Today’s not going to make things any better.
“Thank you, Tertius.” I make sure there’s no trace of irony. Try to show thatwas all I was after, that I simply wanted the acknowledgement and that I have no desire to humiliate him into the bargain. “It was a close race. It reminded me why Iro and Indol were so highly ranked in the Academy. I hope I get the honour of working alongside them again, in the future.” Loud enough for everyone to hear. Make it clear there are no grudges. That I respect them. It’s not much, but it might go some way to soothing any tensions this stunt of Tertius Decimus’s has caused between Governance and Religion.
The Tertius’s expression doesn’t change, but thankfully he doesn’t slap away the metaphorical hand I’m extending, either. “Of course.” He turns to follow the physicians tending to Iro.
“And Tertius, if you don’t have any objections, please call me Vis. Those who know me know I don’t enjoy being reminded of what happened last year.”
Silence. Tertius Decimus hesitates. Still brimming with barely contained fury, but thinking, at least. “I will remember that.” He stalks off after the knot of men carrying his son.
All eyes are still on me. All I want is to go somewhere private, to collapse to my knees and close my eyes and try to figure out the potential consequences of what just happened.
But I have to talk to Aequa. Indol. Tertius Ericius and Livia and probably a dozen Governance senators who will all be even more eager to meet me now. So I force the issue to the edge of my thoughts. Walk away to the edge of the track. Lay calmly on the sand as if enjoying the sun, and wait.
Aequa’s the first to reach me. She sits beside me, looking down at my reclined form with a raised eyebrow.
“Good race,” I say casually.
“Pretty good,” she agrees. She almost manages to stay composed, but the corners of her lips give her away. The smirk is infectious. I let my mouth creep into a smile too. The shared moment is a relief, a small release that I’m grateful for. Even though she has no idea what just happened with Iro, she can at least appreciate the insanity of what we just accomplished.
Aequa sighs, still smiling, and reclines next to me, staring up into the blue sky. “You alright?”
“My legs are gods-damned sore. You?”
“My body’s still not sure whether it wants to sprint a few miles or sleep for a week. Other than that? Fine.” She raises her head, glancing over to the side. “Better than Marcellus and Felix, at least.”
“Rotting gods. I’m a terrible person.” I half rise, only for Aequa to wave me back down again. “They’re alright?”
“Saw them both on the way over. Physicians are still with them, but they’re awake. Marcellus was moaning about a broken arm, so I guess he may or may not have a broken arm, and that’s the worst of it. And Felix was grinning like a madman and gave me the victory sign when he spotted me, so I’m guessing he’s fine too.”
I chuckle. “Good.” Relieved, even for Marcellus.
“Iro?”
My humour fades. “I don’t know.”
She glances across at me, hearing my worry. Touches my arm in light reassurance. “Not your fault he’s an idiot.”
Before either of us can say more, there’s a shadow off to my left, and I squint up to see Indol sidling closer. He grins awkwardly at me. “Always knew you thought you could beat everyone with a hand tied behind your back.” Hesitates. Smile fading. “Sorry you had to prove it.”
I swivel to my feet again—I’m better at the motion than I was, though one-armed it remains more awkward than not—and consider him. I’m still furious that he went along with Decimus’s plan without apparent protest, but part of me knows he didn’t really have a choice. This isn’t the Academy anymore, where the Thirds talked and even the Praeceptors listened. Surviving means going where we’re told, doing what we’re told. We’re pieces on a Foundation board, for now.
I extend my hand and he clasps my wrist gladly. Whatever tension was left vanishes with the act. We weren’t ever close friends, but we got along, and there was always respect between us. “Not your fault.”
“It’s a bit his fault,” Aequa calls up, stretching and then sitting. Her friendly smirk to Indol indicates goading rather than any real anger, though.
“It’s a bit my fault,” concedes Indol ruefully. He sighs. “Nice piece of diplomacy back there, by the way. Not crowing. Between that and your staying Domitor, today may even turn out not a complete disaster for relations in the Senate.”
“No crowing? You didn’t even crow?” Aequa peers up at me reproachfully.
Indol’s mouth quirks, but he glances over toward Tertius Decimus’s coterie. Iro has been carried from sight, but the Tertius himself is looking over at us darkly. “Time to get yelled at. But …” He hesitates. Lowers his voice, but includes Aequa. “We should stay in contact.”
“Tricky,” I observe grimly.
“I know. But there’s more going on than anyone’s telling us. Did they test your blood?” His smile is relaxed, even to my confirmation; to anyone watching he’d look as though he were simply wishing us well.
“They did.” I mimic his genial demeanour.
“I’d like to finish our conversation from the Iudicium, too.”
