The Shell Game

There was a full-length mirror of beaten copper in Livia's room, one of her most precious possessions. It was into this mirror that she frowned now, then tried again.

Her eyelids drooped and she let her mouth relax, and then tilted her head--no, that made her look altogether silly. She opened her eyes a bit wider. But what to do with her hands? She remembered the first few times she'd met Sextus, when he'd been her betrothed rather than her husband. She hadn't known what to do with her hands then, either.

Open, she thought. Inviting. Nothing threatening. She practiced her best vacant look and wondered if men really liked that, a woman with no evidence of thought in her eyes. Sextus had not, but perhaps he'd been unusual.

It seemed to be what was expected of whores, though, and she let her mouth fall open a little. Gods, I feel stupid. And I think I look a right fool. What was I thinking, volunteering for this? She sighed. Her legs were cold; the dress she was wearing now, something that she had picked up when she and Diya had gone shopping the other day, didn't even begin to cover them. It was making other parts of her cold as well, and she covered her chest with her arms.

There was a knock at the door. "A moment!" she called. She picked up the worn man's cloak that she'd draped over the chair, which she'd bought when she'd first thought of the need for a few pieces of clothing last week. She draped it over her shoulders and pulled it closed in front. "Come in," she called.

The door opened to reveal Darius. "Do you have the spell?" she asked.

"I do. Are you ready?"

She took a deep breath, not bothering to hide her fear and uncertainty from Darius. "As much as I'll ever be."

Darius nodded. "You will feel some tingling up and down your skin, it shouldn't hurt--more like your arm falling asleep. Then it will go away. You will see your skin darken as you watch."

"How long will it last?"

"Six hours, maybe longer. You can dismiss it with a thought if you need to. Just make sure you want to--it won't return once its gone. Any requests for the change or just let me do it?"

Livia shook her head. "I'll let you, I don't have any notion of how I want to look."

Darius smiled. "Then relax." He crossed the room to her and rested his hand on top of her head. Then he began to cast the spell.

Nobody had ever cast any real magic on Livia. She almost started as she felt the tingling spread across her skin. Darius seemed to be sternly ordering the magic to do what he wanted, and then his voice fell silent and he was looking at her with a look of absolute concentration in his eyes.

About five minutes passed. Finally, he removed his hand from her head, and then the tingling on her skin faded. "There, it's done."

She looked at herself in the mirror, trailing her fingers along her cheek. Her facial features had changed, her lips becoming fuller and her patrician blade of a nose a bit flatter. She opened her cloak to discover that there were changes to her body as well, more curves in places where she usually didn't have much for them. Her skin was now a shade or two darker than Diya's, but her hair, unbound in a dark cloud over her shoulders, was unchanged.

The woman in the mirror was pretty, almost beautiful. "Interesting," she said, and even her voice was different, lower and huskier. "Good work, Darius." She pulled the cloak closed and turned to him. "What, if anything, do you know about Maranis?"

The big man considered. "Maranis was a minor mage, last one to join the council. Was pretty much a lap dog to Faydren. He is a generally experienced mage, capable of casting many spells. He didn't specialize in a field."

"No notable personal tics, no irrational hatreds of anything?"

"Didn't know him all that well. Julia would be better at this sort of thing. Might be a good thing to find out about the rest of the council from her. She can give you better details. Faydren wasn't lying about Maranis's dislike of Sassenids and pagan gods, though."

Livia nodded. "I'll have to speak to her when I get a chance next. All right, I'll keep those things in mind. I need to make sure, before we get there, that Linaeus is still off doing his penance."

"We can go look. I would bet he will be there until dawn." Darius fiddled with his sword belt, settling it comfortably around his hips and checking to make sure that his sword would release cleanly from the sheath. "No wonder he smells so bad."

She made a face, and then started as the motion felt different. "He must not have time to bathe. Geras must have no sense of smell."

"He's working with people who have no way to wash."

Livia looked at him, astonished. There were public baths in the city, ones open to everyone who had the means to pay a few coins...

...that were not open to Sassenids. Livia closed her mouth, and changed the subject. "If I do this right, I won't be in very long. Maybe ten minutes. With any luck, I'll be out before Constantine's people get there."

"We better hurry then. I would bet we have no more than an hour before Constantine shows up."

"That was my thought." She pulled her cloak tighter around her body. "Let's head out."

They retraced their steps from earlier in the evening, down to the place where the line of Sassenids still waited for Linaeus's attentions. There were more of them than he could possibly see in a night, and he was likely to be there until dawn, about two hours away.

As they walked towards the house where Constantine's son was held, Darius asked, "How are you getting in, lady?"

"I'm a gift from a priest I ran into a few hours ago. He refused my services but told me of a house that had some men in need of entertainment. He described one in particular I was to be very friendly to, and gave me some money in advance." Her voice was quiet, she was drawing her real personality into the shell she'd need to have up for the assignment ahead.

"You have the stuff, right?" There was an odd note in his voice, and she glanced over at him. He wasn't usually one to worry, she thought, but perhaps the night was wearing on his nerves as much as it was on hers.

She nodded. "In a packet, yes."

They had had paused near the house. "Good luck, scream loudly if you get in trouble. Be careful."

"I'll do my best. You be careful as well, and if Constantine's men come, try not to get caught up in it."

"I won't, but if you scream there will be very little that will stop me from getting to you." His eyes were serious.

Livia gave him a small smile. "I'll remember that." She took a deep breath and said, "Here goes."

She walked up to the door, calming herself, letting her sense of self fall away. She knocked at the door and waited.

It was answered by a mercenary, a man a bit younger than Livia, missing a front tooth but otherwise good looking. "Wrong house, I think," he said.

She shook her head. "I was sent by a priest." She stepped forward and let her cloak fall forward, revealing the very short dress underneath. "He said there were some men here in need of entertainment."

The young man's eyes widened. "I understand. Stay here, I will get the man in charge." He let her into the house and motioned for her to stay, but he was not in such a hurry to leave that he missed her shrugging out of her cloak and draping it across her arm. He went through the door to the left, and Livia took a quick look around. There was the door the guard had left by, a door off to the right, and a staircase leading upwards, and not much else.

The guard came back with a man in tow that Livia thought was Maranis. The mage was rather short, a bit pudgy, and balding on the top. His voice was very deep. "Priest sent you?"

She smiled at him, letting her expression go just a little vacant. "He did. The man he had with him wanted me, but the priest gave me a few coins and sent me here. He said there were several men here, and they were all quite bored."

Maranis chuckled. "That we are. Well, then, me first. You first up the stairs."

"Of course. The priest said I was to be very nice indeed to you." Livia gave him her best sultry smile, and glided past him and up the stairs. She almost lost her composure when she felt the man's hand on her bottom, cupping the curve of it and groping. She hid her reaction and buried any feelings she might have about that hand.

At the top of the stairs, his hand veered her right and into a bedroom. In other circumstances, she would have thought it a cozy little room except for all of the bottles everywhere, some wine, some other, stronger drinks. It smelled strongly of wine and incense, and there was a small fire burning in a grate in one corner. She silently thanked Maranis for liking his creature comforts.

After Maranis had shut the door to the room, she stood under his lustful gaze, letting him get a good look. She met his eyes and asked, "What is your pleasure, lord? I am experienced in several forms of massage, if you like."

His grin made her feel as if she'd been covered in oil. "We can start that way."

She tilted her head towards the bed. "Then, lord, if you would undress and lie on the bed?"

He did so, shucking his clothes. Livia pulled out the packet, and using the sound of his clothing as a cover, quickly pulled out the parchments inside and shoved them into the fire. She dropped the packet with the gem on the desk, and then crossed the room as Maranis laid down on the bed, face down.

She reached out with her left hand and ran her palm lightly down his spine. "Tell me, does your back give you trouble?" she asked in a soft voice.

"A bit here and there." His voice was smug, anticipatory.

The wine bottle in her right hand came down on the back of his head, hard. The bottle didn't break, but he did go limp. "Too bad," she said. Carefully, she climbed over his prone but still-breathing form and opened the window over the bed.

She sat on the sill, twisted and dropped till she was clinging with her hands to the sill, and then let go. It was a long drop, and she cursed quietly as she landed.

Darius melted out of the darkness. "You all right?" he asked, helping her up.

She knelt and probed her ankle. "Hurt my ankle, but I think it'll be fine. Let's go."

He turned away and then suddenly pushed her into a dark corner. His hands went around her back and he lowered his head, his lips perilously close to hers. She looked up into his eyes, startled. "See the guy in the street under my arm? Black cloak?" His voice was low and urgent.

Livia looked. "Yeah. Who's he?" she murmured.

"Zaran. Hagia Sophia Member. Faydren's wet work guy. Council member."

"We hang out here till he passes?"

His face was a bare two inches from hers, and she was looking up into his eyes. "Yes, he knows me by sight. Faydren's not going to leave any survivors to pin this on him."

"At least I didn't have to kill Maranis. I hit him kind of hard, though." She kept her voice as low as he was keeping his.

"He's going to be dead in a few minutes, I would guess."

Livia was having a sudden strange urge to kiss Darius. Habit, she thought to herself. Just habit. Still, she felt a surge of guilt hot on the heels of wondering what his mouth tasted like. Hush, you, she told herself. I don't have the energy to deal with this right now. "Me, too," she breathed, hoping that her strange feelings weren't showing on her face.

Behind Darius, Zaran knocked on the door. It opened and the same handsome guard opened it. Suddenly, the guard vomited blood and collapsed.

The mage stepped over the body and went inside. "Time to go," muttered Darius.

Livia nodded and pulled away from him. They began to walk up the street, keeping to the shadowed side.

Behind them there was a crash of glass breaking, and then a wet, crunching thud, and Livia nearly jumped out of her skin. They both turned to see Maranis's naked body lying broken and shot through with glass. Livia hissed, "Oh, damn, he's probably going to kill the kid, too."

Darius shook his head and started walking again. "Nothing we can do, now. He might not. It would look bad for Faydren."

"I hope so. Gods, this night's been a nasty piece of work." She shivered. "Er, I don't suppose I could borrow your cloak, could I? I left mine inside."

He pulled his cloak off and settled it on her shoulders, wrapping her in it. "Thanks," she said. "I didn't really want the servants to see me dressed like this. Think it's safe to go back to my own face?"

Darius shook his head. "Let's get a bit closer and then change."

"All right." She sighed, rolling her shoulders, trying to get some tension out of them. She was limping a little, but it felt like her ankle would be fine in the morning if she managed to rest it tonight. "Another late night. I guess it's better than trying to sleep and not being able to. And tomorrow or the next day, I need to dance attendance on Constantius. Tomorrow afternoon, likely. I want to see my daughter, and if I go, I can."

"Yes, you might want to do that. See how she is. When do you start working for Constantius for real?"

The thought made her feel tired. "As soon as I say I feel up to it, I'm sure. I can probably put him off another week or so, especially if I manage to get him Faydren's harpist."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to get the harpist to spy on Constantius?"

"I have to talk to her first, but that was my thought. It really depends on whether or not I feel like I can trust her not to bring everything back to Faydren. For all I know, she could be very unhappy where she is, or she could be extremely happy working for Faydren."

Darius snorted softly. "If I was her, I wouldn't be all that happy with sifting people's memories for someone."

Livia quirked her mouth. "Me neither. The problem is, Constantius will want her to do the same thing for him. I haven't yet figured out how to get around that."

"And getting her to switch to your side and work just for you will really put you in Faydren's eye."

Tell me something I don't know, Darius, she thought. "He'll be suspicious, I'm sure. Perhaps I'll see if I can finagle something that will put the suspicion on Constantius instead."

He looked over at her, at her wearing a face that wasn't her own. She wondered what he saw when he looked at her like that. "I believe you are getting to like these games," he commented, an unexpected warmth in his voice.

Livia gave Darius a wry smile. "A bit. I would prefer to wear more clothes during them, though. But, yes. If I weren't afraid that I was going to take a misstep and get myself killed, I'd probably be having a good time right now. It's odd. This is the first time I've ever played this game, but it seems to be coming naturally to me."

He inclined his head. "Yes, and the clothing is quite fetching too."

She blushed hotly, then chided herself for the reaction. She wasn't some maiden to lose her composure over a word of praise. But was Darius actually flirting with her? How very, very odd. "It's only because the shape I'm in's not my own. It looks a bit silly on my usual shape," she replied.

Darius glanced over at her. "Somehow I would doubt that, lady." He looked up. "Best change, your house is coming up."

She nodded and dismissed the spell, the spell tingling on her skin as she changed back to hr normal shape. "I'd better check on Diya when we get inside. I'm guessing she's probably not asleep."

"Probably not. Get as much rest as you can lady. I fear you will be hearing from someone in the morning about tonight's events."

"More than likely. We'll see just what a beehive I've kicked this time." She shivered again, this time with fatigue.

Darius smiled. "Let's just hope you won't be swarmed."

"That's my hope. If it comes to that--" She paused, stopped walking, and looked at him seriously. "I've been making sure that each of my people has a place to go if I need to disband the household and run. Do you have somewhere to go to ground, if you need to?"

Hw shook his head. "It's my job to protect you lady. Where you go, so do I."

Livia took a sharp breath. "I really don't want to get you killed, Darius. But--I suppose you can reconsider if the time comes."

Darius shrugged. "Maybe if we both survive this, but until then you are stuck with me."

She was watching him, wondering, And will this ever end? How will we know when it's over? Livia shook her head, and then brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I wouldn't really call it stuck, Darius. All right. Inside, and I'll check on Diya and then try to get some sleep."

"Yes, that sounds nice, lady. Good night, what's left of it."

"Good morning, more like." She shed the cloak in the doorway, handing it back to him. She did not pay any attention to see if his eyes roved her body in the revealing outfit. He'd already seen her in her night shift, after all. That covered less than this did.

She turned and walked away from him, before she could give in to the sudden urge to ask him if he would just hold her for a little while. She was exhausted and her night had been very long, that was all. I've no right to ask anything--personal from him, she reminded herself. This is a job for him, nothing more. Keep it business. It'll be easier.

The sun rose all too soon. Orla woke Livia about nine by bringing in a letter and a tray with some food on it. The maid didn't let Livia's grumbling deter her from rousting her mistress out of bed, sitting her at the small table in her bedroom and ordering her to eat.

"I'm not hungry," she muttered.

"Of course you're not hungry. You're going to eat anyway. You are not going to let that lovely skin of yours get all dull and nasty, not on my watch. Your hair is a rat's nest. And what are those bruises?"

Livia had forgotten the bruises she'd collected yesterday morning. "Weapons practice," she said, grabbing an apple and nibbling on it in hopes that it would stall Orla's questions.

The maid had a very strange look on her face. "And you came back after the party and went out again. What is going on, Livia?" She dropped her voice low. "If that mage is mistreating you--"

Livia sucked in her breath. "Orla, for the last time, I am not sleeping with Darius! Honestly! There are things going on, but it's not that. And trust me when I say you're better off not knowing. Sextus was not who I thought he was. Let me leave it at that for the moment."

Orla looked at her for a long moment, then said, "Eat. Read your message. I'll be back in a bit to do your hair."

Livia sighed and turned her attention to the message. It was from Constantius, and said that Constantine's son had been rescued. A member of Hagia Sophia had been implicated, and the situation was under control. Constans's son was still missing.

A pair of hours later, Livia was once again trying to work on the family accounts when another message arrived. It was from Hagia Sophia, and said that the mage Maranis had acted on his own, and had been holding Constantine's son for unknown purposes. The assume that he had Constans's son as well, but feared the worst.

Within the official message was a smaller piece of paper, this one in an elegant, narrow hand.

Dear Livia, Maranis was killed last night by Hagia Sophia and Constantine's guard after a fight. He refused to give up and we were forced to kill him. Evidence links him to Sextus's death and the matter is now closed as far as Hagia Sophia is concerned. If you wish to view the evidence you may respond to this letter and I can arrange a meeting for us.

Faydren

Livia looked at the note as if it were a live snake in her hand. "Refused to give in, my eye," she muttered. "The man was unconscious." She rose and went to find Darius.

He read the notices and the note. "Nicely done by Faydren. Several birds with one stone and his own head neatly off the chopping block," he said.

Livia smiled ruefully. "I'll have to take a lesson from this one. Never pin only one thing on a fall guy if you can pin several. I'm going to have to go see the evidence, I think."

Darius nodded and handed the papers back to her. "Yes, it would be wise. He is probably up to something."

"He might want to try the memory-sifting thing again. But, on a good note, perhaps I can finagle to borrow his harpist for an evening or two. I need to talk to her."

"What are you sending back?"

She thought, tapping her finger on the parchment. "I'll just send a note saying that I would like to see the evidence, and that I think I will accept his gracious offer to lend me his harpist for a few evenings. Hm. I'd like to not meet at his house if I can--and not mine, either. Hagia Sophia isn't exactly neutral ground, is it?"

"No, not exactly. But where else would you like to go?"

"I can't--hm. Not exactly neutral ground, but Constantius has an open-air building in his gardens that he uses for entertaining. I'm sure Constantius would allow me to use it, if I asked. Unless he really wants to break character, if anything happens to me on his property, Geras has to protect me." She smiled a little as she said this. She would give much to force Geras to do something against one of his own allies in order to keep up the illusion that he was who he said he was.

"I doubt he will refuse."

"A bit less danger than, say, meeting at Hagia Sophia, but still dangerous. But I don't want him in my house." She might not always be able to keep him off her home ground, but for now, if she could, she would. "I'll ask him to arrange a meeting and let me know so I can let Constantius know. Besides, Constantius would want to see the evidence, as well, considering Sextus was his advisor and best friend."

"Good plan." He glanced down. "How's your ankle? You seem to be walking all right."

Livia extended her foot and wiggled it. "It's all right, still a little painful. But Orla was very suspicious of my bruises this morning, the ones from weapon practice. She thinks you're mistreating me. If anything, it's the other way around, and I told her so." She sighed. "She knows something's going on, but I don't dare tell her everything. I'll see you in a bit, Darius. I need to go write a reply to this."

A day later, in the late afternoon. Livia and Darius arrived at Constantius's house. They were escorted by the regent himself through his opulent abode. Faydren had already arrived, Constantius said, and they would go out to see him.

On the way there, they passed Linaeus in the hall. Livia nodded at him, and he returned the gesture. Stopping, she addressed him. "Linaeus, will you be around later? It has been some time since I've been to church, and I have some things on my mind that I'd like to speak to a priest about."

Linaeus's eyes widened, and he looked startled. He recovered nicely, though, and said, "Certainly lady, any time."

"I will find you later. Thank you." She turned away and began walking again, a smug smile trying to make its way to her lips. Got him. Linaeus, I don't know about you, but no matter if you're friend or foe, I'm going to enjoy this.

The expression faded from her eyes as they reached the garden. Livia had instructed Orla not to hide the signs of lack of sleep from her eyes when she'd done her makeup, and she let her shoulders drop. She summoned her shield of grief and incomprehension, and bit her lip as they drew closer to the pleasure dome that was the centerpiece of this garden.

Faydren met them at one of the entrances, bowed to all three of them, and ushered them inside. There were things spread out on a table in the center of the building, and without speaking Livia went to go look at them.

There were some papers, sketches of demons it appeared. There was a book about summoning, some pots that had powders in them, and a bracelet that Livia recognized--Sextus had worn it for many years, but had lost it one day.

There was one more thing on the table, and Livia's heart stuttered. The gem that she had stolen from Faydren last night and left in Maranis's quarters before he was killed lay on the table, glittering innocently.

She looked up at Faydren. "This is the evidence?"

"Yes lady, it is." The mage's sharp eyes were mild at the moment, lazy. Livia wondered what sort of trap he had laid for her here.

She looked over the table again. "That bracelet belonged to my husband, I recognize it. This was all in Maranis's things?"

"Yes, his holeup in the Sassenid quarter and his personal belongings in Hagia Sophia."

"I see the summoning book and the demon sketches--that one looks like the kind that killed my husband." She pointed at a particular drawing. "The powder--spell components? And the gem, what's that?"

Faydren's eyebrows twitched. "Yes, the powders are spell components, specific to the demon and the ability to conjure. The gem we assumed belonged to your husband--it was found with the bracelet."

Livia frowned and turned back to him. "It might have. Do you have any idea why Maranis might have summoned this demon to kill my husband? I have been told the kind that killed him only comes for vengeance."

The mage gave her a speculative look. "Do you know anything about your husband's past? And his dealing with Sassenids?"

She blinked. "Sassenids? He never told me anything, no. There have been rumors I've heard since he's died--some sort of relationship with a woman, years ago--but surely he would have told me about it." She wondered if she was laying on the ignorance too thick, but in the balance decided she probably wasn't. The person she was trying to impress here was Geras, and she rather thought Geras wanted to think her stupid.

"Seems he didn't." Faydren shook his head. "Maranis and he had a Sassenid woman they both liked. Sextus won her heart and her bed. That union produced a child, we think. Maranis's rejection turned to hatred and loathing. His hatred converted to all things Sassenid. He at some point, decided that he couldn't take it anymore and killed your husband. But it seems to not have taken his anger away. He turned to trying to rid the city of all Sassenids and hatched this plan to take Constantine's son and blame the Sassenids for his kidnapping."

Livia looked at Faydren, her eyes widening with shock. "A child? ...oh." She coughed, and visibly tried to pull herself together. "This Maranis sounds as if he was somewhat unglued." That was definitely laying it on too thick, she thought, and adjusted her expression a bit.

"Very crazy, but sane enough to hold it together and find his way to the council of Hagia Sophia. A mistake that we will not make again in replacing him." Faydren's smile was sharp, and it did not reach his eyes.

"I'm sure." She turned back to the table, muttering under her breath, "There was so much he never told me." She took another long look at the evidence, then turned towards the regent. "Constantius, are you satisfied with the evidence?"

He inclined his head. "I am satisfied that this might be a part of the puzzle, but I wonder if that is all that will be found."

Livia raised her eyes to his and let sadness and uncertainty show in them. "It seems very simple, doesn't it? One person with a bone to pick with my husband over something that happened ages ago."

"I have found in life that nothing is all that simple. But for now, I am satisfied."

Gods, she thought, gods, he does play Constantius well. She nodded. "Then I will be, too. I think I may keep looking, but this gives me a better place to start. May I take the bracelet, Faydren?"

The mage made a sweeping gesture towards the table. "Feel free. Was the gem his too? It seems to have fallen from the bracelet, we think. But if not, we can investigate that further."

She looked back at the table, taking a step forward. "I don't think it belonged to him--but there were evidently many things I didn't know about him." She reached out to pick up the bracelet, looking at it. There was a link in it that she didn't remember and that appeared to have been added after the last time she'd seen it, one that would hold the gem. The metal that held the unfamiliar link in place was not new, several years' worth of tarnish built up on the surface. Livia didn't know what to think. Was it possible that Faydren hadn't had any idea that this gem had been in his strongbox? She'd originally thought that he'd brought it here to see if he could trap her into admitting that she'd seen the gem before. Now, she had her doubts.

Livia shook her head. "It's been a while since I've seen this, Sextus said he lost it some time ago. Perhaps he had the gem put in."

Faydren nodded. "It's yours to keep, then, and Hagia Sophia will consider the matter closed. The regent and yourself are free to continue if you think the matter needs further study."

She closed her hand around the bracelet. "Thank you, Faydren." She picked up the gem, holding it briefly to the light.

"Again, I am sorry for your loss. I hope this puts your mind at some peace."

She gave Faydren a small half-smile. "A bit more than it was."

His smile warmed his eyes, and Livia caught herself thinking that if she didn't know better, she would swear that this man was a potential ally. He said, "Good. My offer still stands about the harpist."

"Ah, I was going to ask you about that. If you're still willing, I'd love to borrow her for a few nights. I...do not sleep well."

Faydren nodded. "Certainly, tonight work for you or later?"

She thought about it, then nodded. "Tonight would be fine."

"Say two nights to start, then. Neera is her name."

"I will tell the guards to expect her."

He smiled again. "Then I wish you well, Livia."

She thanked him and he took his leave, leaving the evidence behind. After he was gone, Livia asked, "Constantius, do you want to keep these things, or have them destroyed? I don't think I have any use for anything except the bracelet, which has some sentimental value."

"Best I think destroyed. I will take care of it. Feel free to take anything you think relevant." He motioned at the table, and she turned back to it.

"I'll take the drawings, I think. The rest is useless." She scooped up the parchment in question. She had an idea, one that she wasn't sure was going to pan out, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

The regent nodded. "As you wish. Do you want to see Optata before you go? I know she misses you."

"Of course, I was hoping to see her today. It's been far too long." She ached, now that she was done with Faydren. She desperately wanted her daughter in her arms again.

Constantius said, "I am afraid Fausta will be unable to join you. She has stomach maladies as of late."

A cold hand wrapped around Livia's heart. She remembered saying to Darius, If Fausta suddenly dies, I am going to get very, very worried. Controlling her voice, she said, "Oh, dear. How long has she been unwell?"

"Oh, two days now. I think that she may have eaten something that disagreed with her, or she has been having trouble with regular courses and sometimes when they onset they attack with a vengeance." His voice was untroubled, breezy.

"Ah, well I certainly hope she gets better soon. She's had the doctors in to look at her, I assume?"

The regent nodded. "Yes, that was their report as well. She should be better within the week; if not, they are to return."

She smiled at Constantius, though the cold hand refused to let go. "Give her my regards. I would like to see my daughter, then. Unless you need me for anything else?"

"No, feel free to stay as long as you like."

She said, "Thank you," then bowed and took her leave, Darius following. Once they were out of sight and earshot, she handed the bracelet, gem, and papers to Darius. "Could you hold these for me?"

Darius took them from her. "Yes, where did this come from?" He indicated the gem with a gesture.

"No idea. It does seem to belong to the bracelet, which is odd. Sextus had this for many years, from before I met him. He may have altered it and told me he lost it."

"Man was full of mysteries."

"You're telling me." Livia sighed. "I'll want you to have a look at the gem and bracelet for me later. For now, I have my daughter to see."

He nodded and said, "I certainly will." They walked towards the women's wing of the house, towards the nursery, Livia's heart lightening despite her fear. She left Darius outside the door and went in to find Optata sitting on the floor, a mess of toys strewn around her, stacking blocks on each other.

The little girl looked up as she entered, and her smile was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "Mama!" she cried, jumping to her feet, hurling herself at Livia.

Livia caught her, laughing. "Oh, Optata, I am so glad to see you." She kissed the child's face, her cheeks and chin and forehead.

"I missed you, Mama!" Optata snuggled down into Livia's arms. "Are you coming here to live now?"

"No, squashblossom. But I am visiting for a little while." Optata nodded but didn't argue. Livia's heart broke a little. Was her daughter beginning to lose hope that she'd ever see her mother on a regular basis ever again? Livia hoped not. She still intended to have Optata with her again some day, after all, though at this point she didn't know how. "Have you been being good still?"

The little girl nodded vigorously, her dark curs bouncing. "I've been playing with Julian and Gallus. I like Julian better, though. He gave me some of his candy. Julian told me a secret, too."

"He did, did he?"

She nodded, her eyes wide. "He said that my new papa doesn't like him or Gallus. He says that the only reason he's alive is because the man that he sent to kill them after the old emperor died didn't want to kill little boys. Would he do that, mama? Would he have killed them?"

Livia hugged her daughter closer. "I'm sure Julian is mistaken. I don't think he would have done that. Don't worry, Optata. You just keep being good, all right?"

Optata nodded seriously. "It's hard sometimes," she confessed. "But I remember that Papa is always watching me, and I have to be good for him."

"He's watching over you, always remember that. He won't let anything happen to you." She tweaked her daughter's nose. "I've heard you've been having lessons. What have you been learning?"

They passed an hour or so talking and playing, Livia's heart eased by every moment she spent with her daughter. They were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. "Come in?" she called.

Around the doorframe peeked a dark head. "Julian!" Livia exclaimed. "Come in."

The boy sidled into the room. He was the same age as Optata, his straight dark hair brushed and shining, pale skin and light eyes making him one of the prettier boys that Livia had ever laid her eyes on. She'd always felt sorry for this boy and his brother; they had been brought into the house a few months ago after Constantius had eliminated anyone who might be possible competition to himself and his brothers for the throne, and they had been neglected ever since. They had all the creature comforts one would want, but they lacked for love. Fausta didn't really like little boys. At least Optata knows that I love her and I miss her, she thought as she watched Julian's wary eyes. The expression on his face would have been worrying on an older child, but it was heartbreaking on a five-year-old.

"She came," he said now to Optata.

"I told you," she said. "I told you my mama would come back."

He transferred his gaze to Livia. "You gave her away. At least my mama couldn't help it."

"I couldn't help it either, Julian. It was one of those adult things." She looked away from the boy's gaze, which had become suddenly very sharp.

Optata said softly, "You're sad, mama."

Such directness could only come from children. "I miss your papa, and when I go home I'm going to miss you."

Optata suddenly burst into noisy tears and buried her face in Livia's shoulder. She stroked the child's back and murmured to her. By the time Optata was asleep, Julian was gone.

Livia put her daughter to bed, and knelt by her bedside. The fear was back, and Livia wondered why. She is so well protected. Obsessively so. Why would Geras want to keep her so safe? What reason does he have to guard another man's child like this?

There was a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as a realization hovered just out of reach. Slowly, in her mind, Livia turned to face it.

He does not care for Optata. She is leverage. The means to an end.

The means to make me do what he wants.

A slow breath escaped her as she thought of what Geras wanted from her. With Fausta ill, she was very afraid that what he wanted was Livia in her place, mourning period or no mourning period. And there is very little I can do to stop him. If Fausta dies, he can threaten to marry someone who would insist on me never seeing my child again.

That fist of fear closed around her heart again, and she shook silently. Then she checked herself, clenching her jaw. All right. She had a situation. What could she do to turn it to her advantage?

She silently turned the situation over in her mind, and then it hit her. The realization left her breathless. Yes. Yes. It would work, if she had a little luck fall her way. If nothing else, she could buy some time. And even if it didn't work--

I can come up with backup plans. But if I'm good enough, and lucky enough, I can beat Geras at his own game.

She smiled, despite her fear. She was committed now. Time to start playing the game her way.

Livia kissed her daughter on the forehead, and she stirred in her sleep but did not wake. She rose and crossed the room, letting herself out. Darius was standing outside the door, watching the hallway. "How was she?" he asked her.

"A little bit lonely, but otherwise well. I have a few people to speak to, Darius, and then we can be on our way."

He nodded and fell in beside her. She glanced sidelong at him, thinking about her plan, working on details. She hoped Darius would help her, but the favor she was going to have to ask of him was one that she wasn't sure he was going to be willing to do for her.

Please, gods, let this happen as I hope. Let me protect my daughter, and all of my people. And that includes him.