Can that really be it?Is it truly possible that Senator Olivia tried to have Marcus killed so she could gain control over me?Olivia has invited me to some of her parties in the past and has hinted before that she'd be interested in me as a lover, but does she really think I'm worth killing Marcus over?
“No, that can’t be it,” I say.“You two really think Oliviawantsme so badly she’s willing to kill to get me?”
“It’s like Lady Elara all over again,” Alaric says, and somehow the smirk is his even when the features aren’t.
“Youknownothing happened there!"I snap.Lady Elara was my patron for a time when I was in Ironhold.She was a powerful beast whisperer who hoped to teach me so she could use me as part of an uprising that would see beast whisperers tear apart all those she thought had oppressed them.To justify that patronage, she started rumors that the two of us were engaged in a love affair that quickly became the talk of the city.There were even a few particularly lurid songs composed by bards who knew how to please their drunken audiences.
“Well, then,” Alaric says.“Do you think Marcus and I wouldn’t fight for you?”
As if to illustrate the point, he salutes Marcus with one of his wooden weapons.To my surprise, Marcus takes up the challenge, moving forward with a wooden blade of his own.
With me, Alaric is holding back with his magic, forcing me to concentrate on physical skills.With Marcus, his image quickly splits into three that dance around the senator, jabbing at him with wooden blades even as Marcus sends out sparks of lightning to keep Alaric at bay.
I've seen the two of them fight in earnest before, only barely been able to keep them from killing one another, but this is something much friendlier and more playful.Alaric might be using his magic, but he's moving slowly enough that Marcus has the chance to counter; the steady clicking of their wooden swords against one another feels like the beat of the strange dance they're engaged in.
“Don’t drag your feet,” I call out to Marcus.“Alaric, keep your guard up.”
I try to call out advice to both of them equally, knowing that favoring one over the other is likely to turn this contest into something more serious.Alaric and Marcus are only too ready to fight for my favor, which is why I can’t be seen to bestow it on either of them right now.Doing so might drive a wedge into our growing partnership.
They’re willing to fight for me, but I have a hard time believing that Olivia is.
"Would I really become Olivia's if Marcus were to die?"I ask.Marcus half turns to answer, and Alaric's blade taps against his throat.
Marcus sighs in exasperation at the loss, but in some ways, it's better that it happened because I distracted him rather than because Alaric managed to prove himself the superior fighter.At least this won't bruise Marcus' ego to the same extent.
"It could happen," Marcus says."If I were to die, there would be no one keeping you in custody, so you'd go back before the senate to see if anyone else would take responsibility for you, or if you're to be sent back to the prison we got you out of."
I shudder at that prospect, and I can see how Olivia might take advantage of the situation.All she would have to do is offer to take responsibility for me at the right moment.And she would have the backing to overcome objections even from Rowan, now.Itcouldwork like that.
I just have a hard time believing Olivia is doing it because she’s suddenly infatuated with me.She’s never had any problem finding lovers.She could presumably find women far more beautiful than me, and far more willing.Maybe it’s about the prospect of power over me for her, but I still feel as though I’m missing something.
“You spar with Marcus again,” Alaric says.“We’re going to keep working until, powers or not, you become something Selene Ravenscroft is terrified of facing on the sands.”
Something clicks into place in my mind as he says it.I know that Alaric has somehow hit on the answer to all of this.
“Not Selene,” I say.“Olivia.”
“Sure,” Alaric replies.“We can make her terrified of you, too.”
I wave the comment away.“No, I think she already is.Or at least, I think she’s terrified of what I might be able to do to Selene if I face her in the colosseum.”
Marcus frowns.“Why would she think that will happen?Especially when you don’t have your powers, Lyra?”
I'm certain now that this is the right track.It makes perfect sense to me."Because I've done it before, fought dangerous opponents there again and again.Olivia sees me more as a gladiator than a senator anyway.And I've succeeded in the colosseum before, even when I've been made to wear a dampener."
“I don’t know,” Alaric begins.
“Think about it,” I say.“Olivia has been helping Selene to bring about her Grand Tournament.She’s also been helping to arrange Selene’s path through it, if what I overheard her talking about is true.”
Marcus nods.“Olivia doesn’t want to risk Selene losing.Not when Olivia sees herself rising alongside Selene.”
"And almost from the moment I was released from prison, she's been trying to either hurt me or gain control over me," I say."Why?Because she thinks it's the best way to make sure I don't enter the Grand Tournament."
Alaric frowns.“But you’re not entering the tournament.”
I take a breath.“Maybe I should.”
Both of them look at me as if I’ve gone mad.
