I wasn’t sure exactly whatitwas, but it obviously included assassinating the emperor. I took a seat on the chaise nearest Koska, hands demurely in my lap.
“The first,” he began, his attention on Trajan, “is that I found the harbor man. He’s actually a seaman on the shipMercury. He said that Euphemia is in hiding in the city because word has spread that Caesar is pressing his praetorians heavily to find and punish the smugglers. And apparently Euphemia utilizes their ship in getting outlawed herbs and poisons from the east.”
“Why does he care about that now?” asked Trajan. “There’s always been smuggling.”
“Because someone has been smuggling runaway slaves and bastard dragon children out of Rome. Caesar wants to put an end to it.”
“Bastard dragons?” I asked. “I thought it was illegal for a patrician to have a child with a human.”
Trajan looked at me. “It is. They are typically put to death at birth, but sometimes, they are saved.”
He wore a pensive look then turned back to Koska.
“Is Euphemia the one smuggling these children out?”
I knew her to be reckless and certainly a woman with secrets, but I never dreamed she was smuggling slaves and children out of the city.
Koska shrugged. “That, he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Why would he tell you anything at all?” I asked.
Koska patted his belt where his satchel jingled with coin before looking at Trajan again.
“And the other situation?” asked Trajan. “Any word there?”
“No, but I have an appointment to meet up with Bellona tonight.”
“Good,” snapped Trajan. “Let’s hope this meeting bears fruit.”
When Koska turned to leave, Trajan called back to him. “Did the sailor say where to find Euphemia? I have no way of getting a message out now.”
“He wouldn’t tell me. But I imagine if you pressed him, he would. A tribune has more weight than the coin in my pocket.”
He didn’t bother to explain to me what Koska’s other meeting was about or what message and to whom he needed to get out. I understood now that Trajan would only tell me what he thought I needed to know.
“Thank you, Koska,” said Trajan, turning to the tray and pouring a goblet of wine. “I’m meeting my grandfather at the senate house in the morning. Meet me there with any new information.”
Koska then bowed his head and ducked out of the door
Rather than drink the wine, Trajan walked toward me and offered the goblet.
“No, thank you,” I told him.
I wanted to remain alert, not allow my faculties to be dulled.
“Suit yourself,” he said, guzzling the entire glass in a few gulps and returning to the carafe.
While he poured, he began speaking in his casual manner, the rage from before having dissipated.
“I went to kill Valerius last night for many reasons.”
He sat in a cushioned chair opposite me and stared openly. It was the first time since that night I’d met him that he looked at me with interest. The way many men looked at me. Rather than repulse me asit always did, I lifted my chin and arched a brow, letting him examine me at will. For I wanted to do the same.
After finding his letters, I saw him differently. He wasn’t simply this brash politician with secrets and schemes. He was a dear brother, a kind friend. It took me a moment to let it sink in.
The most unusual part was that I was dressed in this sack of a tunic, the most unflattering garb I’d worn since I’d been enslaved in Rome. And yet, he looked at me as if I wore the most dazzling gown—or nothing at all. I remained still under his inspection before finally nudging him to continue our discussion.
“But there is one reason you’d like to share with me,” I said confidently.
