XX
“I NEED SOME AIR.”
I’ve spent the better part of the last hour getting to know the people who have just given me half their Will, now. They’re unfailingly polite; a couple are uncomfortably fawning. I’ve put up with the latter with as much good grace as I can. It’s a formality, anyway, as Livia is undoubtedly the intended representative of the group. Chances are, I won’t have a lot of direct contact with any of the others once we finish here.
“We’re in a courtyard.” Livia looks disinclined to care.
“Just a couple of minutes. The adjustment to having this much Will was harder than I thought.” Show some vulnerability. Sometimes it helps.
“You’re not supposed to leave.”
“Then come with me.” I give her what I hope is a charming smile.
“You know that would still beleaving, right?”
“I suppose.” I shrug, still smiling. Make my tone light.Vek. “Just wanted to clear my head before Placement.”
“A clear head’s not going to help if you’re dead.” Her tone is a hair short of scolding, despite her age. Not that I can blame her. It’s an obvious objection, just one I’d vainly hoped she wasn’t confident enough to make. “Placement being today was supposed to be a secret, but that crowd out there is here for you. You don’t think that’s strange? It’s a good way to hide an assassin.”
“So that’s why the gates are still locked?”
“I would imagine.” She squints at me. I’m not sure whether it’s suspicion or something else. “Take a walk around the complex, if you have to, Catenicus. But we leave in fifteen minutes.”
I take the advice with a nod, wondering again at her brusqueness, especially by comparison to everyone else. Livia wanders away, and I slip through an archway into the shadows of the colonnade before anyone mistakes solitude for availability.
Fifteen minutes. Rotting gods.
Assuming the Will-carriage is driven as others are in Caten, it will move quickly as soon as the compound gate is open and just expect the crowd to jumpout of the way. I could trail my arm out the window, possibly. If Eidhin was in position, it would be enough. But he doesn’t even know Placement is being held elsewhere; he would have to spot the carriage, realise I’m inside, and get close enough among the crowd to touch me, all within a few seconds of our appearing.
I jog up a flight of stairs, then another, as I picture the outside of the building. Ground and second floors had no windows but on the third, there was a balcony. Small, but definitely there.
There are a few people walking the inner terraces, but no one pays me any attention as I try the first door. Peer through. Open, but only windows here.
The next is Will-locked.Vek. No getting in there.
The third has a long glass door at the far end. I can see the stone balustrade just beyond.
I slip inside. Hurry to the balcony. The milling press below is even larger than when I arrived, crowding the already busy Catenan street. I scan the swarm for any sign of Eidhin—usually he stands out, with his red hair, pale skin, and massive bulk—but I can’t see him. Not that it means he’s not here. If he is, given Caten’s current divisions, he’s probably very wisely keeping to the outskirts and hoping he doesn’t get recognised as being from Military.
Behind me, the door clicks shut. “Quite the popular man, Catenicus.”
I flinch around. The newcomer saunters toward me, white scar from chin to forehead twisted by a cheerful grin. My hand twitches to the empty spot on my belt where a dagger would normally be. “You.” Deep breath. Force down the momentary rage that threatens to boil over. Relucia said he would make contact, but this has to be the worst possible moment for it.
“Indeed.”
“What do you want? Someone will be coming to find me soon.”
“Not to fear. We shan’t be long.” He paces. Restless, constantly in motion. Knife in hand. The same one as from the Iudicium, I think. He plays with it absently. Sharp metal flowing between his fingers. Studying eyes never leaving me. “I did intend to time our little chat to coincide with your test this morning, at first. But it turned out you had it entirely under control.” He smiles approvingly.
“You knew about that?” Caution briefly forgotten. “I was warned about them taking my blood, but what were all those questions?”
“It was amendax animustest.” He sees my blank look. Waves a casual hand. “Difficult to explain. The important thing is that you passed. And now, you need to succeed in Placement.”
“That’s the aim,” I say curtly, recognising that my curiosity isn’t going to be rewarded with a follow-up. Not that I have the time to waste, anyway. Less than ten minutes until I’m meant to be driven out that gate.
“Of course. Ofcourse. But you are … lessened. It will be difficult.”
“I know.” It hurts not to argue it, but Will requires physical conditioning to wield. The disadvantage is undeniable.
