Page 17 of Ironhold: Trial Five

“A man can ask, can't he? It'sobvious she'll end up as some great noble’s wife.”

Is it obvious to them? Is that whatthey think will happen to me once I complete my time in the games? I will befree. I will be technically noble. I have been told that positions open up forformer gladiators within the society of Aetheria. I assumed that meantpositions as an official or as something in the military. Do they really thinkthat the only future I have to look forward to is being the wife of a nobleman?

Not that I have any such future tolook forward to now. Not now that I have agreed to the emperor's offer. A lifeoutside the games without Alaric would mean nothing, and so I will continue tocompete. Continue to excite the crowds in the hope that one day, the emperorwill show mercy to both of us.

I look around for any sign ofAlaric. Since the emperor is keeping him in a noble box at the games for me tosee, maybe there is a chance he will be able to come here to the receivingrooms. Maybe I will get to speak with him to see him.

But there is no sign of him here.It seems the emperor is keeping us apart, at least for now.

One of the servants comes to me,looking almost deferential as she approaches, bowing her head as if I am anoble and not a fellow captive of the empire.

“Lyra? Your new patron ordered meto watch for you and to bring you to a private room as soon as you came intothe receiving area.”

Fear fills me again at the prospectof another patron I do not know.

“Who is this patron?” I ask.

The servant shakes her head,looking slightly frightened. “Forgive me, but I have been commanded not to sayanything. It is not something they wish everyone to know just yet.”

At first I think her fear is ofthis new patron but I realize that she's at least partly afraid of how I willreact. Does she really think I'm the cruel, deadly beast whisperer they paintme as? That I will react with violence because she has not answered me? Butthen, why wouldn't she? If she has seen anything of these games, she will haveseen me drive a spear into Aya’s heart.

But I fear at least as much fear asshe does. Because I do not know what my new patron will want from me, what Iwill be forced to do next.

“Will you come?” she asks.“Please?”

“Yes, of course,” I reply, eventhough I feel anything but happy about it. My mind is racing as I say itbecause I'm trying to work out who this mysterious new patron is. I didn't knowIhada new patron yet. Has the emperor arranged this one the way he didwith the last? If so he will have picked someone who will make my life harder.He has never shown me kindness.

The servant leads me to one of theside rooms and my heart is beating faster with every moment as I close in onthe private room. I fear what will happen to me next, what this patron willwant from me.

My new patron is in there, sittingon a couch in noble robes, reclining in splendor there. The young man there isblonde haired and blue eyed, with a look of arrogance that almost matchesAlaric’s, but which lacks his humor. A thin web of silvery scars crosses hisface.

“Vex?”

My new patron is Vex, the formergladiator who completed his five seasons in the last set of games. Vex, who hasbeen my enemy for much of my time in Ironhold. Whose scars are the work of ashadow cat I summoned.

“That will be all,” he says in acommanding tone to the servant.

I can only stand there and stare athim. “You? You're my patron?”

“The emperor prevented others frombidding on you,” Vex says. “He wanted me to be here. I imagine he believes thatthis will hurt you.”

Giving me into the hands of myenemies does more than hurt me. As my patron, Vex can command my presence. Cancommand more than that given that I'm a slave gladiator. The last time I got anew patron, they beat me to within an inch of my life. My whole body thrumswith tension, wondering what Vex has planned.

“Whatever you're planning, get itover with,” I say. I won't give Vex the satisfaction of seeing me frightened.And whatever he tries, I will fight him.

“It is natural you would react likethis,” Vex says. “Everyone knows there is bad blood between us. It's why theemperor allowed me to be your patron when Lady Elara was willing to bid somuch. Where he has gone wrong is assuming that I amhisfriend.”

Those words catch me by surprise,making me stare at Vex in shock.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“I mean that he's made a mockery ofthese games,” Vex says. “I have completed my time in them. I have my place innoble society back, but now I must watch as he continues to take something thatshould be holy and use it merely as a tool of politics and entertainment.”

I had forgotten how strongly Vexfeels about the games. He yearns for the days of the past where they existed assomething that the noble citizens of Aetheria entered freely, seeking to provethemselves before the gods in what was seen as a sacred rite of combat.

“Why tell me that?” I ask. “Youknow we're not friends.”

“I hated what you represent,” Vexsays. “A system filled with slave gladiators, where the poorest wretches fromthe fringes of the empire are brought to fight. Where even a beast whisperer isgiven a place.” Venom drips from those two words. “But I also know you are partof something that seeks to bring it all down.”

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