Page 112 of Trial of Bronze and Blood
Sabina sets to braiding her own hair loosely over one shoulder. “When he heard about how the sacerdos practically fed you to the lion, he went to go find him at a tabernae and threw him out of Anziano.”
Dru’s lips part. “He did?”
Sabina smiles again, lighting up her face and showing a single dimple on her left cheek. “Apparently, he threatened to do more than that. But someone tried to kill Regina Vedova Alessandra, who went with him—the bard knocked him unconscious with his lute.”
Dru’s mind spins, latching ontotried to killandthe bard.
“The bard?”
Sabina nods emphatically. “He snuck up behind some Phaedran assassin and hit him on the head with it.”
Anger at whoever gave the order causes her next words to come out in a heated whisper. “And where is this assassin now?”
“They placed him in the holding cell in the arena. Marcus found him murdered there this morning, stabbed at least a dozen times.”
Dru lets out a breath. “He deserved no less.”And merely confirmed the Imperium’s involvement in the attempt.
After lacing up her sandals, they exit her room, finding Marcus, Cato, and Alessandra eating together in the courtyard.
Cato notices her first. “And where are we off to today dressed so nicely?”
Marcus looks up from his breakfast, his hooded gaze lingering on her face, her exposed arms, and down her legs. Despite the dress covering most of her up, she feels naked under his attentiveness, utterly exposed simply from his gaze on her.
And after what he did—andnearlydid—for her yesterday, she can’t look away. Heat warms her chest, pooling lower.
Realizing she’s been silent for too long, she clears her throat. “Into town.”
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” Cato argues, brow scrunching. “Though few know Sabina has any relation to me, they know she works here at the palace, and enough people might recognize you from the trials.”
“Not if they go somewhere safe,” Alessandra interjects. “There’s a place hidden, in the courtyard behind the butcher’s shop, called the ballo.” She nods at Sabina. “You know the one.”
Sabina shakes her head. “They only allow high-ranking women in.”
Alessandra smiles. “They’ll allow anyone with a password in. It’s ‘sangue’ this week, in honor of the blood trials.”
Cato turns to Marcus. “What do you think about this?”
Marcus looks at Dru when he responds. “I think, if they’re careful, it should be fine. Besides, they might be able to find out if there are any more attempts on your life planned. Even my men say the ballo has all the best information.”
Dru grins. “Perfect, then that’s where we’ll be.”
The bell tolls eleven times, and Dru starts; she slept later than she realized.
“And who says I can spare Sabina?” Cato pouts.
Sabina shifts nervously beside Dru. “I believe you’re capable of fetching your own linens, Sovrano.”
Alessandra presses her lips together and Cato laughs. “Quite right. Well, if you’re going, bring Marcus with you.”
Marcus coughs, nearly choking on the bite of bread in his mouth. “They don’t need my protection, Cato. Dru can take care of herself and Sabina.”
Pride warms her chest. The truth is, she’ll feel better with Marcus nearby. She wants to do this for Sabina, to give her a place to be free. And, as Marcus said, it wouldn’t hurt to find out if there are any more plots against the king.
Cato claps a hand on his shoulder. “I know she can, but given what happened yesterday at the second trial, a little extra protection might help.”
“He should come,” Dru cuts in. “It doesn’t hurt to be safe.”
Confusion and something else flickers across Marcus’s gaze as he gets to his feet.
