CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I feel a flood of relief as Marcus returns to his villa in the evening light, looking unharmed.
Alaric has gone back out into the city, presumably to try to quell the violence and bring his resistance movement back under control.
He doesn't want the people to be hurt in this upswell of fighting any more than I do.
“Are you all right?” I ask him as he returns.
Marcus nods. “The guards were able to keep the mob back until they broke up and were driven away. It’s still not clear what happened to make them flee.
Some of the senators are talking about more guards advancing on them, others about psychomancy.
” He looks straight at me. “A few of them report seeing animals driving back those attacking the palace.”
“I intervened as soon as I heard what was going on,” I say. “I can’t believe people would try to attack the palace like that.”
“Why not?” Marcus replies. “It’s what the Republic was founded on, after all. People rising up to violently overthrow the tyranny of the emperor. You called for that revolution, if I recall correctly.”
“I didn’t call for them to do this,” I say. “I wouldn’t put you and the other senators in danger like that.”
“I believe you,” Marcus says, putting a hand on my arm. He leads me deeper into his villa, to one of the couches there. “And, in this case, it may have come at an opportune time.”
It’s hard to believe that anything good might come from the violence in the city.
“What do you mean?” I ask him.
“I mean it forced us to break up the session of the senate, just as it was getting ready to move to a vote on Selene’s proposal,” Marcus says.
He looks hurt. “I tried everything I could think of to stop it, tried to bring as many people as I could to my side. I stood in the middle of the chamber and I denounced the proposal as an act of despotism, and I’m still not sure it made any difference.
If the attack hadn’t come when it did, Selene would already have the authority she seeks. ”
I don’t know whether to be grateful for the attack or not, now. It stopped the vote, at least temporarily, but I can’t condone what people did in my name, and I hate that people were hurt doing what they thought I wanted.
“We need to find a way to bring the people supporting us back under control,” I say.
Marcus nods. “It’s always the problem with using the mob. It’s possible to point them in one direction or another, but it can be hard to rein them in. It’s one of the reasons I don’t trust Alaric. He's too quick to rely on the common people.”
“And you’re quick to make deals with the richest ones,” I point out. “Even when you know that helping the ordinary people isn’t in their interest. Besides, you were happy enough for me to speak at the forum.”
“Having popular support is necessary,” Marcus says. “It’s just that we must recognize its limitations. It’s a tool to be used, but it can quickly become a tidal wave, carrying you along regardless of your original intent.”
I’ve felt the truth of that, but a part of me still trusts the people more than Marcus does. We sit there on a couple of his finely gilded couches, sipping wine brought to us by one of his servants.
“If we stop Selene, what do you want Aetheria to be?” I ask him.
Marcus pauses, considering it. “It will need to be a place of order. The people must be guided and helped. Maybe even distracted by the games. The Republic has gotten a lot right. It just needs a strong hand in charge to make sure it doesn’t tumble into this chaos again.
Someone who can root out vested interests and the remnants of support for the empire. ”
“Someone like you?” I guess, leaning back on my couch.
“Or you,” Marcus replies. His eyes glitter momentarily. “Or us.”
I know he’s about to try to persuade me to marry him, proposing it as a political alliance as much as a love match. I can see the hunger in his eyes, and I can’t always tell with Marcus whether it’s for me or the city.
I’m almost grateful for the servant who interrupts us, hurrying up and directing a short bow towards Marcus.
“Senator, forgive the intrusion, but there is a visitor.”
“A visitor?” Marcus says. “Who would want to call on me on a day like this?”
“Not on you,” the servant says. “They’re asking for Lyra Thornwind.”
That's a surprise. Alaric comes and goes as he pleases. His fellow members of the resistance send messages, but rarely come here. I can't think who it might be.
“Show them in,” Marcus says, obviously as intrigued as I am.
Another minute passes, and a familiar red-haired, green-eyed figure walks into the room, wearing a dress that seems to be composed of living plants.
“Lady Cassandra,” Marcus says. “This is a surprise.”
“Is it?” Cassandra says, her tone blunt. She looks across at me. “You must have expected I’d call on you sooner or later, Lyra.”
Cassandra is a diplomat, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Arboria, one of Aetheria's closest neighbors.
It's a kingdom of vast forests and natural spaces, home to mages who specialize in working with plants, and to beast whisperers.
It's ruled by a queen who views the chaos in Aetheria as weakness and who has threatened to invade if the Republic doesn't look capable of defending itself.
“I thought you were siding with Selene in the conflict for Aetheria,” I say.
Cassandra sits down without being asked. She takes wine, too. For a diplomat, she’s remarkably direct. Indeed, the first time she was sent to the city, it was to insult us and try to create an excuse for conflict.
“The Kingdom of Arboria does not take the side of lesser kingdoms.”
“Lesser?” Marcus says, with a hint of reproach.
Cassandra shrugs. “A place that can’t keep its government stable? One that, for some reason, prefers gladiatorial games to chariot racing? One that needs to boast about its magical prowess, rather than just being powerful? What would you call it, Senator Marcus?”
“Have you been sent to test us?” I ask her. “To see how we’ll react to insults?”
“Maybe I just don’t think the senator deserves you, dear,” Cassandra says. She gives me a pointed look to say who she thinks does. “But in this case, I was merely stating the official position of my queen.”
“So, what are you doing here?” I ask Cassandra.
The Arborian noble shrugs. "I've been watching you in the games. I've also been watching the way things have been going in the city. I'm no longer convinced that the only choices are Selene Ravenscroft or chaos."
Those are the two outcomes her queen sent her to watch for.
Cassandra has already spoken with Selene, making deals with her, ready for the possibility that she becomes empress.
In the event of a bloody civil war, though, Cassandra’s queen will be quick to invade, taking control of the kingdom and letting her warriors take those they wish as slaves.
In some ways, Arboria can be a cruel kingdom.
“What third option have you seen?” Marcus says.
Cassandra nods towards me. “Lyra. Entering the Grand Tournament was a brave move, Lyra. And now, you’ve shown how much power you have over the people.”
“I couldn’t stop them from attacking the palace,” I say.
Cassandra raises an eyebrow. “From what I hear, that’s exactly what you stopped them from doing.”
“They were there in my name,” I point out.
“And you sent them home again,” Cassandra says. “Oh, don’t look surprised. Of course I was watching.”
Part of the reason Cassandra is so brash is because it catches people off guard when she’s subtle. No one imagines she might be capable of working as a spy.
“So you’ve... what?” Marcus says. “Come here to declare your support for Lyra’s cause?”
Cassandra laughs. “Surely a senator can’t be so naive? Of course not. Nothing so open. And if you want our support, there will be a price.”
“What kind of price?” I ask.
Cassandra waves her hand vaguely. “Favorable trade arrangements, future political considerations, that kind of thing. Guarantees that Aetheria won’t attack Arboria, or seek to undermine its ruler.”
“Why would we do that?” I ask.
“Well, you’ve done it effectively enough with your own,” Cassandra says. “I think, after you got rid of your own emperor, our queen has a right to be a little nervous.”
“I don’t have any intention of getting rid of your queen,” I say. I get the feeling that there’s more Cassandra isn’t telling me.
“What’s really in it for Arboria, Cassandra?” I ask. “Oh, I know you’ll extract some kind of deal, and Marcus will probably negotiate with you over every detail. But why are you really interested in helping us?”
“Maybe I just like you,” Cassandra says, sipping her wine with a smile.
"You've threatened to drag me back to Arboria on your chariot before," I point out.
Her smile widens. “Which is just proof of how much I like you. I wouldn’t take a weakling as my own, dear.”
I shake my head. “You’re deflecting again. What’s changed?” I think about the thing she’s asked for, about not attacking Arboria. “Is Selene attacking your kingdom, somehow?”
Cassandra curses in a way that would make most sailors blush. “I told my queen you’d work it out too quickly. All right, the truth then. Selene Ravenscroft continues to build support beyond the borders of Aetheria. Our assumption is that, once she has power here, she’ll try to expand.”
“An ever growing empire,” Marcus says.
“Exactly,” Cassandra replies. “And, to stop that, we’re prepared to provide some support, making sure she can’t bring in resources and reinforcements, that kind of thing. But we have to work quietly. I’m sure you understand.”
“Because you aren’t sure whether I’ll win,” I guess.
Cassandra spreads her hands. “Well, she is an Archon. I’m not sure if even you can deal with that. Although obviously, I hope you do.”
It’s one more pressure to add to those already pressing down on me. It’s a reminder that Selene is a threat beyond the walls of the city, and even the borders of the Republic.
“In fact, it’s essential you do,” Cassandra says. “Because the alternative...”
“What alternative?” I demand.
Cassandra sighs. “Simply what you already know. If you don’t finish this, if there’s chaos, our armies are already gathering. They will invade, unless you deal with the threat Selene poses.”