“With respect, First Senator,” Olivia says.“That isn’t your decision alone.”
“It’s not what we’re here to discuss, is it?”Rowan demands, looking around the room.“We’re here to discuss the proposal regarding Lyra.”
The stones of the chamber seem to rumble in response to his annoyance.Rowan has a talent for earth magic, and that makes him strong in a place completely carved from stone.
Olivia inclines her head.“Very well, First Senator.State your proposal.”
“The proposal that was put to me, you mean,” Rowan says.
“If you don’t want to put it forward, you need only say so,” Olivia replies.“I’m sure we could go back to discussing other options to deal with Lyra Thornwind.Execution, or perhaps just a return to her present imprisonment.”
Above, Selene is smiling like a cat playing with a mouse.
“My proposal is a simple one,” Rowan says.“I believe that Lyra Thornwind should be released from her imprisonment, with suitable safeguards.”
“What safeguards?”Olivia asks.She seems to be enjoying this almost as much as Selene, but then, she was never my friend.
“Lyra will be made to wear a dampener to restrict her magical powers at all times,” Rowan says, giving me an apologetic look.“And she will be released into the custody of a noble or senator willing to guarantee her behavior.That noble will have full responsibility for her.”
“That noble will need to have the power to do what’s necessary to see she isn’t a threat,” Olivia observes.“To punish her if she becomes violent, or shows further signs of treason.”
Rowan looks sick, but he nods.
“Even if it means killing her to stop her rampage as a beast whisperer,” Olivia says.
Rowan nods again, mechanically now.
“And if they’re responsible for her, she would be expected to obey them in all things,” Olivia says.
I understand now what Olivia is driving at.This proposal would make me a slave again in all but name, given into the custody of another and expected to obey them, punished if I fight back in any way.No wonder Rowan looks ashen faced.This is everything he fought to tear down about the empire, coming back piece by piece.Frankly, I’m shocked he’s prepared to make this proposal at all.
Maybe he just knows the alternatives for me are far worse.If Rowan has heard the way things are in the prison, but doesn’t have the power now to stop it, he may see this as the only way to get me out.
“It will be as you say,” Rowan says.“Who will vote for this proposal?”
“I will,” Marcus says, standing.
The other senators of his block stand with him.
“I agree,” Olivia says.
“This is a most irregular thing,” Octavio says.“I must vote against.”
“She should rot where she is or be sent to her death,” Yarrow says.“I vote against.”
Slowly, the votes roll in, and I try to count them all, but for once, it isn’t close.Rowan’s proposal has support from most sides of the senate chamber.That alone should be a warning to him that this isn’t truly his idea.
Selene has manipulated him.
She’s put him in a position where he has to dosomethingto get me to safety, and this is the only option.I wonder how long Rowan spent building the political alliances needed to get me out of my cell.How many different senators contributed small fragments of this idea until it became one coherent thing.How long Rowan spent agonizing over the implications, knowing that he would be bringing back the very slavery he abolished in his first act as a leader?
“The proposal is accepted,” Rowan says.“Now, I must ask, will anyone stand as a responsible party, taking Lyra into their home under house arrest?”
Olivia stands, licking her lips with obvious relish, and I feel both disgust and fear at the prospect of being her prisoner.I have no doubt she will treat me as the least of her servants, throwing me into every one of her parties as no more than a toy to be used by others.
But even as she stands, I see her glance up at the spot where Selene sits above.The former arch-magistrate gives the faintest shake of her head and Olivia sits back down.Another figure stands instead, moving onto the floor of the senate chamber to put a hand on my shoulder.
“I will take responsibility for Lyra,” Marcus says, the strength of his hand keeping me in place as I kneel beside him.“Unless anyone else wants to contest that?”
