Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief 3)

"General Radulf is a traitor to Rome," Nasica replied. "It's an insult to think I can overlook that on only a year's wage."

Aurelia glanced sideways at Crispus, then said to Nasica, "Sir, my inheritance is not as large as you may think. There are some debts, and wages that must be paid to the servants of the home."

"Crispus will vote to free the general," Nasica said. "Perhaps some of the other judges will see his weakened condition and show mercy. But only a few."

"He should go free." Crispus straightened his back. "The general has made threats against Rome, but has not carried out any of them. Instead, he has fought valiantly in war, expanding our territories and bringing glory to this empire."

That was only half-true. Radulf did fight on Rome's side, but he did it to expand his own power. It was never about the empire's glory.

"As chairman, Decimas Brutus will tilt the trial against the general," Nasica said, completely indifferent to Crispus's argument. "He has already ordered himself a new toga, to be worn at Radulf's execution."

My right fist tightened with the feeling of magic. I shook it away, but my hand filled again. As I'd suspected, there was no chance of Radulf receiving a fair trial. If Nasica knew that too, then he was more clever than I had thought.

He continued, "Radulf needs fifty-one votes to set him free. If I make it known early how I intend to vote, I can save him from execution. What is that worth to you?"

Aurelia leaned forward. "What is that worth to you?"

He waved a hand toward the scrolls. "All of this."

Livia glanced up at me, licking her lips with worry. She and I had nothing to offer -- even the clothes on my back were not my own. But if she agreed to this bribe, Aurelia would have nothing either. She had come from a life in the sewers; she knew as well as I did what poverty meant. I couldn't allow her to do this.

Yet I also understood why she had asked me not to interfere tonight. She did not want me to influence her decision.

I would not influence her decision -- nothing could ever make Aurelia change her mind. How many times had I learned that?

But I could stop the decision from happening in the first place.

I marched forward. "Leave this home, Nasica. How dare you sit there demanding so much!"

Aurelia stood, hands on her hips. "Nic!"

"If he would sell his vote with so little integrity, how can you trust that he won't sell his promise again if Brutus offers him more? Don't do this!"

Now Nasica stood, as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. "Give me that scroll, and General Radulf will not face the executioner."

"He's lying," I said. "Do not trust him."

"We have to trust him." Crispus was also on his feet. "I know you think you can rescue Radulf alone, but your grandfather is well guarded in his prison. You won't get past them all, and even if you did, they'd only come after him again. And when Radulf is put to trial tomorrow, he will lose unless we have Nasica's vote."

"Give me the scroll." Nasica spoke more urgently now.

Aurelia looked over to me. "What I've always told you is true. I never cared about my father's money, except for who I could help with it. Today I'm helping you."

She rolled up the scroll and put it in Nasica's hands. The moment she did, I turned on my heel and stomped out of the triclinium, slamming shut the door to my room. It felt childish, but I didn't care. I was furious with them and humbled by Crispus's mother. But even more, I was embarrassed that for as far as I had come since the mines, and for all the magic that flowed through my body, I still needed help in so many ways. Aurelia had just given up everything to save Radulf, and I had stood by, completely useless.

Several minutes later, someone knocked at my door. I didn't know whether it was Livia, Crispus, Aurelia, or all three of them together. Nor did I care.

I rolled over on my bed, ignoring the knock until it finally went away.

I wasn't in Crispus's home when they awoke the next day. Instead, I had left early in the morning to find the carcer where Radulf was being held. It wasn't hard to figure out where he was -- the building where they were keeping him was surrounded with so many Praetors and Roman soldiers, they were practically standing on top of one another. I wished they had been -- it would've been entertaining to k

nock them all over.

The temptation to attack was strong. From my hiding place behind a column in front of the Senate building, I could easily bury most of these men in an avalanche of ruins, letting them become part of the same rot they created everywhere they went. However, that would also bury Radulf, who no doubt had been lowered into the deep prison hole beneath the building.

But as the birds began to awaken, I knew what I could do instead of an attack. For all the strength the Malice gave me, I needed the bulla, which allowed me some communication with animals.

I whistled softly, calling their attention, then whispered through the morning breeze what I needed.