Chapter Twelve
I never thought I would feel safe at Ironhold, but compared to being in the emperor's chambers, it feels like the safest place in the world. I breathe a sigh of relief as the great gates close behind me, flickering torches lighting the practice areas as the gladiators continue to work.
It would be easy to forget that not all of them are taking part in the Champions Trials. Many are simply preparing for the next round of holy days and the accompanying games. A couple of them look at me with jealousy as I come in. Is that because I'm a part of the trials, or is it just because I am not having to undergo the grueling training they are at the moment?
No, I realize the reason for it is because I have been at the palace because I have been summoned by the emperor. To them that is a huge honor, rather than a terrifying ordeal. But then, they do not have powers that have been all but outlawed in the empire. They have not been told by the emperor that he is still making up his mind whether he should kill them or not.
I have, and that fact makes me shudder. I know that the rest of the trials will be hard. The emperor has told me as much. He has told me to be careful of what is to come. But what can I do to prepare? My powers are still constrained by the dampener on my wrist, and no amount of training with the spear and weighted chain will get me to the point where I can defeat some of the others hand to hand.
I need another way, and the trial of the maze showed me what that way might be. I start to go looking through the fortress, searching it until I find Vesper. He is in a relatively empty chamber, kneeling before a statue of one of the gods. Is he deep in prayer, meditation, or something else? I stand there watching him, not knowing if I should interrupt.
“I know you're there,” he says in that soft voice of his. “Hello, Lyra.”
Of course, someone with his powers would be able to sense the presence of people around them. He stands, turning to face me.
“I wanted to thank you for what you did back in the arena,” I say.
Vesper shrugs. “It helped me as much as you. One of the downsides of my powers is that I can't really do much alone.”
“I've seen Ravenna control people,” I say. “They say she's made them fall on their own swords in the arena.”
Vesper nods, looking serious. “I imagine she could do that if she wanted. She's very dangerous, although I also suspect she puts some of those stories out herself, because she wants people afraid of her before they even fight her. The more afraid she makes people, the easier it is for her to get in.”
He says it with a note of distaste, as if he doesn't like the way Ravenna uses her powers.
“You disagree with that?” I say. “I thought you had the same powers?”
Vesper smiles slightly. “And do you have the same powers as someone who can just talk to animals? Are the powers of every kineticist or pyromancer the same?”
I take his point. Magic is variable and shifts between one person and another. An archon might have control over the full sweep of magic within their discipline, possibly within multiple disciplines, but someone with a lesser talent is likely to have only a few things they can do. Vex can make objects fly around at will, but he cannot move himself using his magic, and he doesn't seem to be able to control other people directly. Rowan can sense the vibrations of the earth and make it unstable beneath the feet of his opponents, but he cannot raise up grand works of architecture, the way some stone shapers can. It's only natural that Vesper would have different abilities to Ravenna even if they both work with the magic of the mind.
“Sorry,” I say because he makes it sound like an insult that I've compared him to Ravenna.
He waves the apology away. “It's not important. But you must understand that Ravenna and I are very different in terms of what we can do. As I said in the maze, my gift is for raising people up and boosting their talents. I can make them feel better in themselves and remove blocks to their progress. I can boost what they can already do.”
“That's an impressive power,” I say. I've felt just how impressive. He made the difference between life and death back in the maze. Until he helped me, I couldn't control any of the shadow cats. Once he did, they all obeyed me.
Vesper shrugs. “It seems impressive, and maybe out there in the world it would be, but in here? I have a few small skills of communication and mind reading that mean I can read an opponent's movements sometimes. That gives me an edge, but mostly, what I can do doesn't help me in a fight. Not alone.”
“You need someone with you,” I say. “An ally. That's when you're strongest, right.”
“But allies are difficult,” Vesper says. “I might not be able to delve into people's thoughts the way Ravenna can, but I can still see enough to know that most of the people around here are ready to betray their allies, are just using them, are prepared to kill them if they're commanded. I came to the conclusion almost as soon as I arrived that it was simply the way of things here.”
“But you still helped me in the maze,” I say.
Vesper shrugs. “Call it mutual interest. Or maybe… you feel different. I know you don't like the killing, not like some of them. And I can feel the power inside you, even if you're cut off from most of it. I get the feeling that you probably wouldn't betray me. I thought it was worth the risk in the maze.”
“It could be worth it through the rest of this too,” I say. “You know the Champions Trials are different from the normal games. For some of the trials, it isn't a case of killing our opponents, just surviving. We can help each other do that.”
“And what if they make us fight?”
“Then we do our best not to kill one another,” I say. “You can see my thoughts, right? You must know I mean this.”
“I can see some of them,” Vesper says. “Like I said, that's not the strongest part of my power, and… maybe it's just the dampener on your wrist, or maybe it's something inherent to beast whisperers, but you aren't the easiest person to read. Or control, I guess. Because I'm sure Ravenna would already have done that if she could.”
I think back to some of the times Ravenna has influenced me. It's undeniable that she can do so, but I've always felt as though I've been able to shrug it off eventually. Maybe I'm not completely vulnerable to her. Or maybe she just doesn’t have as much power as she thinks.
I think about Vesper's power, and how much of a boost it gave me, back in the maze. That was with my dampener. If I'm ever free of it, the combination of the two of us could be formidable.
“I'll think about it,” Vesper says. “Helping you so far has been worthwhile.”
I nod. “That's all I’m asking. I'll leave you to your meditations.”
I leave the chamber, ready to head back to my room. I'm surprised when Alaric is waiting out there in the corridor.
“Alaric, what are you doing here?” I ask him.
“I could ask you the same question,” he says. “I was waiting for you to return, you know. I wanted to make sure you were all right after today. They said the emperor summoned you. I thought you would need me. Instead, I find you here.”
There's an odd note in his voice. It sounds like… jealousy.
“I just came here to talk to Vesper,” I say.
“To talk?” Alaric says. “Since when does he talk to anybody much?”
“He talks to me,” I reply.
“Is that all he does?” Alaric asks. I can hear more jealousy in his voice.
“Are you accusing me of something, Alaric?” I ask. I can barely believe I'm asking it. “I go to speak with someone, and your first thought is… what? That I’m sleeping with him?”
“I heard you offering him an alliance,” Alaric says. He takes hold of my arm. “That means something, Lyra. Just how close are you to him? If he’s using his mind powers to make you his, I’ll kill him.”
“I'm not his ,” I say. “I don't belong to anyone.”
“I'm pretty sure your patron would disagree,” Alaric says. Again, I can hear the jealousy there in his voice.
“Alaric, nothing happens between me and Lady Elara. You of all people should know that the patron gladiator relationship isn't just about that.”
“Yes, but she’s hardly your mother, and she's happy enough to let the rumors fly around. And the emperor took you to his rooms, I hear.”
“Do you not trust me at all, Alaric?” I ask. “Do you not know me?”
“I'm not even sure you know yourself,” Alaric says. He glances towards the chamber Vesper is meditating in. “Just… stay away from him, Lyra.”
So now he's trying to dictate who I speak to? I shake my head. I can't deal with this right now.
“I was going to come and find you,” I say.
“Were you?”
“But now I think I need to be alone. There's another challenge tomorrow, and we both need sleep. Maybe by then you'll have stopped being so jealous, Alaric.”
I don’t have time for his jealousy, and what’s worse, I can’t assuage it. I can’t give away the nature of Vesper’s powers, because that’s his secret to keep. I can’t tell him what really happens with Lady Elara, because that would expose the spectral covenant. All I can do is hope that he realizes how foolish he’s being.
But what if he doesn’t? Alaric isn’t just the person I care about the most, isn’t just someone whose jealousy makes pain tear through my heart. He’s also one of the few allies I have in the Champions Trials. I need all the allies I can get, because tomorrow is the trial of flames.