9.21 Dragon

Felcious Square, Minrathous

"The parade will begin soon," Tiberius informed him. They were standing in a throng of people, waiting for the Archon to pass through the city. It was an annual event, Leto had learnt, and most of the city had turned up to line the streets. The air was filled with the smells of street food, the cries of hawkers and the excited yells of the citizens as they drank and feasted. The spectacle was overwhelming, and Leto was grateful that the healer was with him, to help him make sense of everything he was seeing, and to answer his questions.

"And all the Magisters will be here also?"

Tiberius smiled indulgently, having already been asked this question a number of times by the elf. "Yes, the Magisters and the apprentices. They will follow the Archon, and then the Senate and finally the soldiers. Why are you so interested in the Magisters?" he asked casually, knowing the answer.

"I'm hopeful that I will finally see my master," Leto lied.

Leto had arrived in Minrathous at the beginning of autumn and was put straight into training at the Senate. Here he was surprised to find a number of other elves, along with humans and even a few dwarves. Not all were slaves, but everyone was indentured. Not given to conversation, Leto had fallen back into his old role as observer, and what he saw both revolted and amazed him. He wasn't sure exactly what he had expected, but it wasn't what he found. Never interested in his own history, Leto now found himself being educated in the history of the humans, and every day he was forced to endure lectures and seminars on his new role as a guard of the Imperium. If anyone guessed he hadn't been raised in slavery, nothing was ever said.

He trained long and hard, and fell into a deep and exhausted sleep at the end of each day. Sometimes, like today, Tiberius would come and meet him, and take him out into the main city. It struck him as odd, but he didn't question it. He had learnt to spend time with the healer, and even found himself looking forward to his visits and their excursions. In fact, it was Tiberius who saved him from the humiliations that the other slaves and soldiers were often subjected to.

During his first week there had been an incident involving one of the other students. They had been in class, learning what was expected of them as a bodyguard to a Magister, and one of the other students had misrecited the laws of the Imperium and been beaten. Leto had spoken out, and as a punishment had been forced to stand on a pedestal for the next twelve hours, refused water or food and whipped indiscriminately by any passing tutors. Tiberius had found him there, and had immediately found the school master. Leto had no idea what had passed between the two humans, but he had soon been allowed down, fed and put to bed. He had not been punished again.

The city itself was older – older than Orlais – and the history of humanity was celebrated everywhere. It seems to him that every street and square included statues of the great and the worthy, and every building was covered in murals and frescos that told the story of domination of Thedas. The Minrathous Leto saw was not the same one his mother or his sister experienced. Where Aryion had seen sculleries and cellars, bedrooms and chimneys, and Variania viewed the world through the eyes of a spoilt child, denied the freedom and importance she felt she was entitled to, Leto was guided and accompanied by Tiberius, who spoke to him as an equal, and asked his opinion and was interested in Leto's comparisons between the city and the other places he had visited in his youth.

Despite himself, Leto found he liked the city. He was carefully, and unknowingly, shielded by Tiberius from the worst excesses of cruelty or decadence, and he found himself wondering what it was that Cassandra had been so afraid of. He remembered the way he had felt as a child when he had been taken away from the Imperium, and found he was finally able to account for what had seemed at the time frightening and unusual. Of course he had wanted to be here – this place, this city, was thriving and vibrant. He wasn't treated as unusual or as second class. His ability was respected, and he was finally able to feel as if he had a place in the world. None of his teachers censured his extraordinary ability with a blade, and in Tiberius he had found a friend to help him and guide him. He felt sometimes, guiltily and disloyally, but nevertheless he felt it, that if his father had been more like Tiberius he might have had a happier childhood, he might have understood himself and his ability better, rather than feeling like a freak, like an outcast.

This didn't mean however he forgot his secret purpose. He watched and listened, and had discovered where Varania and Aryion were being kept, and je knew that today, with everyone at the parade, they would be unguarded. Each night he carefully catalogued the streets he had visited, building a mental map of the city; he could find the house of Egidius, and with the madness he would be leaving behind him he felt confident he could smuggle them out of the city. His only regret was that today he would betray Tiberius, and that when the moment came he would have to act quickly and abandon the healer. He did not know, of course, that Tiberius had a different plan.

Today is the day, Leto thought. He was neither excited nor nervous. He was focused. His hatred of Callum had been nurtured for over a year, and was now as strong and clear as diamond. He no longer suffered bouts of crippling anger, rather when he thought of the mage his mind settled into a clear and defining purpose. He only felt sorry for Tiberius, who would surely be punished as a result of bringing him to the city.

"Here comes the Archon," Tiberius shouted over the roar of the mob. Leto pushed forward, elbowing his way the edge of the crowd, pulling Tiberius behind him. The mage laughed, and Leto muttered that he was excited to see the head of his new home. Tiberius laughed again.

o0o

Callum marched along with the other apprentices, lost in thought. He had been both delighted and suspicious when Hadriana had permitted him to participate in the parade. Last year she had outright refused his pleas to join her, saying that he was still no more than a hedge mage and as such would be an embarrassment to her name and the House of Egidius. When the parade had rolled around again, he hadn't even asked to join her. Things between them had become even more strained over the summer, and Callum was at a loss to understand why. Hadriana had to all intents and purposes discontinued their lessons together, meeting him for a couple of hours a week to sullenly pass over a reading list, and to watch him demonstrate any new spells he had been learnt in the meantime. She quizzed him over legislature and custom, and scorned him half-heartedly when he made mistakes.

Callum was amazed to find he missed her spite and hatred. At least it meant she was interested in me, he found himself thinking and he marched along with his contemporaries, so lost to his own misery he barely noticed the cheers of the crowds.

No, it was not him that interested the bitch, it was Varania. Callum had no idea what to think. He had been so terrified when Hadriana had sequestered his slave, worried for her safety and for his. But Varania had returned from their first meeting unharmed, and had since spent most of her days locked away in their room, translating texts and writing essays for the other woman. Hadriana had even taken Varania out of the house, to some secret meeting that the elf had refused to explain. Callum had asked Varania what the nature of her work was, but he couldn't believe her when she answered that Hadriana was interested in Elvhen lore. He had since punished Varania by withdrawing his affection and protection, but, maddeningly, Hadriana had stepped in and Varania was still spared the dismal duties of any normal slave. It didn't matter anyway. Callum couldn't maintain his distance from Varania, and found himself weakening and begging her for her time, for her touch. His stomach twisted in a knot as he considered the humiliation of his position, and worse still, the way it turned him on to be subjugated by her.

Whatever was happening between the two women, it had upset the balance of his relationship with Varania. She now held all the power, and they both knew it. He was advancing faster and further now that she was in a dialogue with Hadriana, but he was unable to revel in his sudden ascent.

Callum trudged along, not paying attention to his surroundings. The cries and cheers and the population dulled in to a background roar, unable to penetrate his relentless self-pity.

The parade moved further through the city.

o0o

Hadriana smiled, and even waved to the citizens that lined the route. She knew what she had to do, and was ready. She spotted Denarius and the elf, and slowed down, allowing the other apprentices to overtake her. Callum didn't notice when she slipped in behind him.

o0o

Tiberius leaned over to Leto, and gently touched his shoulder, pulling his attention away from the parade. "I'm going to get a glass of wine. I'm too old to be pressed in amongst all these people. Will you be ok on your own?"

He watched the elf as he tried to hide the relief that washed over his face when he realised that Tiberius would be leaving him.

o0o

Egidius wasn't walking the route. His health had deteriorated disastrously over the summer, and he was almost completely bed bound now. However, he had refused to miss the parade completely, and instead had insisted on being carried in a sedan chair. As a result he was enjoying a raised vantage point, and able to see much further than some of the other Magisters. If he had been part of the march he might not have seen Denarius standing in the crowd. He stared at the other Magister, bewildered and confused. He realised he hadn't seen the man at the reception, but it had never occurred to him that the Magister would not be present at all. Denarius' House was one the most powerful in the city, and the man had responsibilities.

Something was wrong. Egidius turned in his seat, looking for Hadriana. She should have been just behind him, but when he found her she had been swept back, and was walking far behind with the newly appointed apprentices. She was even behind Callum. Egidius frowned. Panic began to prickle at his skin, causing his to feel sick. She shouldn't be there. Denarius shouldn't be in the crowd. Egidius couldn't explain why, but he sensed there was some connection, and he began to feel afraid. He realised suddenly that he was exposed, sat so high and so frail. He reached into the Fade, and prayed that with all the commotion no one would notice the tell-tale taste of tin, or the air pull thin.

He could hear the crowd calling out, cheering and shouting, beginning for blessings, for money, for favour. The noise was overwhelming, and it was hard for him to concentrate. He needed to calm down, or he wouldn't be able to access his manna. There were no slaves, no one to bleed. He was exposed. Too old, too much pride… I should have stayed at home. Denarius had disappeared. He couldn't find him, the crowds were too thick, and he hadn't been dressed in his Magisterial robes. He looked again for Hadriana, but now he couldn't find her either. Callum was still there, but he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, he was watching his feet as he marched along, oblivious to the danger Egidius was certain now threatened.

And then Egidius heard it. Somewhere just ahead, something was happening. A slave was pushing through the guards that lined the route. Egidius watched in mounting horror as the slave killed the security with barely a break in his stride. The other people in crowd began to scream, but behind them, around them, people still cheered. There were too many people, too much noise. No one knew what was happening, and the slave was pushing through the parade, heading towards his apprentice. Egidius fought to calm his breathing, and concentrated on building his connection to the Fade.

o0o

Leto wasn't aware of the screams behind him. He pushed forward, knowing that if he stopped he would be caught and killed. The only chance he had was surprise and the blessed cover of the crowd and the parade. No one knew what to do with the dead guards, no one was watching him - yet, no one was fast enough. The line of guards had rushed to where their comrades had fallen, and were slow to organise themselves. They hadn't expected any trouble, and the chain of command was confused.

He pulled the stolen dagger out of his waistband, and moved through the Magisters to the apprentices, the blade held tightly at his side.

o0o

Hadriana charged her manna, and felt the power crackle through her body, making the soft hairs on her arms stand on end. Not too much, she reminded herself, don't kill him. She watched Leto approach Callum, and saw the glint of steel in his hand. She didn't notice Egidius suddenly stand in his chair.

o0o

Callum felt the force of the spell break in front of him, and saw Leto fall. The next thing he knew Hadriana had him, and was pulling him away. She was screaming, but he couldn't understand what she was saying. All he could see was the body of the elf on the ground, and the guards closing in around him. His ears were ringing, and he allowed Hadriana to manhandle him away, dragging him further into the parade.

o0o

It had happened so fast. The crowd had screamed and tried to run, causing people to be trampled and suffocated. It was madness, and soon the paving stones were slick with blood. The slave had launched himself at the apprentice, knife drawn and screaming in anger. The older Magister's spell caught him before his reached the apprentice, bringing him to the ground in a shower of electricity, felling him instantly. The guards had swarmed around the slave, beating his already unconscious body, until Magister Denarius called them off, and demanded the slave be taken back to his own house. No one knew why the slave had attacked the apprentice, but everyone agreed later that Magister Egidius had saved the young man's life, though the force of the spell caused his old heart to give out. It was generally felt that the old man deserved a statue, and donations poured into the Senate for him to be awarded with a state funeral.

The Senate convened the next day to discuss the incident. Denarius gave testimony, taking responsibility for his slave's actions. He publically apologised to Hadriana, now most senior member of the House Egidius, but defended his slave, explaining that the House Egidius had for years been trying to assassinate him, even employing Crows to carry out the deed. Denarius maintained that his slave had only been trying to protect him. Hadriana, dressed in mourning clothes, acknowledged the attempts, but refused to accept the Magister's apology. Her master had died and the slave hadn't even targeted the right person – it was all very queer, and everyone agreed an apology was not enough.

"We cannot permit this kind of disobedience," the Archon stated, as the Senate clamoured around them.

No one knew what to do. House Denarius was old and powerful, but so was House Egidius. It was unacceptable, but there was no precedent for slaves attacking Magisters' apprentices openly in the streets, even in misplaced loyalty to their master.

Denarius stood in the floor, and waited for the noise to die down. "Your grace, I agree that the behaviour of my slave is wholly unacceptable." The Archon nodded. "However," Denarius continued, "I will not have the elf executed for protecting my interests. If we cannot trust our bodyguards to risk their lives for us, for our individual safety, and the safety of the state, how can we ever be truly secure?"

The room erupted.

Denarius raised his hands, and the noises ebbed again. He continued, speaking clearly and politely, using all his charm and influence. "There must be a solution that House Egidius will agree to?"

All eyes turned to Hadriana, beautiful in her misery. She stood slowly and walked to the centre of the auditorium, and a hush descended. She bowed to the Archon, and to Denarius.

"My lords, on behalf of my late master, and my House, I thank-you. I understand Magister Denarius' wish to keep such a.. dedicated slave," the room tittered at the weak joke, "however, something must be done. If it is not too impertinent, I have a suggestion?"

The Archon waved his hand, signalling her to continue.

"Perhaps we could look to our history to settle this matter?"

Denarius frowned, "What history are you referring to, child?"

"To the Coliseum, my lord."

The Senate exploded again, unable to believe what they had heard. The Coliseum hadn't been used to settle debts of honour in more than an Age. The Archon called for silence, and leant forward in his chair. "You understand what you are proposing, girl?"

Hadriana nodded. "I do my lord. If the champion of my House should fall, the matter will be settled in favour of my worthy lord, Acrisius Aemilius Tiberius Denarius of the House Denarius. I understand the stakes. But I trust in the Maker's justice."

The Archon looked to Denarius, who nodded. The matter was thus settled, and the date of the battle was set for the first day of the new-year, 9.22 Dragon.

Hadriana caught Denarius' eye, and smiled.