Page 50 of Trial of Bronze and Blood
One of the palace servants hands Cato a stack of papers, dictating the rules of the trials. They’ve hidden the most important addendums somewhere in the middle. With what Cato has proposed, Marcus hopes they stay that way.
“These detail the rules long-held for the Valorem Blood Trials,” Cato tells them, “set forth by my ancestors.”
“And we respect those rules, with only a few of our own… suggestions.”
Ambitus snatches a scroll from his slave, who cowers back, before passing it to Cato. The slave can’t be much younger than Cato’s father was when he died. White scars slash across his arms and legs, and the whites of his eyes are yellow and bloodshot. His bones threaten to stab through his weathered skin, his sweat-stained tunic hanging loose on him. Chains encumber his wrists, leaving indents.
Only death will free this man.
“Read them, my son,” Alessandra commands as Cato unrolls it. She sits at his side, though slightly lower to the ground and on a silk-covered stool.
“‘Addendum one: a lottery shall be held first in the Imperium capital, Phaedra, and again in Anziano prior to the start of the trials.’”
“You’ve already chosen your victims, then?” Marcus asks, unable to keep the bite out of his words.
Ambitus ignores him. “We’ve provided a list of fifty participants across the Imperium, willing and unwilling, that we have transported here by boat. Which leaves?—”
“—another fifty,” Cato finishes. “Fifty citizens of Anziano, willing and unwilling.”
Ambitus grimaces. “Exactly. And I’m afraid that one is non-negotiable.”
Marcus grinds his teeth to stay his tongue.
Cato’s next words come out hoarse. “Accepted. ‘Addendum two: the envoys from the Imperium will be granted use of a royal balcony inside the arena, as well as joint control in the workings of the arena, whatever that might wholly entail.’”
Cato shares a look with Marcus, who shrugs. Marcus knows nothing about the arena, not even how the lower level that hosts the maze appears. He leaves that to Cato’s judgment.
“Accepted.”
Ambitus smiles, and Marcus can’t help feeling like they missed something. “Wonderful. The third and final one should be simple.”
“‘Addendum three: two participants instead of one will be crowned victor, one from the Imperium and one from Anziano.’”
Cato doesn’t respond at first, and Marcus watches him stare sightless at the papers.
“Why?” Marcus asks simply.
Alessandra answers, hands trembling in her lap, though not from fear. “In the name of unity, I imagine.” Cato purses his lips.
Or,Marcus thinks,because it would allow him to become the benevolent ambassador he’s always touted to be and gain the favor of the people—people who were less than ecstatic with the laws he introduced into the senate this past year.
Ambitus’s lip curls, but he doesn’t argue.
Cato clears his throat. “Accepted. Now that’s settled, here’s a more detailed summary of the rules of the trials. They’ll be posted on the arena barracks where the participants gather prior to each task.”
Cato hands Ambitus the rules he penned last night, and Marcus holds his breath. The finer points of the rules sit unread in the stack of papers at his side, but all Ambitus has to do is ask for them.
Ambitus passes it immediately to Blaise.
“Venatus Magister Blaise will handle the rest. I’m needed elsewhere.”
He turns on his heel and leaves the palace without another word, his gold-stitched robes fluttering in the ocean breeze.
“Right, let’s get to it then,” Blaise starts. Marcus bows his head at Cato and Alessandra, excusing himself, knowing he won’t be needed for this part.
Guilt for not sharing Cato’s updates to the rules with Dru guides him to her door. Despite her not being able to do anything about them now, she deserves to know what they are.
Besides, he wants to brief her on the lottery ceremony tomorrow.
