“The city guards have been alerted, Senator,” Exus says.
Marcus winces.“I guess it’s necessary, not that I suspect they’ll do anything.”
He’s right.If this is one of Selene’s followers, then they’ll only find themselves punished for what happened tonight if Selene wants it.
“Is there any sign of mybodyguards?”Marcus asks.“The ones who should be protecting the villa gates?”
The servant shakes his head.“No, Senator.”
“There’s no sign of their bodies hidden beyond the walls?”Marcus asks.
“I can check.”
“I’llcheck,” Marcus says.
"If you're going out there, I'm coming with you," I say.There's always a chance the killers will be waiting beyond the walls of the villa, and I'm not letting Marcus go out to face that threat alone.
Marcus nods, and the two of us head out through the villa's gardens.Exus comes with us, tagging along without being asked.I have Marcus' dagger tucked away again, while he has his sword in his hand once more.The servant is unarmed, and that makes me worried about his safety if there are any more threats.But I don't have the authority to command him back inside as the three of us start to skirt the perimeter of Marcus’ villa.I don’t even know what he makes of Marcus’ supposed prisoner helping to fight the way I did.
There aren’t any bodyguards outside the property, and I can’t see any signs of a struggle anywhere.There are no bodies, and no tracks that might suggest any had been dragged away elsewhere.
“I don’t think your guards were killed,” I say.
Marcus nods.“I should take that as good news.”
“But?”
“But if they aren’t dead, it means they betrayed me by abandoning their posts.I want to know why.”
Exus, the servant, looks as though he doesn't quite understand what's going on."The city guards will be here soon enough, Senator.Perhaps they-"
“When they get here, they’ll want to know what happened,” Marcus says.“Tell them that a group of ruffians and thieves attacked my home, looking to steal what they could.I drove them off, and now I’m searching with my bodyguards to make sure they aren’t planning to come back.”
“But-” the servant begins, but Marcus fixes him with a look.“As you say, Senator.”
I guess Marcus doesn't want the city guards to know the truth of what happened tonight.Perhaps he doesn't trust them when so many are in the pockets of Selene and her followers.
“One more thing,” Marcus says.“What’s the name of the tavern my guards always go to drink at after their shift?”
“I think that’s theRutting Stag,Senator,” the servant says.
“Ah, yes,” Marcus replies.He looks over at me.“Well, Lyra, I don’t know about you, but I could do with a drink after all this.”
*
TheRutting Stagturns out to be on the fringes of Aetheria's entertainment district.It's still open, despite the late hour, and I get the feeling it never truly closes.Like so much of the entertainment district, nightfall only means a shift in the tone of the entertainment on offer.The establishment is large but poorly kept, the paint around its sign peeling somewhat, while a man staggers out into the street and vomits even as Marcus and I watch.The sound of an out-of-tune fiddle drifts on the night air, followed by raucous merry-making.
"Be ready for anything in there," Marcus says as he leads me inside.
The interior of the tavern is lit by oil lanterns rather than magic, sending shadows flickering throughout.Despite being the middle of the night, there are plenty of people drinking and carousing there.
“There,” Marcus says, pointing to the spot where two guards in the silver and grey of his merchant house are steadily drinking wine, a small scattering of coins spread out on the bar in front of them.
Marcus is already striding over as I struggle to keep up.
“Vaxim, Beko, I should buy the next round!”he says with obviously false ebullience as he comes up to them.“But then, it looks as though you’ve come into some money.Shouldn’t the two of you still be guarding my villa?”
“Look, Marcus,” one of the bodyguards starts, but Marcus cuts him off.
