Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief 3)

"I need your help again," I said in the most respectful of tones. "The chariot races were difficult, I know, but I must ask more of you this time."

Callistus snorted in reply. I ran my hand down his back, then grabbed the saddle from a nearby fence. Once Callistus was saddled, I climbed up, patted his shoulder, and then directed him to leave the stables.

"Leaving without us?"

I glanced up and saw Aurelia on a speckled gray horse, waiting in the grasses just outside Radulf's stables. She had a bow and arrow slung over her shoulder and looked rather triumphant to have caught me here.

Had it been only ten days since I'd seen her? She was lovelier than I remembered. Of course, when I'd last seen her, it had been in the midst of a battle for us both. Now her clothes were cleaner, and her chestnut hair was pulled back in one long braid down her back. Had her eyes always been this blue, so bright I could see them from here? How had I never noticed they were so close to the color of Callistus's eyes?

Beside her, Crispus sat tall on an equally fine black horse. Crispus wore a brown tunic and dark gray cloak, symbolizing his mourning for his father's recent death. A sword hung at his side, one I wondered if he was strong enough to use; but then, he'd gotten up on the horse with it, so maybe he could swing it too.

I wasn't sure how to reply to Aurelia's question, or maybe it wasn't the kind of question that needed to be answered. Either way, they were blocking my exit, so I needed to say something. I didn't want another argument, not about where I'd been or where I was going, and I certainly wouldn't congratulate them on their upcoming marriage. The thought of that turned my stomach.

"You have the Malice," Crispus finally said, nodding at my right forearm. "Does it work?"

Not yet ready to answer, I only squinted back at him. "What are you two doing here?"

"You're going to rescue Radulf," Aurelia said. "I knew you would, as soon as you got back. Crispus and I just came from the forum, where we bought everything we might need to help you."

That was absurd, and my expression no doubt showed it. "Which shop at the forum prepares you to fight a cursed dragon?" I nodded at Crispus's sword. "You might as well swing a blade of grass."

"We want to help," Crispus said.

He was sincere. I knew that and appreciated it, yet I shook my head with equal sincerity. "I don't want any help."

Aurelia's face reddened. "I wasn't asking if we could come along. I'm telling you that's our plan!"

My knuckles tightened around the reins. "Whenever I'm in a fight, I end up trying to keep you safe for half the time."

"And the other half, you're thanking me for keeping you safe! We're coming with you, Nic."

Crispus only shrugged. "You're wasting time arguing with her. You know that she always wins. Besides, if the Malice doesn't --"

"The Malice does work," I said. "It will give me victory against the Mistress."

"Assuming she doesn't steal it from you first," Aurelia said. "Auribus teneo lupum. Do you know what that means?"

"That I have the wolf by its ears." I leaned forward in the saddle. "You're saying I'm so close to the danger that it will bite me, and you're ri

ght." I glanced at Crispus. "But the difference is, I'll survive the bite. You two won't."

"Even if you defeat the Mistress, that doesn't mean you'll be able to fight her and rescue Radulf. You take on the dragon. We'll find Radulf."

"He saved our lives too," Crispus said.

That wasn't exactly true. I was the one who had reminded the Mistress that Crispus was a judge now in Rome. The Mistress would never harm her Praetors. At least Crispus was one of the good ones, if there were any other good ones. And Aurelia saved herself the only way she could, by promising to become Crispus's wife, putting herself under the same protection.

But it was true that defeating the dragon wasn't the same as rescuing Radulf. For that, perhaps I did need their help. So I nodded my permission, and when they parted for me, I rode Callistus forward and we headed out.

"Where will we find him?" Crispus asked.

I shrugged. "Callistus probably knows. I thought I'd let him lead me there."

"Then we'll follow you," Aurelia said as she and Crispus took up positions on either side of me. It seemed like an appropriate symbol. I had come between them yet again. I glanced first at him, and then at her, where my eyes lingered longer. It was almost a relief when Callistus led me away.

The unicorn was taking us southward, keeping to the outskirts of the main population but heading toward the city gates of Rome. I'd been on this path before, most recently when he took me to Lake Nemi. There I'd met the vestalis in the grove of oak trees outside of Diana's temple. I'd fought Jupiter's eagle for the rock that was meant to become a Jupiter Stone. The vestalis had also told me a few things that still haunted my mind. She told me that to get what I wanted, I had to walk through fire. And that the Mistress, Atroxia, would teach me what I did not yet understand about love.

I stole a sideways glance at Aurelia. What I understood about love could fit on the head of a pin, but I seriously doubted I could learn it from a dragon who would soon try to kill me. Aurelia caught me staring and smiled back, but I quickly looked away. I felt stupid, especially as she continued staring. I had to say something, to cover my real thoughts.