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“Yes. Each of you has been given the truth serum,” Connell explained. “If you’ve confessed to murder or crimes against the oracle, you’ll be poisoned and cremated. I think we already know your fate.”
“I won’t tell you a thing.”
“You won’t have a choice.”
Once he was restrained, Dr. McCrae crouched over the Olivier’s arm and slipped a needle into his vein. Thick red liquid poured into his body. Olivier gasped as it hit his bloodstream. Within minutes, his scowl lifted. His cheeks flushed, and dimples formed in his cheeks. He almost looked beautiful.
Almost.
“Tell us about your mission.”
“Which one?”
Lila and Mòr glanced at one another. Lila had thought the Italians only had one mission in New Bristol, but perhaps Olivier had been given other tasks.
“Tell us about all of them,” Connell ordered.
“Our primary mission was to learn about the oracles. Camille, Achille, and I were sent to infiltrate this compound, to find out if the oracles could actually foretell the future. Camille and Achille found out the old myths were true, but command didn’t believe us. We were given orders to extract a few of your young as proof.”
“How did Camille and Achille feel about that?”
“They disagreed.” He slouched in the metal chair, laying his head on his shoulder like a tired, rambling drunk. “They helped you retrieve your children, didn’t they?”
“No. We didn’t need their help,” Connell said. “What of your other missions?”
“I was to report back on the poorer classes. King Felipe believes they can be turned against the government and the aristocracy.”
“We have no aristocracy,” Lila countered.
“Of course you don’t, Chief Randolph, heir to a family that earns several billion credits a year.” He chuckled as everyone turned to Lila, their expressions locked in concern. “I’m sure the Randolphs keep all that money and power through talent and hard work.”
“If the people wish for a family to fail, they can stop buying their products.”
“The Randolphs don’t sell oil and gas to janitors and teachers, not without lowborn traders in the way. It’s how the highborn stay in power. They’re busy shaking hands with one another, pretending they’ve extended one to the masses, but they don’t have another to spare.”
“What’s your point?” Lila asked.
“My point is that it’s easy to sow unrest in such an atmosphere. Some of your people have already begun doing so. Two organizations, in fact. One is a crowd of discontents far too organized to be declared a mob. I saw them at the warehouse. The other calls themselves the Red Phoenix Army. It’s a bit melodramatic, don’t you think?”
“They’re the assholes with the red armbands, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve seen them around the last few months. I meant to look into them further, but…” Lila stopped herself from making excuses. She’d had spies under her control when she first saw the mob at the Wilson estate, some marking themselves with the red fabric. She could have sent someone to investigate then.
She just didn’t.
“Are they organized too?”
“Gloriously so. At least at the top. Most of them don’t understand they’re being led by a new master while they rally against the old.”
“A few discontents do not make a revolution.”
“A few discontents can easily turn into more. Your country does a good job of preventing it, though. It’s a brilliant system. A man eats so long as he works. If he steals because he doesn’t have a job, he becomes a slave. That’s unfortunate, but he gets food and a small amount of pocket money to buy what he wishes. You’ve solved political unrest with bread and circuses, just like my forefathers.”
Lila had heard of the concept before, though she’d never phrased it as such. She’d used money herself to curb domestic violence on the compound while she’d reigned as chief, specifically among the workborn and slaves. If crime and abuse statistics pushed too high, she knew the worker’s salaries and the slave’s stipends hadn’t been going as far as they should. She’d begin the long process of negotiating with her mother for an increase, even though it was a fight every time. The Randolphs already paid better than most other families.
She’d always thought herself right for doing so.
