CHAPTER TWELVE
It isn’t easy, trying to coordinate the fight against Selene without leaving Marcus’ home.His servants are helpful, perhaps because Marcus has told them to be, or perhaps because they feel some sympathy for me.They’re prepared to take messages throughout the city, and to bring me whatever I ask for.
I spend most of my time in the secure room down in the villa's basement, trying to collate the information from Marcus and from the resistance runners who come to the gates of the villa with notes.That doesn't seem to be attracting Selene's attention so far.Thankfully, Marcus has always received plenty of messages, both in his role as a senator and because of his more illicit activities, running aspects of the city that seem at odds with his upright reputation.How many people go into one of the gambling dens or brothels of the entertainment district, only for their coins to end up in Marcus' coffers?
I have more of an idea of the answer to that question thanks to my work here in the cellar, because Marcus doesn’t seem to be holding anything back from me now.I’m just not in a position to do as much about any of it, because I don’t have the freedom to go outside without him.
Hedoestake me outside, despite his determination to keep me locked away safely after what happened in the colosseum.We walk together around the city, which lets me see some of what Selene’s efforts are achieving.
“The rebuilding work on the slums has largely stopped for now,” Marcus says, as we walk through one of the districts near the walls.That catches me by surprise when it’s one of Rowan’s favorite projects.“The money and stonemasons have all been sent to work on the colosseum.”
It’s a move that will also put the city more and more on edge, building up pressure in it, ready to explode at exactly the point Selene wants.It makes me wonder what else she might be doing.
“Has she been pushing the common people in other ways?”I ask.
Marcus nods.“Small groups of the guards seem to be particularly rough within the slums.People are sometimes arrested almost at random, from what I hear.A woman came to me complaining that her husband had been taken and forced to confess to stealing and to supporting the resistance, when she says neither was true.”
"Were you able to do anything to help?"I ask.One of the reasons it's so easy to get access to the senators in the former palace is that they can try to help the ordinary people of the city.
Marcus shakes his head, though.“I asked about it, but he’d already been taken to the colosseum to fight.”
“To be executed, you mean?”I say.
Marcus nods.“There are more executions like that each day.Half the time, I have to attend, as one of the organizers of the games.”
And he can’t stop what’s happening because that would make it clear to Selene that he’s her enemy.
“Please tell me we’re making some progress,” I say.
Marcus shrugs, guiding me back towards the merchant district.“I’m gaining more influence every day, but so is she.It’s a race, and I don’t know whether it’s one I’m winning.”
We make our way into the market at the heart of the merchant district, which throngs with brightly colored stalls.Normally, it’s a place where Marcus seems more at home than anywhere else in Aetheria, but today, he’s looking around warily.I realize why as I glance around, spotting an old man with a stick advancing on us faster than anyone that age has a right to.That incongruity between the man I can see and the way he’s moving gives me a good idea of who’s there.
I move to intercept him as he approaches, hoping I’m right as I grab his arm.If I’m wrong, this will be embarrassing in the extreme, and might even tell the wrong person too much about what Marcus and I are involved in.
“Alaric?Is that you?”
For the briefest moment, the old man’s face flickers, showing Alaric’s young and slender features, etched into a mask of anger.
“This time, Iamgoing to kill him,” Alaric says.“Don’t try to stop me.”
Marcus obviously heard Alaric's name because he pulled closer.
“What’s going on.If you wanted to meet with us, you could have sent a message.”
“And see the messenger arrested?”Alaric shoots back.
Marcus looks surprised.“That’s been happening?”
Alaric shakes his head.“Not to the messengers, no.But three resistance safehouses have been hit by guards.My people scattered each time, but some of them were grabbed in every case.”
“Do they know about me?”Marcus asks.
Alaric glares at him, and if the illusory face is not his own, it still conveys his anger well enough.
“You think I care aboutyou?”he demands, a touch too loudly.I need to contain this before everyone in the marketplace realizes that Alaric and Marcus are working together.That won’t be safe for either of them.
"If you want to petition the senator, sir, why don't you come back to his home?"I say."I'm sure he can have his servants fetch you some soup and a poultice for your aching joints."
