I do know now that it wasn’t Kerasea. She seemed shocked and saddened by Antinous’s death, but more than that, Antinous was alive when she saw him last and she didn’t leave her bedroom after I walked her back. At least that is one suspect eliminated—that is, of course, assuming she didn’t arrange for someone else to do it.
I ponder that possibility as I enter the imperial bathing complex. The baths consist of rushing waterfalls, trickling streams, and multiple rooms all with scenic views of the capital far beneath us. Or there would be a view if it weren’t snowing so hard.
The smell of minerals emanates from the water as my footsteps echo past the lagoon-size tepid pool. I continue through the cavernous space to reach the caldarium. We found Antinous face down in one of the hot springs.
As I enter the humid room, a blast of warm air coats my face with dew. I blink, then find two sentries in the water with Antinous’s body.
“I said the scene was not to be touched!” My voice thunders in the tiled space, outrage flowing through me.
The men are so startled that they drop Antinous. His body splashes in the pool, making an undignified wave. The two sentries go stock-still and stare at my armor.
“Praetorian,” they say, saluting.
“What are your names and which senators do you accompany?” I ask.
The first sentry is tall, with a barrel chest and a vacant expression. “I am Sentry Avarre. I accompanied Senator Terrance.”
“Sentry Calais with Senator Eyo,” the other replies. The second man looks familiar. He’s smaller like Paolo and wiry. I saw his curly black hair and sharp nose during the Revelry. He, like his senator, couldn’t keep his eyes off the High Priestess.
“Well, place the body on the bench now that you have disturbed the scene.” I point to one of the slatted wooden benches that line the room.
“Yes, sir,” they say at the same time.
They lift Antinous out, his muscles completely rigid with death. Based on that, he likely died six to seven hours ago. Which means not long after I saw him leave the kitchens.
Not long after he accused me of murdering Verhardt.
My chest tightens, chills running through me in the heat. That makes me the last person to see him alive—aside from the killer.
“Our apologies, Praetorian,” Sentry Avarre says. “But Commander Monroe ordered us to move him so you could examine the body.”
I squint. Julian must be rattled. He knows full well not to move a victim before I have a chance to investigate. And now, not only was the area not secured because we had to return to the throne room, but these men were actively in the pool with the body. The scene is nearly useless to me now.
This is the second investigation Julian has interfered with. A thought snakes through my mind, but I dismiss it. Julian is not a conspirator or a murderer; Iknowhim. Besides, he’s the Capital Commander—one of the youngest ever. Julian is from one of the wealthiest families in the capital, a future patron, and he is loyal to the republic.
But still, the thought persists.You are the Praetorian. You must investigateallsuspects.
“Return to your posts,” I say to the men.
They both salute and leave the caldarium.
Antinous’s lifeless body lies on the bench, his dead eyes staring up at me. His glasses are gone. Either he left them in his chambers or they’re at the bottom of the pool. Possibly they were crushed underfoot by one of the sentries.
I exhale, trying to shake the heavy sense of failure as I crouch down and examine him. It is my duty to protect the Council, and now the Senate Leader and Clerk were murdered under my watch. I did, in fact, fail. But it is also impossible to protect the Senate from themselves.
Like Verhardt was, Antinous is naked. I hold his wrist, but, of course, there’s no throbbing of life beneath my fingers. Due to the fact that he was in the hot pool, Antinous is abnormally warm for a corpse. But there are no noticeable marks on his arms. I take my time examining his neck and chest but find no telltale wounds or bruises. Strangulation by garrote or hand leaves clear marks on a dead body. He has no signs of poisoning or suffocation. No, he definitely drowned.
Was it accidental or did someone hold him under?
My gut says he was held, especially because he had no reason to be in the baths at three in the morning. He wouldn’t risk coming alone when he thought the senators were after him, and this is a terrible place to hide. Someone must have lured him here.
I exhale, my initial investigation complete.
The Ministry of Justice would rule this an accident, not a murder, but Antinous told Kerasea that he knew too much. What else did he tell her that I didn’t overhear? I need to know. But in order to question her, I’d have to admit I was eavesdropping and risk revealing that I was the last to see him alive.
The man he accused of murder.
I stand and shake my head. I need to find another way. Perhaps he had a journal or ledger with him, a file with correspondence, or the like. I’ll have to find where he was hiding and get there before the sentries do. They were all handpicked by the senators, and thus I can’t trust any of them. One of them works for a killer.
