Page 42 of Trial of Bronze and Blood
On the gamemaster’s other side she finds their priest, the sacerdos. Swathed in the finely-stitched traditional gold robes of his religion, his hood drapes over the back half of his sweaty bald head. He grasps a wooden staff in his right hand, though it doesn’t touch the floor. He looks to be closer in age to the legatus than the venatus magister.
Simply by the way he holds himself, this man likely hails from Phaedra, the Imperium’s capital. He exudes the sort of confidence only someone who calls himself a mouthpiece for the gods could, in the tilt of his chin and the puffing out of his chest. Dru clenches her hands together so as to not show her hatred.
“We’ve invited demons into our midst,” Dru mutters.
“Demons cower in the presence of these men.”
She glances at Marcus. “You’ve met them before.”
He nods in their direction. “I met the venatus magister only onceor twice during my time in the Imperium. But I’m very familiar with the middle one, Legatus Ambitus. He visits once every few months to check in, though it was less often before the king died. He’s biding his time, waiting for his opportunity to find a weakness in Cato he can exploit.”
“And is there?” she asks. “A visible weakness Cato might let slip?”
He meets her gaze. “We all have weaknesses. And with the Imperium spending the next week here, it’s only a matter of time before they find one.”
“Please welcome our honored guests.” Cato gestures to the men. “Legatus Ambitus, Venatus Magister Blaise, and Sacerdos Matteo. They will assist in governing the Valorem Blood Trials.”
The council members either grumble in disappointment or remain silent.
Legatus Ambitus steps forward. “I understand some of you are less than pleased to welcome us here for such a sacred tradition. But we’ve come here in the name of peace and unity between our countries, and I truly believe unifying ourselves in your Valorem Blood Trials will foster that peace.”
The entire council remains silent in opposition.
“Let us break bread now,” Ambitus continues, his voice hoarse, “so we might strive to be more amiable toward one another.”
“I’d rather break his nose,” Marcus grumbles beside her.
“Careful now,” Dru says as the council congregates warily around the newcomers. “He might hear you and think you don’t like him.”
Marcus shakes his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “I suppose we should say hello.”
As much as she’d rather stay here with Marcus, Dru steels herself.Better to look your enemy in the eye than to miss them coming at your back.
Venatus Magister Blaise stands on his own when Dru approaches him. Up close, he comes off as a cruel man who befits his title, his calculating gaze moving over the crowd as if he’s deciding who will diefirst.
“Venatus Magister Blaise.” She offers him her arm to shake. “It’s good to meet you. I’m Drusilla Valerius.”
His sharp gaze immediately lands on her. Instead of grasping her forearm with his, he takes her hand and kisses it, his palms moist from sweat. Her stomach turns at the feeling of his dry lips on her skin, her other hand forming into a fist to stop her from slapping him across the face.
“Delighted to meet you.” He eyes her up and down, and she nearly reconsiders her prior restraint. “You’re not from Anziano.”
“No, venatus magister. I’m visiting from the Imperium.”
“And who here is lucky enough to receive a visit from someone as enchanting as you?”
She clenches her jaw.He’s not worth starting a brawl over, she reminds herself.
“Sovrano, King Cato, of course.”
The corner of his eye twitches. “Yet I noticed you speaking with Marcus Scaevola.”
Dru glances over her shoulder at Marcus. His gaze rages and his nostrils flair as he watches her with Blaise. The gamemaster must’ve done something egregious to him when they met before to warrant such a reaction.
She scores her face when she meets his gaze again, curious what information he’s fishing for. “He’s praetor to the king. It would be rude not to speak to him from time to time, given I’m a guest here.”
“Drusilla, if I may,” the king cuts in. Dru lets out a breath.Thank the stellae for Cato.
“Until we meet again, venatus magister.” She bows her head.
