Laro nods, taking us through the colosseum to what was once my favorite part.The pits where the animals are kept are cavernous in their proportions, divided by rows of cages and large pens.The noise and stink of them is almost overwhelming, as trainers move between different animals to keep them fed and contained.
There are razor wings here: birds with knife edged feathers, kept in cages to prevent their escape.There’s a crocodile the size of an elephant, and an elephant whose hide seems to have been augmented with infused metal to make it almost invulnerable, in imitation of the Ironhide rhinoceros.There are ostrich like birds that rush back and forth, and a lion whose roar seems to shake the cage around it.
And there are shadow cats.
My heart aches at the sight of the dark, panther like creatures that pace their rune encrusted cage, sometimes seeming to slip into the shadows around them, only to reappear from others further along the cage.In the first days when I was a gladiator, I had a shadow cat that became my constant companion, always ready to protect me from danger.
Now, they roar at me, looking at me as if I’m nothing more than food.Without my powers to connect to them, that’s all I am.I can’t feel the emotions or needs of any of the animals here, can’tbeginto connect to them and make them obey me.That loss is enough to bring a tear to my eye.
Maybe Marcus notices that, because he quickly heads for the door.
“This is good.What about the rest?”
“Well, there are the expanded provisions for bookmakers, and of course the stones set around the arena, ready to be used in the final phases to amplify magical abilities.We want to give the people a show.”
A show of magic’s power.A display that will reinforce everything Selene wants to say.And a way to amplify her psychomancy if she wants to influence the crowd.
We head up to the receiving rooms, but there, Laro pauses.
“Marcus, there are a couple of other matters I should talk to you about, but I don’t feel comfortable discussing them with you in front ofher, even if she is contained now.”
“You think Lyra is in a position to say anything to others?”Marcus asks.
“I don’t know,” Laro says.“And that’s why I need to speak to you in one of the rooms.”
Marcus hesitates, but I know he can’t miss out on this.He points to a spot in the receiving room, one partly out of sight, behind a pillar.
“Stay there, Lyra.Don’t go anywhere.”
I hate simply being commanded, but I stand there, and maybe my reluctance helps to sell the performance to Laro as he and Marcus retreat beyond the receiving rooms.I keep my head down as I see a couple of nobles coming into the rooms, which catches me by surprise when there are no games running.One is a young nobleman, while the other is Senator Olivia.
She’s wearing an elegant, sweeping dress today rather than her toga.She glitters with jewelry.She’s leaning close to the nobleman as the two of them head towards one of the side rooms, but I catch her whispers.
“I can tell you which fights to put money on.Some of the contests in the Grand Tournament will be real, but the right bribes and threats have been used elsewhere, along with promises of survival for those who comply.”
“Really?”the nobleman says.They’re moving out of range for me to listen to, and this information feels too valuable to ignore.I creep from my hiding place, following them as best I can.
“I wanted to meet you here so I could show you all the trouble we’ve gone to.Do you think Selene’s really going to leave herself a difficult route to become champion?”
I lean in, my attention caught by Olivia’s words, but even as I do so, she looks up from her whispered conversation.However quietly I think I’ve moved, it clearly hasn’t been quiet enough, because her eyes lock onto mine, instantly filling with hostility.
“What areyoudoing here?”
“I was commanded to wait,” I say, hoping I can hide behind Marcus’ commands.
“And to spy on us?”Olivia demands.
“I wasn’t-”
Olivia slaps me, sudden and stinging.“Are you contradicting me?”
I could argue with her.I couldfightwith her, and probably win, given that she’s never had the kind of combat training given to a gladiator.But if I do that, I’ll be attacking a senator of Aetheria.I’ll probably be executed for it.
“Lyra is where I told her to be,” Marcus says, and the relief that flows through me as he returns is almost enough to make my knees buckle.
“Was she told to spy on her betters?”Olivia asks.“Because she was sneaking around after myself and Arro, Marcus.”
“I’m sure there’s an innocent explanation,” Marcus says.
