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‘Thank you,’ said Claudia, as the physician departed.
‘Empress,’ he said, bowing in the doorway.
‘I told you I was fine,’ said Gia, when he was gone.
‘You’re hardly fine. You could’ve died.’
‘It’s nothing. Just a scratch.’
‘You don’t need to pretend to be strong for me,’ said Claudia, barely resisting the urge to hold her.
‘What was that about, in the chariot, sister?’ asked Cassius. ‘You were ready to tear ten strips off the Prince of Persia.’
‘Oh, right,’ said Gia, her face falling as she recalled. She cringed at Claudia. ‘Sorry. It just slipped out.’
‘He’d just saved all our lives, too,’ said Cassius. ‘What possessed you to say that, Gia?’
‘It’s not untrue,’ said Gia. ‘There was a knife. A dagger with a Jupiter bolt on it, such as was used to attack the empress. It was hidden among his things, in his room here in the palace.’
‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ asked Cassius.
‘Claudia chose not to confront him about it.’
Cassius looked to her, for further explanation.
‘We weren’t sure if it was planted there or not, or what the consequences of accusing him would be.’ Claudia sighed. ‘I should’ve acted sooner. I put a bullseye on my back, and all of you were the rings of the target around me. This was my fault.’
‘Of course you’re making this about you,’ said Cassius.
‘They fired at me. I’m the empress. It’s entirely about me.’
‘You know, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is. It happened… and it will happen again, so long as she stands by your side.’
‘Can you… not?’ said Gia, frowning at them. ‘Both of you.’
‘Sorry,’ said Claudia, at the same time Cassius said, ‘Sorry.’
The fury inside her turned to steam, leaving her empty. What good did her rage do? Claudia shook her head, ceasing her endless pacing.
‘No, no, he’s right,’ she said.
‘I am?’ said Cassius, brows lifting in surprise. ‘I am.’
Claudia approached the bench. ‘Gia Valerii, you are officially relieved of your duties as my guard.’
‘For how long?’
‘For good. You need not worry about money, of course. You will live here as my companion and I will provide anything you need.’
‘No.’ Gia shook her head vehemently. ‘You need me.’
‘I cannot sacrifice you for this,’ said Claudia. ‘I will not sacrifice you for this, Gia.’
Maybe removing her from her staff was too much, or maybe it wasn’t enough. Claudia didn’t know anything any more.
‘I have to go and speak to Prince Darius,’ she said, walking off. ‘It can wait no longer.’
Gia climbed down from the bench. ‘I’ll go with you.’
