Page 26 of Ironhold: Trial Five

“It's going to be tricky to talkabout everything that happened if you don't want to know any details related tothe unrest,” I say.

“I can listen, at least,” Rowansays. “Even if I don't want to risk my life as a part of it, that doesn't meanI don't want to help you. What is it that has you so distracted? The rumors sayit's because Lady Elara has suddenly picked Cesca as a favorite, but somehow Idoubt it's about that.”

I sigh. “My new patron is Vex.”

Rowan looks worried at that. “Hedidn't do anything to hurt you, did he?”

He says it in a protective tone,but the truth is that if Vex had, there would be nothing either of us could doabout it.

I shake my head. “No, he just tookme out of the colosseum today to look around the city and see some of thethings wrong with it. I saw the spots where people are being executed just forspeaking out against corrupt officials. I saw the long lines of hungry people.In the crowds yesterday, there was someone who was shouting against theemperor's rule. There's so much wrong in Aetheria.”

Rowan nods. “That isn't hard tosee. But there have been things wrong in it for a long time. This is a citywhere the nobles own some of us outright and the rest in all but name. Where weare made to fight to the death. Where the common people go hungry.”

In moments like this, he sounds asthough he might be at the heart of a rebellion, but I can see why he's not.Rowan feels as though he has too much to lose.

“This feels different,” I say. “Itfeels as though it's building up to something. Even the emperor seems to seeit. That's why the games are so important to him now. He needs ways to distractthe citizens. It's why he is forcing me to keep fighting.”

“I still say that Alaric wouldn'twant that for you,” Rowan says.

“Maybe not, but he wouldn't want todie either,” I counter.

“Do you think it would save him tothrow your lot in with one of the sides?” Rowan asks.

“I'm… not sure,” I admit. Perhapsbefore I had spoken with Lady Elara today, I might have believed that she woulddo something to save Alaric. Now, though, it seems clear that she doesn’t careabout anything but getting revenge. Alaric is, at most, a sacrifice along theway. Exactly the kind of sacrifice I cannot allow. If anything, Vex is probablymore likely to do something to save him, seeing Alaric as a fellow noble to beprotected.

“That seems to me to be the problemwith all of this,” Rowan says. “There are lots of people who want your help,but none of them are clear about what they will do if they succeed.”

He has a point. It seems clear thatVex and his nobles merely want to replace one emperor with another. Someaspects of the system will change, and maybe that will be to the benefit ofeveryone but most things will remain the same. The nobles are not about to giveaway their slaves, or shut down the colosseum. Vex would be horrified by thevery idea of that.

Is Lady Elara any better thoughwith her beast whisperers? She has talked about making things better, but hermethods will mean chaos and destruction on the streets, a wave of vengeance andblood. She will rebuild in the aftermath, and maybe things will be better, butI cannot stomach what it will take to get there.

It seems to me that neither will bedoing anything for the starving common folk. Vex might have shown me them but Idoubt he will do more than the bare minimum for them. He will root outcorruption among the officials, but that alone will not put food in the mouthsof the poorest people of Aetheria.

“A gladiator named Bella asked meif I would be interested in joining an uprising,” Rowan says. “Does that meanyou've been building support here as well?”

I shake my head. “She has beendoing that herself.”

I haven’t talked to Rowan about herbecause I guessed he wouldn’t be interested. Bella represents another faction Ineed to consider. It's obvious that her faction is closer to the common peopleof the city, but they also seem caught up with its gangs, far too willing toallow them free reign over the city.

“Have you noticed that they're allcoming toyoufor your help?” Rowan says.

“I guess I'm useful to them,” Isay.

He looks at me for several seconds.“It's a little more than that, Lyra. There's the prophecy, for one thing.”

“Do you think the emperor isright?” I ask Rowan. “That I am either to save the city or kill the emperor?”

Rowan nods. “That's one thing Ihave no doubt about. If anyone in this place is going to be at the heart ofevents, it's going to be you. And who said that saving the city and killing theemperor were opposites? I'm pretty sure that every group in the city right nowthinks that killing Tiberius is exactly the way to save the city.”

The reality of those words hits melike a stone. I have been confused about what my role in this is going to be.The emperor's own prophecy seemed so confused that it was impossible to makesense of it. But this… could Rowan be right?

Even if it doesn't come to that, itfeels as though I am on the edge of a blade, balancing carefully trying to pickmy way to safety. One slip, and there will be blood. But what if I can't avoidthe blood? What if my only choice is who bleeds, and why?

Chapter Fifteen

I have no bouts in the arena thenext day, which is a first for me. I have fought on every day of each set ofgames I have been a part of before this. This time, though, it seems that I ambeing saved for something special at the end. That is not a comforting thought,even if it means I will not have to risk my life today.

I cannot simply stay in Ironhold,either. It seems that I am required to go down into the city with the others,to be seen and to spend time among the nobles. It is a unique kind of ordeal,having to go there simply to be stared at by them. I'm still required to wearmy arena armor, the patches of scale leaving plenty of flesh uncovered for themto see. I wait in the receiving rooms, standing there as if I am another of theservants who stand around the walls of the room waiting for commands.

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