Page 54 of Set Fire to the Gods
But she would win these games. Not murderous gods. Not attractive gladiator spies.
Ash stopped dancing, but she kept her hands on Madoc’s neck. “I won’t tell anyone,” she said. His shoulders relaxed. “If you help me.”
He squinted.
She made her face droop with something close to sorrow. It wasn’t hard to fake. “I think my god is responsible for Stavos’s disappearance. I think a larger threat is looming over this war.”
To his credit, Madoc looked honestly confused. “What are you talking about?”
She leaned closer, hoping she looked the part of a scared girl. “I think my god is breaking our holiest of laws by murdering your country’s gladiators. I can’t say more.” Ash sighed. “But I need proof. You can help me get a list of all the Deiman gladiators who have died of the plague that Stavos supposedly has. If they are all former victors against Kula, Ignitus may be to blame. If we can prove even that much, it may be enough to bring before Geoxus. He would be pleased, wouldn’t he? If you help uncover his brother’s treason.”
Madoc gaped, momentarily shocked. The expression receded, slowly, into a small twitch of eagerness.
She had him.
But then he frowned. “You won’t tell Geoxus or Ignitus about what happened at the arena and all you want is a list of sick gladiators? What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” Ash said. “I swear on my mother.”
“Your mother.” Madoc’s eyes narrowed. “What does she think about you sneaking around behind the backs of gods?”
Ash’s hands spasmed on Madoc’s neck. She knew he felt her flinch, but she gave a small, dismissive shake of her head, as if his question hadn’t gouged her heart. “She doesn’t think anything of it. Stavos killed her.”
Understanding slid over his face. “I forgot.... I’m sorry.”
His sincerity stole her breath. Again. It was infuriating.
“I’ve missed something,” Madoc continued. “If your god is involved with the disappearance of your mother’s killer, shouldn’t you be happy?”
Ash’s small flash of victory turned against her. She fought not to gape at him; she fought not to rage about how Stavos deserved whatever fate Ignitus dealt him.
This wasn’t the purpose of her coercion. She needed Madoc to believe her, or at least feel sorry for her.
Ash swallowed her fury. She had to tip her head back to look up at Madoc, and she thought there might be a small spark in his eyes now, curiosity overriding his wariness.
“I’m not trying to save my mother’s killer,” Ash said. “I’m trying to make sure that my god isn’t breaking our holy laws. There’s been too much of that happening lately.”
Madoc stared at her for a long, silent moment. Finally, he sighed. “My sponsor.” He nodded toward a man at the edge of the terrace. “Lucius is the best trainer in Deimos. He has a records room that his trainees can use. I’m sure there are scrolls that list things like sickgladiators in there. Would that be enough?”
Ash nodded and dropped her arms off his shoulders. Madoc wavered, then cocked his head.
“Now?”
“Yes, now.” She waved at the people around them. “Lucius is here, isn’t he? So his villa is empty. When will we have another chance?”
Madoc’s face reddened. “Fine. We’ll need a carriage to get there, though.”
He pushed into the crowd. The girl he’d watched was still with the government official, but she was looking at Madoc; and the boy he’d been talking to stared as well. He waved at them both, a signal ofstay putordon’t worry.
Ash didn’t let herself look for Tor, Taro, or Spark. They’d try to stop her.
But once she got Madoc alone, she knew she could get more out of him. Though he had beaten her in their fight, she wouldn’t fear him once they were out in the city, surrounded by candle flames and fireplaces. She would play up her fearful ruse, how she wanted to stop Ignitus from holy treachery. She would even ask Madoc if he was working against Ignitus for one of the other gods and try to place herself as an ally for him.
Madoc could be the gladiator who Ignitus feared.
Ash hurried after him.
Madoc made a quick path across the terrace. Ash’s eyes drifted beyond him—the Kulan guards were gone. Deiman guards stood at the main doors.
