“Wait,” interrupted Koska. “Does that mean you’re leaving for good? That it’s all over?”
“Why would you say that?” Trajan asked.
“Your and Julian’s plan was always to infiltrate and attack from inside of Rome. To get close to Caesar and attack from within.”
“It was,” he said coolly. “But now that I know how many spies he has, it’s simply too dangerous. We’ll have to do it another way.”
“You have a plan?” I asked.
“Yes.” His mouth ticked up in a cocky smile. “We discovered another plan together. In the dungeons of the Mamertine Prison.”
“Alaric,” I stated.
Trajan nodded.
“What if he refuses?” asked Koska. “I mean Euphemia’s smuggler.”
“He won’t. He’s been smuggling for small purses. He’ll definitely take the risk for a big one.” He pointed to the pouch in Koska’s hand. “There’s enough there for him, his captain, and the entire crew to retire after this one job.”
Koska gulped and tucked the pouch carefully away within the folds of his cloak. “Do I give him a name or a code so that he knows you’re the purse?”
“Bloodsinger,” said Trajan.
I returned his smile this time, noting how extraordinarily attractive he was, standing there so confident and brave when it could all fall apart tonight. When we could die tonight.
“I see,” said Koska. “What… what would you have me do in your absence? Or are you finished with my services?”
We both turned to Koska. He hid it well, but there was a subtle dip to his inflection. He was sad to lose Trajan.
“Koska.” Trajan stepped toward the brawny man, and yet Trajan still towered over him as he gripped his shoulders. “You will keep your eyes and ears open and stay safe. I’ll return by Lupercalia and will need your help. Then you can leave the city with me, if you so choose. I’ll always need a good, trusted man like you.”
The bull of a man looked down and blushed, his cheeks growing pink.
“Yes, sir.” He cleared his throat and puffed out his chest, lookingup at Trajan with earnestness. “I won’t let you down. I’ll be your eyes and ears here in the city. You can find me at my apartment in the Aventine when you return at Lupercalia.”
“Thank you, my friend. I need you to also get word to Horatius right away. Ask him to send a litter tonight with my grandfather in it. Just a minute.”
Trajan left the room toward his study, taking a few moments before returning with a few things in his hands. He handed over a folded piece of parchment to Koska first. “Tell Horatius to use a nondescript litter with no markings of any dragon house. Everything is explained in there.”
“Certainly, sir.”
“One more thing.” He lifted two scrolls from his tunic. He must’ve gotten them from his study when I was dressing. “Give this to Alba an hour after we’ve left for the party tonight. It will tell her where I’ve stashed denarii for each of the slaves in the kitchen and to urge them to find a safe place to hide in the city. I doubt Caesar will bother looking for them, but if they’re here when it’s discovered I’ve escaped the city, the praetorians will most assuredly torture them for any information. Make sure they understand that.”
Koska nodded. “It will be done. I know people who will help them.”
“Good. Thank you. That reminds me. I have something for you as well. While I’m gone and when you speak to the plebs in the Aventine, let them know a revolution is coming.”
Trajan handed him a scroll. Koska unrolled it and read. I could see the blue Sapphirus wax seal on the page. Koska cleared his throat again, shifting nervously.
“You do me a great honor in trusting me with your seal and confidence, sir.”
“And if that’s not enough, show them this.” Trajan handed overhis gladius in its scabbard. “This will be proof when you are gathering the plebs, assuring them that a new, better age is dawning. They must trust us, that we, my grandfather, Julian, and the other liberators of dragonkind, want a new, free Rome.”
Koska’s eyes widened as he took the gladius in both palms like it was a sacred object. To the Romans, I suppose it was.
“I-I don’t know what to say, Tribune.”
Trajan patted him on the shoulder. “Say you will guard it well. And tell all the plebs who will listen to be ready when the time comes. Trust me when I tell you, Koska, war is coming to the capital city of Rome. Everyone must be ready. And if they’re brave enough, they must fight. With us.”
