn’t work.”
“And instead, Rowan and I got her out,” Marcus says, with a faint note of triumph, as if this is some contest between them.
“You had Lyra condemned to beyourprisoner instead,” Alaric snaps.“Was that really all you could think of, or did you just relish the thought of having her in your power?”
I hold up my hands to forestall the argument that will come otherwise.I’m starting to suspect bridging the gap between Alaric and Marcus will be almost as difficult as facing Selene.But I must, or we’re all going to suffer at her hands.
“I need you to work together,” I say.“Marcus, why don’t you tell Alaric what we know about Selene’s plans?”
Marcus hesitates, but then nods, clearly determined to play his part.
“Her focus is the Grand Tournament,” he says.“She plans to put on a spectacular display there, and I believe she’s arranging it in such a way that she can win it.The tournament will be a high point of her fame and popularity.Which means it will be the perfect moment for her to declare her new order within Ironhold, with those with the greatest magical power ruling over the others.”
“That explains some of the things we’ve seen around the city,” Alaric says.“There are pockets of mercenaries moving into houses near key figures, clearly ready to capture or kill them when the moment comes.”
“Can the resistance work to disrupt them?”I ask.
“We can,” Alaric says, “but it might give away how much we know.”
Marcus looks thoughtful.“Maybe I have a few people who can help.Or maybe I can just outbid Selene.”
“Leavingyouwith control of a mercenary force within the city?”Alaric says.
“You think I don’t have one already?”Marcus counters.
Just when I thought they were starting to work together, it seems they’re back to bickering.
“The tournament will be the focal point,” I say.“We’ll need to be able to get people into the colosseum to counter Selene’s plans.”
Alaric nods.“The resistance can slip in as ordinary members of the crowd, ready to counter anything there.We can also slip people in as servants or trainers.”
“I can see what influence I can exert with the guards,” Marcus adds.“And I’m sure I can persuade plenty of nobles to be on our side when the time comes.”
“You think I can’t?”Alaric shoots back.“After all, Iama noble.”
“While I remain merely the son of a merchant?”Marcus says.“Still, I think I’ll have more sway than someone who seems determined to tear down every semblance of order and power in the city.”
“Just the corrupt parts,” Alaric says.
The two of them seem determined to argue with one another and try to outdo each other in equal measure.There’s a chance it will prove helpful, with Marcus and Alaric each striving to do more than the other for the cause of saving the city.There’s also a chance it will result in the two fighting, their followers pitted against one another.This is a delicate balancing act, in which I must keep their efforts pointed in the right direction.I’m going to have to remind them regularly of our shared goal of stopping Selene’s plans.
“I’m prepared to get my hands dirty for the good of the city,” Marcus says.He sighs.“It must be easy, being you, Alaric.”
“Easy?”Alaric says, his tone sharp edged as glass.“You think it’s easy to have to run and hide through the hidden places of the city?To know that anyone identified as working with me will be treated as a traitor?Do you know how many people the resistance has lost since the fight began for the city?”
