“Livia is here through merit, Vis, not favour.” The Tertius is firm. “She is old enough and strong enough. She would have attended the Academy next cycle, if we were still intending to send our best.”
“As you say, Magnus Tertius.” I tuck away the information about the Academy, unsurprising though it is, and focus on the more immediate. A hedge against my loyalty, and an acknowledgement that there is a very real chance I won’t succeed this afternoon. If I’m not reporting directly to him, he wants a way to keep an eye on me.
Livia, for her part, watches me coolly. A willing participant, but unlike the others, not an enthusiastic one. I don’t know whether that makes it better or worse.
“Linus. Step forward.” The Tertius isn’t wasting time. A man of around thirty separates from the line, all but bounding up to me. “Vis, this is Septimus Linus Manius. His father is the proconsul in Tensia.”
The latter’s unnecessary; I know who the Manius family is. “A pleasure to meet you, Septimus.” Linus is tall, gangly. His fairer skin and blue eyes betray his southern heritage.
“And you, Catenicus.” He’s eager, almost shy, despite the difference in our age. His black hair recedes at the front. “An honour.”
“Are you both ready?”
I confirm it as the other man does the same. Brace myself, emotionally and physically. Accepting Will is meant to be just as simple as ceding it, but after the strangeness of the Aurora Columnae, I have no idea how this might go.
“Catenicus. Extend the worthy right hand.”
I extend my hand; Linus clasps it, hand to wrist. He takes a breath. “I freely give my Will.”
My skin tingles where it meets Linus’s and then everything sharpens. My harrowing morning, washed away in an instant. Energy in my limbs again. I feel good, even as I despise that I do. Every part of my body lighter. The nub of my missing arm suddenly, blessedly, no longer aches.
It all happens in a moment; when I focus again on Linus he’s still smiling, but some indefinable part of his verve has diminished, the spark in his eyes gone. He may still have twice the Will of a regular person, but I’ve taken something from this man.
I let go of his hand as if it were burning me. Nothing changes.
“Stronger together,” says Linus as he steps back, giving me a respectful smile before rejoining the others. He seems fine. Emotionally unaffected. I wonder if it’s a façade.
Callidus’s father calls out the next name.
The ceremony passes in a kind of horrific, sick slow motion after that. Excited Septimii stepping forward before the silent, fascinated crowd on the balconies above. We clasp hands. They utter the words. Their strength, their life, flows into me.
I don’t know what I was expecting. It should not feel like this. A celebration. Smiles and good cheer and respect. They have not dreaded today. This is something they simply accept. Have looked forward to, even.
For my part, physically, it is what I have been taught. A small jolt each time and then more clarity, as if I’ve suddenly gained the benefit of a good night’s rest. More energy and strength and awareness. There is no tangible sense of the extra power I now have at my disposal, otherwise.
Finally, only Livia remains. She stands in front of me, and while nothing about her expression is different from the others’, her eyes are cold. She grabs my wrist as if it’s the neck of a dangerous animal.
“I freely give my Will,” Callidus’s little sister says dispassionately.
It happens as easily as with the others, though it feels like it shouldn’t. A flush, and then her Will is just … there. Augmenting me.
She drops my hand as abruptly as she took it. Steps back.
“Welcome to Governance, Catenicus,” Tertius Ericius loudly congratulates me.
There’s a smattering of applause from the balconies above; I look up to see even more onlookers now. My Septimii are clapping too. Smiling.
I fake a smile myself, raising a hand in acknowledgement. Head still buzzing. Skin still crawling.
The Censor limps over. His mood is jovial, though I suspect at least some of his grin is for the spectators. “Congratulations. Spend some time getting to know your Septimii, and then Darius will take you and Livia to your Placement.”
“It’s not being conducted here?”Vek. On the one hand, it means that Eidhin won’t need to find another way past that locked gate. But I’m not going to be able to steal away from Darius for any unexplained detours, either. Eidhin will be waiting just outside, planning to enter as soon as he’s allowed. He’ll have felt the extra Will passing through me to him. It will only take a moment of physical contact for him to stop my ceding. I just have to make sure he knows I’m coming out.
“Not this year.” A breath of hesitation. As if he wants to say more, but can’t. “Do well, Catenicus.”
“As you say, Tertius.”
He studies me. Nods. Limps off, and leaves me to the lionizing attentions of my new Septimii.
