“I’m sure there’s no argument here.” Senator Medea waves her arm, fingers sweeping the air.
The Praetorian waits, eyeing each senator in turn, but when no one objects, he nods. Of course, that doesn’t mean he has permission to investigate the senators or me. He can question the sentries, pages, and servants only.
“I think we all are neglecting the bigger issue here.” Senator Terrance raps his knuckles on the table. He stands straight and speaks so loudly that his voice echoes.
The Praetorian pauses, and relief flushes through me. Finally, someone will point out that this death on the heels of Verhardt’s murder is no coincidence and therefore, there is a killer among us.
“We have no clerk now,” Terrance says. “We cannot have the conclave without a clerk. We are in a bind, as fetching someone from the capital will take at least a full day—if we even can agree on the right person to serve us.”
I widen my eyes. That’s it? That is his sole concern?
“I can do it,” Julian says from the doorway.
Torren stares, surprise written on his face. I didn’t expect that, either, but Julian did say he has little to do this week.
“Perfect, then it’s settled.” Senator Suh claps his large hands. “Thank you for your service, Commander. We can now finally begin. Our pages will show you what is necessary for the resolutions, and they will do all the filing. We just need you to tally the votes and sign the laws as acting clerk.”
Julian nods and then leaves the room. Torren watches from the corner of his eyes. There’s a wrinkle of concern on his brow, and then it vanishes.
“Am I correct in assuming that none of you saw Antinous at Jubilee?” the Praetorian asks.
He knows very well that I did, but he is asking the senators. He has to tread carefully because ofun exorum. It’s bold that Torren even asked the question when they will vote on his reappointment this week.
Senator Eyo frowns as everyone stays silent.
What was that?
Foreau shakes his head. “Of course we didn’t.”
“Certainly not.” Terrance wrinkles his nose as if he smells something foul.
They are lying. The untruth seeps into my skin like oil. Are they covering the truth because they don’t want to appear guilty or because they are?
Suh folds his thick fingers. “Praetorian, we have business to attend to. You are certainly not interrogating the Council, am I correct?”
“That is correct,” Torren replies. “I was inquiring as to whether anyone knew where he was staying to make it easier for us to locate his chambers.”
The group visibly relaxes.
“We do not,” Eyo says with finality.
“We’ll receive your report at lunch, then,” Paolo says softly.
Thus dismissed, the Praetorian turns, but not before locking eyes with me. If he was listening at the kitchens, he heard what Antinous said—the Senate conspires. Whoever murdered Verhardt also wanted him dead, and they acted upon it.
Someone in this room is guilty of double murder, and we are the only ones who seem concerned by this fact.
An invisible string now links me to Torren, but is that a good thing? I suppose it depends on whether both murders were carried out by the Praetorian himself.
XV.
Torren
Julian returns to the throne room while I take the stairs to the thermal baths. I have no idea why he volunteered to play clerk for the Senate Council, but that’s an oddity I can settle later.
Right now, I’m dealing with another murder—one made to appear like an accident, a far cry from Verhardt’s evisceration.
The different methods would typically suggest a different assailant, but in this case, the timing and the closed nature of Jubilee means it must be the same person.
