CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
The Senate is already meeting by the time Marcus and I walk in, in the middle of discussions over Alaric's fate.
“What is this?” Senator Octavio asks as we walk out into the middle of the debating floor. “You're interrupting the proceedings.”
I look around for Domitian and those who might support him. He isn't there in the chamber, and that worries me. Has my attempt to break into his rooms startled him? Has it forced his hand in some way?
It doesn't matter. What matters right now is presenting the evidence we have.
“With your leave,” Marcus says. “We have a matter to bring to the attention of the senate that cannot wait.”
“We're in the middle of the session,” Olivia snaps. “Can't you wait until we've decided what to do with these rebels before interrupting, Marcus?”
I look past her, to Rowan. “This is more important. Domitian is plotting against the city.”
There's an intake of breath around the room, perhaps in surprise that I would come out and make an accusation like that so clearly.
“You would say that, though,” Yarrow says. “You and he have been at one another's throats here and elsewhere. And he's the one pushing for your lover’s execution. Of course, you would try to discredit him.”
Those words sting. More than that, they make me feel a growing wave of fear. What if the Senate simply doesn't listen to us? What if Domitian has corrupted enough of them that they'll simply ignore me and hand the city to him?
Marcus speaks then. “What about me, Yarrow? Are you going to pretend that I'm accusing Domitian to try to save Alaric?”
“You're accusing him too?” Octavio says.
Marcus nods. He steps towards Rowan, handing him a sheaf of letters.
“These letters are between Domitian and various figures in the city. They show him trying to bribe them or control them. In some of them, he talks about making sure the gangs of the slums are on his side when the moment comes. In others, he talks about making sure the harbor is going to be shut down. He discusses what life will be like when he and those he works with are in control.”
“What are you saying?” Rowan asks.
“I'm saying this is proof that Domitian is planning to stage a coup in Aetheria.”
There is brief uproar around the room, but Rowan raises his hands for silence.
“You're certain of this?” he asks.
“I've been getting closer to him over the last few months,” Marcus replies.
“It was inevitable when he sought influence over the games.
Domitian saw that the renewal of the games provided him with an opportunity to meet with people and influence them.
They provided a distraction for the masses and allowed him to present himself as a key public figure to them.
At the same time he knew you would never attend, Rowan.
He encouraged the people to forget about you and think of him as the city's leader.”
“That's just the start,” I add. “All of this, all of his attempts to make the games more violent, have been about manipulating unrest within the city, while trying to make it seem natural that it should return to being an empire.”
The senators are looking at me with confusion, as if they want to refute my words but it's obviously hard for them to do so when Marcus is standing next to me, saying the same thing.
“Why, though?” Octavio says. “Why would Domitian do such a thing? Isn't it more likely that he simply wants power and influence through the games?”
I take a breath. “He's working with Selene Ravenscroft. Part of the reason he shut down all the discussion of her was that he didn't want anyone to see her coming. He's preparing the way for her return.”
Senators are on their feet now, all talking at once. Rowan stands.
“Enough! Silence I said!”
Finally, they fall silent, letting him speak.
“The documents I've seen prove Domitian is corrupt and that he's working against Aetheria. That should be enough to bring him in for questioning. We'll find out the truth.”
“Where is he?” Marcus asks. “I expected him to be here.”
So did I, and his absence worries me. I reach out with my powers, looking through the eyes of birds flying over the city. As I do so, I realize we have a problem even bigger than I previously thought.
Guards march through the streets. They're carrying the old symbol of the empire, a burst of magic with a sword thrusting through it. They're moving to take control of the harbor, the gates and other key areas.
“Domitian isn't here because he's making his move,” I say.
I must have spooked him with my attempt to break into his rooms, or maybe he just saw that the Senate meeting wasn't going his way before.
It's even possible that he planned this from the start.
Maybe that's why he left so early, why he almost caught me.
“He has guards marching in the streets. He's trying to take over the city.”
“We can't allow it,” Rowan says. “I won't allow the Republic to fall so easily. I'll gather every guard loyal to Aetheria.”
Marcus looks around the room. “We need to do the same.
Normally we would vote, but ultimately this is about which of us will commit our power and our resources to stopping this attempt to overthrow us.
I know many of you have personal guards.
Some of you have connections in the gangs.
You need to go to your people and get them to fight against this before it's too late.”
“You want us to summon our guards based on nothing more than the word of this beast whisperer?” Olivia says.
“Do it or don't,” Marcus replies. “But this is the moment when you choose, Olivia. You choose whether you are committed to the Republic, or whether you're going to risk standing with Domitian, and hope that he has a place for you in his new empire.”
Olivia looks chastened, and nods. “I'll do what I can.”
Already the senators are running from the room, heading in different directions each determined to play their part.
“I need to coordinate things here,” Rowan says.
“Then I'll go out to try to take on his forces,” Marcus replies. The two of them have been at odds for so long in the senate discussions that it's strange to see them working together so smoothly. They both look at me.
“What are you going to do, Lyra?” Rowan asks. “With your abilities you could be useful to coordinate the defense, but I also know how much you could do out there on the streets.”
I have another aim in mind.
“If we need forces, then there's another group of people who will help us,” I say. “A group I’m sure Domitian wants to destroy.”
“You’re talking about Alaric and his people?” Rowan says.
“They just want to protect the city,” I say to him. “And Domitian is behind many of them being imprisoned. If we release them, they’ll help us. But I'll need more authority than just my word.”
Rowan nods grimly, grabs a sheet of parchment and starts to write.
“Here. An order from the first senator for the release of the prisoners.”
Marcus puts his name to it as well. “So they can see it has the authority of the senate behind it as well.”
I take the order, running from the senate chamber and hurrying from the palace.
As I move out into the open air, I can hear the sounds of fighting taking place in the streets, people crying out and steel clashing against steel.
Domitian’s guards are advancing along the streets toward the palace, but Marcus and Rowan are already moving to the palace gates, ready to hold against them.
I can see the Colosseum is changed as well.
It's hung now with the flags of the empire, the purple burst of magic cut through by a sword.
It's clear that Domitian has decided to make it the heart of his coup attempt.
How could we have missed all this? How could he have built up to such a violent attack without the Senate noticing?
The truth is simple: we were distracted. Distracted by arguments over the games, and by the Anniversary Games themselves. Distracted by the unrest in the slums and by the political games Domitian was engaging in. Even I was distracted by talk of death matches and corruption in the games.
I can't afford to be distracted now because the birds above show me that a small contingent of Domitian’s guards is advancing towards the prison tower. My guess is that they plan to kill those within.
I start to run through the streets, taking in every scrap of speed and power I can from the animals around me, not caring about the risk that comes from taking in so much.
I use the sight of the birds above to plot my course through the streets, avoiding the guards for now, not slowing down even for a moment.
The prison tower is just ahead. I run to the doors, hoping even as the guards move to stop me that, they’re ones loyal to the city.
“Halt!” they say in unison.
I hold up the order from Rowan. “Don't you know what's happening? Domitian is trying to take over the city. His guards are marching through the streets. I have an order here for the release of the prisoners.”
“Oh, we know what's going on,” one says with a cruel smile. “And I figure Lord Domitian will reward us well if we throw you in a cell.”
He's corrupted them as well, and that realization makes anger bubble through me alongside determination.
As they reach for me, I call birds down from the sky, flying into their faces, pecking and clawing.
I use the opportunity to attack, slamming an elbow into the jaw of one guard, grabbing the other, and smashing his head into the doorpost. Both fall into unconsciousness, and I snatch up their swords, rushing inside.
Another guard moves to intercept me and I don't even hesitate.
I kick him as hard as I can, ducking under the swing of a club and hammering the pommel of one of my swords into his skull.
I snatch the keys from his belt and keep moving, heading up through the tower even as more guards start to shout below. I race to the top of the tower, and Alaric stands as I reach his cell.
“So now you’re breaking me out?” he says.
“Domitian is trying to take over the city,” I say, as I unlock the door to the cell. “His men are coming here to finish off any rebels. I have an order from Rowan to release you and the others. We need your help, Alaric.”
“Oh, so now you need me,” Alaric says, with that sardonic smile he does so well. The door swings open and he steps past me. I think for a moment that he might be about to simply run, but he snatches a sword from my hand and lunges.
I realize there was a guard sneaking up behind me only as Alaric thrusts a blade through his chest, killing him with a casual ease I could never manage.
Alaric withdraws his blade from the man’s chest, letting him fall, standing there with a look of satisfaction.
Alaric snatches up the man's weapon, throwing the sword back to me.
“Well then,” he says. “Let's go to take back this city.”