I can’t oppose them without a valid reason.
“I am, as always, a servant to the Council.” I incline my head and ignore the scream building in my throat. I have a lot of practice with this maneuver. For the past three months, it’s felt like I’ve had to smile while drowning. And now I’m being pushed out into deep water, and I don’t know why.
“Excellent.” Senator Suh finally looks up and claps his meaty hands together, cane still grasped in one fist. He shifts, his toga pulling taut around his bulging torso, before he goes back to leaning on his cane again. “We will prepare to leave at dusk.”
Thus dismissed, I bow again and exit the Senate floor. As I make my way out of the Senate Hall, I do my best to keep my legs from wobbling. Discreetly, I clench and unclench my sleeves in my fists.
I don’t see as much as feel the Praetorian following me. His footfall is nearly silent, but his presence is unmistakable, causing the muscles in my back to tense.
“Yes?” I ask without turning around.
He comes up alongside me as we step out into the Forum. I look to the right, toward the altar that had been surrounded by white sheets. But it’s exactly how it always is on this crisp spring day. Whatever work they were doing must be complete.
The Praetorian’s blue eyes sharpen on me. “Something wrong?”
“The Senate Leader was murdered, and there wasn’t a single tear in that room,” I mutter. “Men and women who knew him for more than two decades. Could one—”
I cut myself off, remembering that I’m speaking to the Senate protector. I shake my head, trying to pull myself together. He doesn’t need to know my thoughts, especially not that I think someone in the hall might be a murderer. “I assume I will see you at the conclave tonight.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He drifts closer, and his voice is so low that it rumbles.
I tilt my head. “Even though you have a murder to investigate?”
His gaze flickers from my eyes to my mouth and back again. I hold my breath as he leans close to my ear. “Especially because of the murder.”
His lips turn into a small smile. Then he strolls toward the armory. I’m so dazed and dizzy from the past few minutes that I can’t even respond. What does the Council want with me? What doeshewant with me?
I suppose I’m about to find out.
IX.
Torren
“General Hadrian is going to collect on that vessel of wine as soon as we get back, you know.” Julian relaxes, kicking his bare feet up on my sofa.
I harrumph as I pack a bag. The vessel will cost me nearly a week’s pay, but I had to try. The general, however, was correct—it was a futile attempt. Chief Judge Probus was thoroughly unimpressed by me dropping a bloody knife on his desk. He was more concerned about me dirtying his papers and interrupting his tea than the fact that I’d found a murder weapon.
Still, I was about to make my case to the Council when the High Priestess asked about Verhardt. I couldn’t tell whether she was genuinely surprised or if it was an impressive performance, but her shock made me hesitate.
I was lucky it did.
Evidently, the Council has political plans for Kerasea. They would’ve instantly sided with her and put an end to my inquiry, so it was better to not reveal the knife for now.
And then she looked directly at the scene of the crime. Not a notable moment except for the fact that no one said he was murdered on the altar. Few people other than the killer know that.
“Let’s go,” I say. “I need to leave for the conclave.”
“This early?” Jules rises from the sofa and peers out the window. “It’s not even dusk.”
“I am going to ride with the High Priestess to Jubilee.”
Or try to.
Julian’s eyes widen until they’re saucers. “May I ask…why?”
“To get some answers.”
Lady Verhardt declined to speak with me, claiming to be too grief-stricken for questions. She also would not let me disturb her son or even question her servants. She literally shooed me from the grounds of her villa. Therefore, I don’t have a starting place outside of Kerasea Vestal.
