Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief 3)

My eyes were closed when Aurelia said, "Now what?"

I looked for the vestalis again, but she was still gone. From the corner of my eye, I did see Crispus approaching me, his expression remarkably somber considering what I had just escaped.

"I tried to save you in every way I could," he said, barely able to look at me. "Had it not been for the vestalis, my failure would have been complete."

"What failure?" I asked. "My crimes were indefensible, and you defended me anyway. You have proven yourself the truest of friends." With the injuries to my back in far better condition now, I walked forward and embraced him. "Thank you."

He gave a firm pat to my back, and only then did I remember that Aurelia had treated the injuries with honey. I stepped back, embarrassed, and stickier than any person ought to be. "I, uh ... this tunic."

"At least it can be washed and used again, but you do need another one." Crispus shared a knowing smile with Aurelia. "I'm sure you must be hungry as well."

"I'm starving, yes."

Crispus put his arm around my shoulders. "Well, I'm quite sure that the vestalis had a reason for bringing you here, and quite sure that whatever she wanted, it's nothing you feel like discussing out in the open. Can that conversation wait until you have eaten and bathed?"

That led me to smile as well. "I think it must wait. Rome surely does not want to be saved by someone smelling like the sewers beneath it."

Aurelia giggled. "Nor will I join you for supper smelling this way. If you two want to go to the baths, I'll meet you at Crispus's home tonight."

We agreed to the plan, and Aurelia led Callistus in one direction, while Crispus and I went to the baths.

Because Radulf's home was so fine, it hadn't been necessary for me to visit the public baths before. Thus, my only experience with the public baths was soon after I'd obtained magic, and it involved me pulling the water from them to put out fires on some nearby homes. Hardly their intended use.

The baths Crispus and I came to seemed crowded today, but Crispus said they were often this full and that was how most people liked it. After a small meal of apples and bread, we started in the caldarium, where the hot waters melted the honey from my back and soothed any aches the magic had not touched. There, I saw men making business deals and discussing their opinions of the new emperor.

By the time we went into the warm tepidarium, those men had begun to notice me. They cleared out rather quickly, despite Crispus's assurances that I had no intention of exploding anything for at least the rest of the day. Actually, that assurance might've been the exact reason they all left so quickly.

But when we went to enter the cold frigidarium, those same men stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking our entrance.

One of the men near the middle nodded at me. He was muscular and stern and, as far as I was concerned, completely unlikable. Maybe because he had one long eyebrow that went across his entire forehead. Or perhaps because he clearly did not like me. As if I were still only a slave, the man addressed Crispus. "That boy is not welcome in the baths. He's not welcome in Rome."

"He's a citizen and has as much right as you to be here," Crispus said. "He was also pardoned from his crimes."

"No, he was convicted," another man said. "I was there this morning. He was meant for the executioner, until saved by a vestalis."

"Let's go," I said to Crispus.

But Crispus wasn't finished. "Why do you think the vestalis saved him? Because she knew he was innocent."

No, that wasn't why. I grabbed Crispus's arm, urging him to leave with me.

But another man stepped forward from the group. This time, he spoke directly to me. "You claim to use magic in defense of Rome, but all I ever see is the lives of those around you put at risk. Wherever you go, things are left in ruins. I've seen it for myself. How many people have died because of your magic, and will still die?"

"No more," I mumbled. Now I did walk out, with or without Crispus, though I was glad to see him follow me.

In my head, the Mistress laughed wickedly. "They will all die. Once I'm free, I will make sure of that. I will come for you last of all, Nicolas."

I stopped walking, just to close my eyes and clear my head. If I was the only one who could stop the Mistress, then once she was free, would I be responsible for the damage she caused? All the lives that would be lost, would those be my fault? If I had committed crimes to gain this magic, was it an even greater crime not to use it now?

Crispus caught up and nudged me toward the dressing rooms. "You do not owe the empire anything. Don't let his words bother you."

"Of course they bother me," I muttered. "Everything he said was true."

I was grateful to see one of Crispus's servants waiting in the dressing room with a new tunic for me, this one all white. I didn't know how Crispus had arranged to get it here, but I was glad for it and made sure to quietly slip the rock from the vestalis into the new tunic's pocket.

"I promise not to ruin this one," I said.

His attempt at a smile seemed forced. "Don't make any promises you cannot keep."