And since he’s the one into whose custody I’ve been released, Marcus has the final say on this.It’s frustrating, because I want to help, want to stop Selene, but he really can just leave me.Unless…
“If it comes to that, then do it,” I say, looking him in the eye.
Marcus is already shaking his head.“You seriously think I’d-”
“You’ve said before that we need to stick to the parts we’re playing.So if it comes to it, do whatever you have to,” I say.“I want to be involved in this.Leaving me behind, not able to do anything, is worse than anything else you might do to me.”
Marcus looks at me as if he might still demand I stay here, but he doesn’t.Instead, he nods tightly.
“All right.But you need to be careful, Lyra.Don’t give anyone any reason to suspect you’re there other than because I want to keep you close.”
“I can do that,” I assure him.
We walk to the colosseum, Marcus wearing his white toga, me wearing my servant’s outfit.It’s slow going, because Marcus seems to stop and talk with almost everyone he meets.There’s a reason why he’s probably the most popular senator in Aetheria.
But it means I’m forced to stand silently by his side, looking down and trying not to catch anyone’s eye.They must all know who I am, but for now, at least, people are prepared to accept that I’m simply a silent addition to Marcus’ presence.
That changes when we reach the colosseum.
“Marcus, there you are,” an official says.He’s a young man in his twenties, with spiked blonde hair and skin bronzed by time working in the sun.He wears a dark tunic and sandals, but a few pieces of jewelry make it clear this isn’t some common worker.
“Laro, it’s good to see you,” Marcus says.“I was just coming by to check that the preparations for the Grand Tournament are all going well.”
“If we can get the building work finished in time,” Laro says.He looks at me with suspicion.“What’sshedoing here?”
“I want her where I can keep an eye on her,” Marcus says.
Laro frowns.“Buthere?”
Marcus smiles that casual, friendly smile he does so well, as if he’s letting the other man in on a secret.“You know how against the games Lyra was.Maybe I want to show her all the preparations for the Grand Tournament now she’s not in a position to do anything about them.”
Laro laughs.“You’re a cruel man, Marcus.Still haven’t forgiven her for running off to join her lover in the resistance, then?”
A flicker of genuine anger and jealousy crosses Marcus’ face.I shouldn’t be surprised.After all, I did break off our engagement, abandoning him for Alaric and the resistance.
“Let’s just say forgiveness is an ongoing process,” Marcus says, although I note he doesn’t say for which of us.Does he think I need to make it up to him for hurting him like that, or that he needs to find forgiveness for making me think he was on Selene’s side?“In any case, how about you give us the tour?”
Laro nods, starting to lead us into the colosseum.I thought I’d seen most of the expansion during Domitian’s execution, but now, as he starts to take us down into the inner workings of the stadium, I realize there have been far more changes than to just make it hold more spectators.
“As you know, Marcus,” Laro says, “the principal challenge has been to make the colosseum easier to reconfigure.There are going to be multiple preliminary rounds for the Grand Tournament and extended brackets of fighters.The crowds don’t want to see the same straightforward bouts again and again.”
That was true even in the old days.For the Champions Tournament I fought in, the organizers put everything from mazes to platforms in the colosseum.In recent times, we’ve even flooded it to allow the pretense of naval combat.
I want to ask about all that, but I’m not sure I can afford to ask questions when I’m meant to be playing the part of someone dragged here unwillingly.Thankfully, Marcus seems to guess what I want to ask.
“I imagine Lyra thinks that’s just the same as when the colosseum was reconfigured in earlier contests,” Marcus says.
“It’s not even close,” Laro insists.“Yes, we’ll still be relying on magical abilities to reshape stone and call water, but we’ve also set up the colosseum so that sections of the floor can lift and fall on command, letting us reshape it without having to spend whole nights working on each change.Before, we could manage one kind of contest per day of the games.Now, we can change things around even as the spectators watch.”
“That will certainly add to the spectacle,” Marcus says.“Is there a suitable stable of beasts for the contests?My understanding was that most of those below Ironhold had been moved out.”
“We’re working on it,” Laro says.“Although obviously any assistance your trading fleet can give us would be appreciated.Thankfully, we can store the creatures in the beast pens here, now that we don’t have to worry about the threat of a beast whisperer the same way.”
He nods to me, or rather, to the dampener on my arm.It’s obviously common knowledge that I’ve been all but deprived of my powers, with only the barest flicker of magic.
“I imagine that makesyourlife easier, too, Marcus,” Laro says.“Less chance of her suddenly growing claws to gut you.”
“Thankfully, Lyra has learned obedience quickly,” Marcus replies.“Show us the beast pits.”
