The Heir Apparent

A day passed, for once relatively uneventfully. Livia had sent a message to Constantine, formally requesting an audience, and had received a message back telling her to come to his house for the noon meal the next day.

In any other circumstance, she would have been surprised and pleased. She was not quite so well-placed that a meal with a regent other than the one she served would be entirely customary. Instead, she was simply pleased, and hopeful that she could perhaps get some answers from the oldest of the three ruling brothers.

The next morning was one of those rough mornings that Collita had warned her about. If Livia's past experience was anything to go by, the morning sickness would wax and wane for about ten weeks, after which she would feel much, much better.

And a month after that was when she usually lost the child. She was bound and determined that it wasn't going to happen this time. She might die before the child was born, but if she could do anything to keep her, she would.

In the morning's messages was something from Andreas, who said he'd located two properties that might be to her liking, giving her the addresses so she could go see for herself. Livia smiled, a plan starting to take shape in her mind. If Neera would be willing-- This could work out. It truly could. But enough of that. She rose and went to dress for her audience with Constantine. Darius would be going along as her bodyguard, of course.

"Lady," he said as she stepped out into the hallway and nodded to him. The formality in his tone was a warning, and she inclined her head. What went on in the depths of the desert and behind the closed doors of her own home was one thing. But in public, she was a noblewoman and he was the mage paid to guard her, and that was likely how it was always going to have to be.

She caught herself thinking that she rather wished it didn't have to be that way, and carefully buried the thought. Hiding her relationship with the big mage was a necessity, for many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that her husband had been dead less than a month. Another, of course, was the difference in their social classes. He had been a slave and a gladiator, and who knows what he had been before that? Mages might be quasi-noble, but that did not mean that mages and nobles mixed freely. The few that did had generally been born noble.

Women fall so easily, she thought. Well, if I'm going to be a fallen woman, at least I'll try to find some happiness on the way down. The thought cheered her as she accepted Darius's carefully proffered hand and stepped into her litter.

The meal at Constantine's was unexpectedly pleasant. Constantine was a man with a wide streak of humor in him, and she even caught Darius trying not to laugh at a story or two that the regent told. After they had finished eating, she and the regent repaired to his library, glasses of wine in hand. Constantine's personal guard and Darius were outside the door, quite within screaming range should it come to that. She hoped it would not.

Livia stilled and took a breath. "So, lord regent. It appears that my husband was working for you."

Constantine's bright eyes held a secretive amusement. "We had some dealings, yes, I admit."

"Eight years' worth?"

"Really? Was it that long?" He took a sip of his wine. "Probably, I suppose."

Livia's voice dropped low as she regarded the man who had given her husband the assignment that had killed him and shattered her carefully insulated world. "How much did you know of what he'd found out, the things that led to his death?"

"He worked for me on a lot of things and I really hate to give more information that could get people killed. How about you ask me specifics, and I can give you specific answers?"

Fine. We play it your way. "Did he manage to tell you what Geras's plan was before it killed him?"

The regent inclined his head. "He knew Geras was after Constantius. He believed that Geras was going to move on the day he died to take out Constantius."

"He was correct," she said quietly.

"He also believed that Geras would come after him. I told him to leave but he kept delaying."

Livia took a long breath. "That delay meant his death. And Constantius died."

There was a deep sorrow in Constantine's eyes. Livia could almost pity him. He knew his brother was dead, but he could not publicly mourn him. "Yes, and Geras replaced him. Linaeus was the key there. My informant told me he took up residence in Constantius's house."

"And immediately turned around and kidnapped your son, and Constans's. Faydren and he were working together on that, though I have no tangible proof at this point."

"I would love that proof, then I could do something."

She gave the regent a half-smile. "You and me both. Faydren's a bit too smart to leave evidence lying around, and Esayis is missing now. The moment that someone produces evidence, real or faked, of his death, Magentius will kill Constans."

Constantine nodded. "And with Esayis dead, Magentius will be the heir. Yes, I know. And if I kill Magentius, Constans will attack me. "

"Is there any good way of getting Constans to toss Magentius out on his ear?" Livia's voice was not particularly hopeful.

He shook his head. "You would have thought he would be gone already, but Constans turns a blind eye to all his dealings and other lovers. I can only figure that Magentius has something on Constans or has him controlled magically somehow."

She hadn't been expecting anything else. And if Constantine didn't know, there probably wasn't anyone who did. "Unfortunately, I don't think Constans will let me close enough to find out."

The regent's blue eyes were bleak. "Probably not. Magentius keeps close watch on who Constans has dealings with."

"And he's protected because everyone knows that if someone kills Magentius, Constans will be out for their blood. Your brother can be a very bad enemy when he wants to be, lord regent."

This, she knew, was not news. "Yes, even I would be a fool to cross him."

"I know civil war is a great Roman tradition, but I'd like to avoid it if I can do anything about it. And Geras, as Constantius, is a danger to me personally, as well as working on eliminating you and Constans." She twisted her mouth. "I walked into quite the tangle when I decided I needed to find out why Sextus was attacked by a gulagon."

"Yes, probably more than you know. Geras still lives because I don't know what Faydren will do at this point if he knows that I know. Constans, if he finds out, will attack and that will also lead to a war. If Magentius turns up dead, someone will be blamed, right or wrong, and Constans will attack. If Constans dies, Magentius inherits and will probably use the money to launch something underhanded to get rid of the rest of us. If Constans dies though, and we can prove Magentius was the cause..." Constantine's smile was vicious. "He is so very dead."

Carefully, Livia said, "I think that a little patience is required with this. As far as I've been able to tell, Magentius and Zaran may have had a falling out recently. If Magentius kills Zaran, Faydren's going to be pissed."

He gave her a sharp look. "Then Faydren kills Magentius and Constans goes after Faydren. Faydren will probably win. Hagia Sophia with get into this and I am assured of having to avenge my brother. Which causes a lot of causalities, including me and Constans. Leaving Geras in charge with Faydren pulling the strings. Not the best outcome I could hope for."

Livia raised her brows. "If Hagia Sophia were to stay out of it, if it were just Faydren, would things go any better?"

There was a shrewd look on his face. "Faydren might go down, and the council will choose another leader and be done with it. Geras could never reveal himself and that would be that."

"Then it's the Tower I need to concentrate on, isn't it?" Livia's voice was mild.

He was watching her carefully. "The less support he has, the less likely they will go after Constans."

She nodded slowly. "There have been steps made already in that direction. He's beginning to become less popular than he was, though he still has a number of council members under his thumb."

"Their removal has to be the first priority." His voice stopped just short of being an order.

"If I can manage to keep Geras from forcing me to marry him, I'll keep working on it."

He took another sip of his wine. "A dagger to the throat while he sleeps, though, is very effective."

She gave the regent a hard look. He knew what Geras was intending, and he could--or would--do nothing. "Then I have to convince everyone that it was self-defense to murder a regent in his bed. No matter how true it might be, it won't be easy."

"No, it wouldn't, but I find that nothing is in politics."

"It isn't, is it? There might, however, be a terrible accident sometime in the near future. Faydren and Geras are currently at odds, though not yet at each others' throats."

Constantine's eyebrows went up. "That may be the best of both outcomes. If Faydren and Geras do battle, Faydren will probably kill Geras and it comes out that he was impersonating Constantius. and If Faydren dies, Geras can continue, but he is less cunning a foe for the rest of us."

"And civil war can hopefully be avoided." Livia's voice dropped low. "However, sometime before that, I may need to leave, myself."

"That's what I tried to tell Sextus. I hope you listen better than he did."

Livia shook her head. "I have daughters I need to care for, and I can't do that if I'm dead." She raised her glass to her lips, wetting them with the wine but not swallowing any.

"Daughters?" asked Constantine.

Could this man really have known her husband all those years and not known about Diya? She gave him a long look, which he returned with amused indifference. Oh, he knows, she decided. Which means there's another game going on here. Finally, she replied, "Optata, and my stepdaughter."

"I didn't know you had a stepdaughter."

"Sextus's daughter, from his youth. She's nearly grown now, but not quite old enough to be on her own. I've been keeping an eye on her."

Constantine sipped from his glass. "Nice of you to do that."

Livia shrugged. "I've always wanted more children, and Sextus left me a trail that led right to her. I'm pretty sure he was hoping I'd find her and protect her."

"He was an intelligent man with a lot of secrets."

"Very large ones. And he protected me from every last one of them while he was alive. I don't know whether to thank him for it or not."

"I wouldn't know either, but the things he knew, it was probably best not to have known."

He was saying nothing less than the truth, but she still resented it. "But I'm left losing time reconstructing what he knew, instead of doing something about it. He knew I wouldn't let it rest if he died." She clenched her fist in her palla, and told herself to relax.

Constantine smiled. "I am not sure an instruction booklet would have been the best, anyway. Would you have believed it?"

She gave him back his smile. "Maybe. Maybe not. It would have helped, though, if I'd known better than to let Constantius adopt my daughter."

"He would have gotten what he wanted eventually. I have been told that Geras is very good at getting what he wants. Sometimes, it may be best to give it to him before he begins to realize exactly what it is he's attempting to possess." His tone was mild, but his eyes were full of warning. "You will make the correct decision for you and your family, of course. I can only offer advice."

She nodded. "Of course, lord regent. And if you will excuse me, I have a few things I need to do today."

"Don't let me keep you, Livia. You are always welcome here."

She stood and bowed. "As you are always welcome in my house, lord regent," she said in a quiet voice. "I thank you for your counsel."

She was silent on the way home, and Darius watched her with wary eyes. At home, she was handed a message with Julia's seal. She took it into her office and broke the seal, reading.

The potion is a transformation magic, one to undo all effects of a magic-induced alteration. I hope this is useful information.

Julia

Livia grinned. "For once, something goes right." She tucked the message into her pocket and went to find Darius.

He was closing the door of the workroom behind him as she approached. "I set Diya a problem," he told Livia. "It should take her a few days to work out."

"What?" she wanted to know.

"An alteration magic, one to turn an ordinary rock into a very clear crystal that can be used as the basics for certain other magics. It sounds easy, and it would be, if it weren't for the stubborn nature of rocks."

Livia didn't think it sounded easy at all, but supposed she might feel differently if she were a mage. "What makes it so hard?"

He grinned. "Rocks don't like to change. Sometimes, they resist change violently." Behind him, from the workroom, came a muffled explosion and Diya's voice, strident, saying words that Livia couldn't quite hear but were very likely language she'd picked up on the streets. "You have to persuade the stone to change, and that takes a finer touch than Diya has at the moment. She'll get there. It'll take her mind off Esayis, I hope."

Livia chuckled, and said, "I need to speak with Linaeus. Want to listen in?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

In her chamber, Livia pulled out the mirror and concentrated on Linaeus. The mirror showed her the priest, kneeling beside a Sassenid man, tending a wound in his leg. A glance around revealed that he was in the Sassenid quarter.

It was mid-afternoon. Livia frowned. "Linaeus, do you have a moment? It's Livia."

He nodded and held up his hand, finishing binding the man's wound. He then rose and stepped away from his patient. "Yes?"

"I found where Sextus had hidden the cure for the rat people. Unfortunately, there's not nearly the quantity we'll need."

"Truly? Are you sure its the cure?"

"As far as I can tell, it is. It cancels the effect of magically induced alterations. I haven't tested it yet, though."

Linaeus frowned. "Best to test it first. Could go horribly wrong and you don't want that produced in quantity."

"Any ideas how I could find a volunteer?" He's worked with them, perhaps he'll have an idea how to get one to cooperate.

The frown on Linaeus's face deepened into a scowl. "They don't tend to volunteer. Find their lair or the place where they are made, and then you might be able to catch one unaware."

"Oddly enough, I found out where they're being made. If you didn't know, Faydren appears to be responsible for them." Livia was watching him closely. Something was strange here.

"No, I didn't. Makes sense, though. Then that is where you will probably find one already caged."

"And with any luck, I won't find Faydren there," she said grimly.

"That would not be good," he said.

Darius murmured in her ear, "Ask him why he is healing Sassenids in the middle of the day without scrying protection."

Livia nodded at him. Excellent question. "Just out of curiosity, is there a reason you're healing Sassenids in the middle of the day without protection from magesight, Linaeus?"

Linaeus shrugged. "Didn't feel like being Geras's lapdog today and be damned if he finds me."

"You do realize that if he realizes what you're doing, he's probably going to try to kill you?"

"Probably but this is the greater good and these people have the greater need. Politics and backstabbing don't help in the long run. Helping the victims of it is worth the risk of me being killed."

Darius murmured in Livia's ear again. "I was afraid of that. Thalea is pushing him too far the other way."

Livia acknowledged him with a nod. Slowly, she said to Linaeus, "You do realize how many lives you're putting at risk if you die, correct? I won't argue the greater good, but I for one need you. And there are those who would sorely miss you, like Thalea. I'm not going to argue with you about it. Just wanted you to know."

He tilted his head, considering. "You might be right. I will put up the block now, unless you need something else."

"No. I'll let you know when I manage to get the potion tested."

Linaeus nodded and said in an absent voice, "Yes, that would be useful to free them all."

Livia closed her eyes and let the mirror go back to its normal self. Without opening her eyes, she said to Darius, "He is way, way too much like his father."

"Getting more so by the day. He is also becoming very pliable. He didn't hesitate in your suggestion, he just did it."

She made a wry face. "That was very strange. I need to talk to Thalea, I think. This is going to be a fun one. 'You need to let your lover's demon nature take over a little more, because he's going to get himself killed otherwise.'"

"She is going to love that. But she might respond if she thinks he will be killed by Geras."

Livia sighed. "I'll do my best to convince her of that. Because it's what's going to happen if he continues. The pliable thing's a bit strange. That's out of character. Must be a side effect of whatever spell she's using. At least, his father's one of the most stubborn cusses I've come across lately. I'd bet Linaeus takes after him, left to his own devices. Julia, too, come to think of it."

Darius nodded. "Yes, and if he was suggestible to you, the next time he encounters Geras--you can see the problem."

She sucked in her breath. Damnit. The man's gone from a problematic asset to a liability. Great. "I can. Tonight, then, I think I know where to find her." She glanced out the window, looking at the sun. "I don't think we have time to sneak into Faydren's place in the desert and get back before the sun sets and the gates close. We might have time to go see Lukas, though."

"What about?" he asked.

"He told me he'd give me some things that would help me not miscarry the child this time. I'd also like to ask him if he'd teach me some of the basics of battlefield healing--it's probably past time that I started learning." She tucked the mirror back into the bag she carried it in and ran her hand over her hair.

Darius smiled, and reached out to give her a one-armed hug. "We had best be going then. I'd hate for something to happen to the both of you."

"I'm hoping that early intervention will help. Shall we?"

They slipped out and headed out of the city, to Lukas's camp. He met them at the edge of the camp, having evidently been warned of their arrival. Livia raised a hand in greeting. "Lukas, it's good to see you again. No death this time." She smiled at him, and he smiled back, the lines at the corners of his eyes deepening.

"Good, a much better beginning. What brings you out here?"

"A few things. I'm here with happy news, first. Your potions appear to have worked."

"Ah, good." He looked at Darius, giving him a searching look. "So soon? It's only been a short time."

She spread her hands. "It's only been a few days, but a very odd mage told me I'm carrying a daughter." And she'd been feeling the beginnings of the changes, the little aches and pains that told her that her body was shifting to accommodate a child. Not to mention the morning sickness.

He nodded. "Well, I am glad for you. Now we need to see about keeping the child in. What month did you usually lose the child?"

"Usually around the third, or beginning of the fourth." She couldn't quite repress her reaction as she remembered the one time that she'd carried into the middle of her fourth month. She'd bled so much that the doctors had thought she might not survive. Sextus had barely left her bedside for a week as she fought to come back.

He saw her flinch, and nodded. "The beginning of the rapid weight gain. That really should be easy enough to fix. You should be fine for a month at least. In four weeks, come back to me, and I will bolster the support you will need."

Livia breathed out. "That would be very helpful. I'll do that, thank you."

"Anything else?"

"The other thing I came for was to ask you if you would mind tutoring me." She saw his eyebrows raise. "I need to learn at least a bit of battlefield healing, how to bind wounds correctly, how best to pull arrows. You seem like the best person I know to teach me."

There was something a bit odd in the look he gave her. "Ah well then, its time for me to change bandages on the sick and injured around here. No time like the present and on real patients. Follow me."

Livia spent the next two hours following Lukas around, changing bandages and watching the priest work. Darius absented himself, for the most part. Lukas explained things to her as they worked, the signs of shock, how to tell when a wound needed attention sooner rather than later. Livia hadn't known how she would handle the sight of so many wounded and ill, but after the initial shock she found that she didn't mind too badly.

She and Darius finally took their leave, walking back to the city before the gates closed for the evening. On the way back, they made some inquiries, and a Sassenid man who Livia recognized as one of Linaeus's helpers told her that he hadn't gone to Constantius's house last night. He had healed the sick all night, taken a nap for a few hours at the place where he'd set up his clinic, and had been at the healing all day, ever since. The man's face was worried. "He's wearing himself to the bone," he muttered.

She and Darius exchanged a look, thanked the man, and went home. Back home, they waited for the time to come to go speak with Thalea.

Livia timed her arrival at the baths to coincide with when it closed. Her luck held; as she was walking out of the garden with Darius at her shoulder, she saw Thalea walking towards her. She was wearing a shift, carrying her mage robes and a bag she could hear clanking as she walked. She, too, had a bodyguard at her shoulder, and Livia frowned. Who had convinced Thalea that she needed to hire a bodyguard?

Never mind. She stopped as the mage walked by her and said, "Thalea? My name is Livia. I'm sorry to disturb you, but we have a friend in common, and I need to speak with you about him."

Thalea gave her a hard look, and then nodded at her bodyguard, who stepped away. "And that would be?"

"Linaeus," she replied.

There was less surprise in Thalea's eyes than there probably ought to be. "How would you know him, lady?" she asked.

Livia inclined her head. "He was a friend of my husband, who was recently killed. Lately, he's become something of an ally."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. "Livia Neria. Please, lady, step in here." Darius and Thalea's bodyguard stopped at the door as they stepped into one of the small meeting rooms. "What do you need to discuss?" she asked.

Livia looked at her and decided to go with the blunt approach. "I know about the spell you have on him. Whatever you're doing, it's too much. He's starting to not bother to hide his activities from people who would kill him if they knew."

Thalea lifted an eyebrow. "Do you know why I do the magic?"

"I assume it's because otherwise, the part of him that's a demon is ascendant, and he's not exactly pleasant to be around."

She nodded and then sat down, motioning Livia to take a seat. "You know quite a bit, then but not quite all of it." She pulled out of the bag that had been clanking before a clear bottle. Within the bottle, a greenish mist swirled restlessly. "This is the demon, and every day I capture a bit more of him. Soon he will be gone completely and only Linaeus will be left."

She took a breath, understanding. "Ah. I see. While ordinarily, I'd consider this an excellent idea, there's a problem. He's told me that you deliberately don't pay attention to the things he's involved in, is that the case?"

Thalea shook her head. "No, I know what he does sometimes. I try to forget."

"Then you know that he's been trying to keep an eye on Geras," Livia said quietly.

Thalea's head came up, and her eyes widened. "I thought Geras was gone. He's with Constantius."

Livia pressed her lips together. Well, here's one more person who will know the truth. "Constantius is Geras, Thalea. It's not widely known, and I'm telling you this in the strictest confidence."

The mage had set down the bottle carefully, as if she were afraid she was going to drop it. "That is bad news," she said in a voice that was altogether too calm. Her hands clenched in her shift, and she swallowed.

"You're telling me. There's a lot going on right now, and Linaeus is trying to at least limit the damage Geras is going to try to do." Livia paused, trying to decide how best to convince Thalea of the danger her lover was in. "I came across Linaeus today in the Sassenid quarter, in broad daylight, working for the people there. Without protection from magesight. Geras doesn't know that Linaeus is still an Athena cleric underneath, and he doesn't know about his secret clinics. If he does--well, he'll assume that Linaeus has been betraying him in other ways. He'll kill him."

Thalea turned her face away from Livia as if she'd been slapped. "Yes, he probably will, but the damage is done."

"He's also become a lot more pliant, which worries me. He did something I asked him to without any argument whatsoever. What happens if Geras asks him to do something?"

Livia's repeated use of Geras's name was deliberate. His name was one to conjure with for anyone who was familiar with the man, and she knew now that Thalea knew who he was. Scare enough to tell me what I need to know, she pleaded silently. Give me something to work with. I'm sorry I have to put you through this, but if we can fix this--

Thalea's voice was quiet. "Right now he is confused, so anything sounds like a good idea to him. It will correct itself as soon as the demon is fully out. But the demon was also the one that made him do such awful things in the first place. So he may lose some of that edge he had."

Her voice held just a hint of steel. "That will get him killed, Thalea. That edge is what's been keeping him alive."

With her next words, Thalea proceeded to dash any hope that Livia had that this would be easy to resolve. "The problem is all or nothing, there is no giving him just a little back."

Ah, no. This is not good. Livia's voice betrayed just the slightest of trembles. "How long until it's all out?"

"Between ten and fourteen days," Thalea replied. She'd dropped her gaze to the floor, her shoulders rounding a bit.

Two more weeks of this, two more weeks of Linaeus becoming more and more pliant, more liable to expose himself. "Too long. Far too long. Geras likely already suspects something's wrong, he didn't return to the house last night."

Thalea raised her head and looked directly at Livia. Her voice was so very cold, cutting across Livia like a winter wind. "If I open the bottle and put it back in, he will become just like Geras again. And next time the demon will be ready for me. He won't be surprised by my attack."

"I hate to say this, but if he's to stay alive, Linaeus needs to disappear. At least until the demon's completely out. After that, if he chooses to come back into the game, that's his option."

The mage shook her head. "But if Constantius is Geras he won't let that happen. He will scour the world for him. I only did this because I thought Geras was dead." There was old pain in her voice, as if Livia had accidentally opened a long-closed wound.

"If you went with him, do you think you could keep ahead of Geras for a couple of weeks on your own?" Please say yes, please?

Livia was destined for disappointment. "Maybe. But I wouldn't count on it."

She swore a fervent oath. "Damnit. And I can't shield him, not with Geras where he currently is. I'm not certain I could start the kind of fire that would distract Geras enough to stay here if you ran."

"I can release the demon again, but we will lose Linaeus to the demon." Her voice had a note of finality to it.

"We need a few days' grace. Do you think you could get Linaeus to come up with an excuse to stay away from the regent's house for two or three days?" Livia shifted and sighed. "I definitely don't want to release the demon. Honestly, I think losing Linaeus to death would be kinder. Linaeus doesn't know what you've been doing to the demon, correct?"

Thalea shook her head. "No, he doesn't. Geras never lets Linaeus out of his sight for that long. Any way you can distract Geras for a time?"

Livia thought about her allies, about what she could and could not do. "There is a possibility, but--" Flint-eyed Athena, is this one man worth deliberately starting a civil war for? Is one life worth the number who will die if Constantinople goes up in flames? And if I marry Geras, is Linaeus worth what he'll do to me? She shook her head. "I can certainly come up with a few things. I'm not certain how long it'll work, though."

Thalea's voice was shaking. "I am unsure what to do. He dies if Geras finds out. But the demon takes over and Linaeus still lives." Lives but not as the man I love, Livia heard almost as clearly as if she'd said it.

"Let's see if I can keep Geras busy for a bit. Could you try to convince Linaeus to act more normally for a while?"

She shook her head. "The more I pull, the less he will act like himself, until the demon is all gone. Then his personality should reassert itself."

"I'll try like hell to distract Geras, Thalea. As much as I can."

"I can leave it in limbo for awhile, if that will help." The words seemed to be almost physically painful for the mage. Livia recognized the sick look in Thalea's eyes, the look of someone who had made a grave error in the form of a kindness.

Livia thought for a moment. When she spoke, her voice was slow. "There are no good choices here. Leaving it as it is for the moment would work if I could convince him to at least pretend things are normal and not, say, spend all night in the Sassenid quarter."

"Might be difficult. That's his passion and his atonement, I think." Thalea's statement held a note of pride, and Livia's heart ached.

Livia nodded. "I know. And under different circumstances, I'd approve. I'll see what I can do. Leave it for the moment, I think. Things may change soon."

"I will let it alone for now, then. Maybe as his mind grows stronger, he'll be able to deal better with what's left of the demon presence."

Wryly, Livia said, "I don't know if you're a religious woman, but if you are, I'd pray. I'll see if I can talk him into not risking his neck for the moment."

"Please do. I am sorry, I didn't realize I was putting him in so much danger." She looked away again, and her voice dropped low. "I was just trying to correct the mistakes of the past."

Julia's mistake, thought Livia. "Your heart's in the right place. You just didn't know about Geras."

"No, that is not common information."

She gave Thalea a serious look. "Less than ten people know about it, as far as I know. I'd appreciate it if it didn't become more common information than it is--" A banging on the door interrupted her, and Livia rose to her feet. She turned swiftly to the door and pulled it open.

Darius was standing outside, and from the frown on his face she knew whatever it was was serious. "Sorry ladies, there is something going on out here. Constantius's personal bodyguards just came by here at a rapid pace. Constans's and Constantine's soon followed. I saw Julia go by, as well."

"What in all the hells?" She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Thalea, but I need to go." Thalea nodded, her brow dark and her eyes speculative. "Let's go see what we can see, Darius."

He led her out into the street, and they hurried towards the sound of a crowd shouting nearby. They arrived near the entrance to the old noble section of town, and saw the imperial bodyguards surrounding something lying in the street, holding the muttering crowd back. Julia was in the center, her voice raised stridently, ordering the crowd back in a tone that brooked no disobedience.

Livia looked around. They happened to be next to a cart filed with straw, and Livia asked Darius, "Darius, could you give me a boost up into that? I want to see better without having to shove through the crowd."

He did and she scrambled to the top of the pile of straw, fighting the urge to sneeze. The guards were surrounding three bodies lying on the ground. Two of them were rat creatures. The third--

It was a young human male, dark-haired, in mage's robes.

Livia swore. "Geras. You goddamned maniac." Julia looked up and saw Livia, gesturing to her to come over. She slid down off the straw and landed with a thump on the ground, nodding to Darius and diving into the crowd.

Constantius's guards held the crowd away from her as she made her way towards the front. The crowd was whispering and muttering about which noble had gotten themselves killed, who had done it. Livia finally stepped up next to Julia. The mage nodded to her. "Livia, this is just got uglier. That's Esayis."

"Or something that looks like him." The roar of the crowd was making it difficult for Livia to hear Julia. They fair had to shout into each others' ears.

"That being the case, it will take a week for me to undo the spells that are making a corpse look like him." Julia shook her head. Darius finally shoved his way through the crowd and stepped next to Livia, favoring her with a dark look. She mouthed, Sorry, to him for leaving him behind, and returned her attention to Julia.

"I'm not sure we have that long. Is there anything you can do sooner to at least prove the body is spelled? Throwing doubt on it would at least help."

Julia nodded and said, "Yes, that could be anything, though."

"I know. How did you all find out about this? Everyone seems to have arrived at once."

"Constantius's guard cried the alarm. The crowd arrived soon after. They are of course chanting about demons and this being the demon summoner, or his victim."

Livia grimaced and turned to give the corpses a good long look. It appeared that the rat creatures had attacked whoever the person who looked like Esayis was, and had inflicted quite a lot of damage on him. Livia saw intestine where no intestines really ought to be, and realized that she had been holding her breath. The stench of death was thick here. The rat creatures had been killed by magic, one of them had had a hole blasted through it.

She shook her head. "Damn. It looks too good. Even with some doubt cast on it, I'll bet Constantius or Faydren will push to have him declared dead." Speaking of, she looked around, trying to find Faydren in the crowd. The mage was absent, as were all three of the regents.

Livia realized that there was a cold feeling of wrongness in her gut, and it had something to do with none of the regents being here. The feeling redoubled when she realized Magentius was nowhere in evidence. "Julia, was Constans called along with the rest of you, do you know?"

Julia nodded. "Yes, it's his son."

"Julia, could you do what you can to convince the crowd that this might not be what it looks like? Constans is in danger, if he's not already dead."

The mage nodded shortly, glancing at the crowd. "Yes. They might not listen, but I can at least get the body out of here for testing."

Livia took one last look at the carefully staged tableau in front of her. "I'll see if I can find Constans or Magentius. What his personal guard is doing here without him-- "

Darius leaned over and said, "Not all of Constantine's or Constantius's are here. Constans wouldn't have ordered all his away like that without reason. Or without orders from his general."

She growled, "Magentius. Julia, I'll catch up with you later. Darius, we need to go." Without waiting for a response, she plunged back into the crowd, this time Darius keeping just on her heels. Livia didn't quite run away from the scene, but she was walking very quickly. She was looking for a place--ah, there. An alley gaped to one side, and Livia snagged Darius's elbow and nodded at it. They stepped carefully into the darkness, and in a hushed voice Livia said, "Block me from view from the street. I want to see if I can find either of them." She stepped back and then draped her dark palla over her head, shielding any light that might come from the mirror from view.

She started with Magentius, who had been more reliably able to be seen with the mirror. She saw him, and he was running flat out, as if all of the hounds of hell were behind him. She recognized the place, it was very close indeed to Constans' house. He was running away, down the street.

Livia bit back a curse. Constans, she thought to the mirror. The mirror clouded then cleared, and as she looked the cold feeling in her gut crept upward to wrap around her heart. The regent was collapsed on the floor of his great hall, coughing, blood and spittle foaming at his lips. Poison. Damn, damn, damn. Livia clenched her jaw--was there someone nearby that could help? Did she have time to go get Linaeus?

Her question was answered by a flash from the mirror. A sword descended down on Constans, sliding between his ribs. The regent made a strange sound somewhere between a shriek and a gasp, convulsed, and died.

Livia tilted the mirror as if it would help her see the person who had held the sword. she couldn't see them, just the hand that held the sword.

But on that hand was Constantius's ring.

She almost sobbed. She hissed, "Darius, we're down another regent."

He turned to face her. "Damn, Magentius?"

"No. Well, sort of. Got poisoned, probably by him, and then someone else used Magentius's sword to kill him."

"Can you see who? And where's Magentius?"

"Come here, I'll show you. He's running for his life--" She directed the Mirror's attention back towards the general. Darius came to crouch next to her, watching over her shoulder. Magentius was still running. Livia muttered to Darius, "It might have been Constantius. I saw the ring, it was his, but that's not exactly proof."

From the mirror, a familiar voice came. "Leaving so soon, Magentius?"

Faydren stood before Magentius, who had skidded to a sudden stop. "I didn't kill him," said the general, his voice wild. "It's Constantius, he's gone crazy."

The mage's expression barely changed, except that his eyes smiled just a little. "Doesn't matter. It's your sword."

Magentius began to back away, raising his hands as if he could shield himself. Faydren continued, "My only question is to kill the killer or let Constantine and his brother Constantius decide your fate. But, then again, you did kill Zaran."

There was a small smile on Faydren's lips as he lifted one hand and gestured towards Magentius. Purple lightning flew from his fingertips and knocked the general backwards, flat on his back, screaming. Faydren advanced, calling spell after spell into Magentius's body. The other man stopped screaming after the third spell, but still Faydren vented his cold rage on what had to be a corpse.

Flesh and bone could only take so much. Magentius's body finally flew apart, most of it no longer recognizable as something that had once been human. The head was still intact, and after a moment Faydren called it towards him. The head rolled in a grotesque parody of a child's ball towards Faydren, and he reached down and picked it up by the hair.

His voice was a quiet, satisfied purr. "Ah yes, the catcher of Constans's murderer. That looks good on my job record." At his words, the mirror faded back into darkness.

Livia stayed frozen in place, crouched over the mirror. "Well, damn. That's tied up in a neat and tidy bow for Faydren, isn't it?" she said.

"We knew he was formidable. Now you see how much."

Livia shuddered and put the mirror away, straightening. "He is scary. On the good side, we may be able to do something about that poison now."

Darius straightened as well, a soft groan escaping him. "Yes, but there's only one regent left, really."

She put her back against the wall, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. Her whole body felt sore, the aftereffects of what she had just seen shocking through her. "There's something else, too. The thing that Thalea is doing to Linaeus isn't reversible just a little bit. She either reverses it entirely and he goes back to being like Geras, or she continues and it's about two weeks before his personality reasserts itself. I had her hold for the moment where he is and I'm going to see if I can talk him out of endangering his life. But I need to come up with either a good distraction for Geras, or something a bit more fatal."

"That's going to be difficult. Looks like Geras and Faydren either made up or they came together to work this out."

"They didn't leave much wiggle room for proving it was them and not Magentius who killed him, either. And I think Magentius might have tried to kill Constans before Geras came along and finished the job."

She felt Darius move to lean against the wall next to her, between her and the street, shielding her from casual view. "Nope, and they aren't going to believe the word of a magic mirror," he said.

Her laugh was a short bark. "If I even lived long enough to testify."

"Probably, but Faydren got his revenge. He'll stop looking for us." He took a long breath. "Interesting night."

Livia's hand stole over and found his, and she twined her fingers between his. "Interesting is one word I'd use. We'll have to wait and see if Geras and Faydren have really made up. If they have, I don't think we can count on Linaeus to provide something to come between them again."

It was a while before he responded. Finally, his hand tightened on hers. "We have a task ahead of us, Livia." She opened her eyes and looked at him, at his silhouette in the dim. "We have to cut out Faydren's support before they kill Constantine. Which means killing just about everyone on the council or making them step down somehow."

"Us against, what, something like at eight of the most powerful mages in the city?"

"Twelve total, eleven minus Julia. Ten if you don't count Thalea. Oh, and Zaran, that's nine."

"Eight if you don't count Collita, who doesn't like Faydren," Livia replied.

"But still could be working for him."

She nodded. "And then there's Attius, and who the hell knows what side whoever took over for him is on?"

"I guess against Geras," he said.

"Makes it less likely whoever it is is on Faydren's side."

He squeezed her hand again. "I didn't say this was going to be easy. Britain is looking better and better."

She gave him a smile that she didn't know if he could see in the darkness, and returned the tightening of his hand. "I know. I'm not sure we can do this, but I'm willing to give it a try if you are."

"What choice do we have? Really? We could run and say damn the empire. But Geras and Faydren would win. Sextus would never be avenged." His voice held steel harder than the sword strapped across his back. "I could care less about the empire honestly, but Geras has too much to answer for. Sextus, Merouk, Linaeus. Esayis. Constans, though I will give him one for Magentius."

Livia nodded. "True enough. If we have to go, I want to try at least to get Geras first. Faydren, well, the Empire's survived bad emperors before, it will again. He can't possibly be as bad as some of the others."

"No, and I am beginning to think that we are going to need more help with him. His ability to twist things to his purposes is amazing."

She gave a low chuckle. "It really is. But who'd stand against him, other than the little pack of allies we have? If we give Constantine some proof of his scheming, we would have his power behind us."

"We have to find it."

Her smile twisted wryly. "That's almost as daunting a task as taking out the council. But everyone makes mistakes, and everyone has weaknesses. We need to find Faydren's."

Darius nodded. "We need his support group out of the way. He has way too many eyes and ears. If he doesn't see or hear something, we might be able to surprise him. Or we concentrate on Geras and run like hell after that."

She thought about the task ahead of them, wondering where to start. "We need information we don't have. Julia can tell me more about each of the council members we need to address. Before I completely commit to trying to take down Faydren, I want to see at least a little of what I'm getting into."

He looked down at her. "We are already into it, Livia."

"Over our heads, even. True enough."

He nodded again, and shifted. Livia glanced over at him, and wondered if his healing wounds were bothering him. "I don't think we can do much more tonight, do you?"

Livia gave a heavy, tired sigh. "I don't think we can, really." She squeezed Darius's fingers once more and straightened, pushing herself away from the wall.

Darius straightened and brushed himself off briefly. "Faydren's going to alert Constantine and there will be more investigations, but that's about it. Best to not know anything, I think, until later."

She thought about it, then nodded. "Right. Constantine doesn't need to know what's happened here quite yet."

"Time to go home then, or your maid will have your head again."

Livia rolled her eyes. "I think she may have my head anyway. I'm pretty sure she's figured out about you and me, I expect to hear from her on that soon. But let's not give her yet another reason to yell at me, shall we?"

He chuckled quietly. "Probably a good idea." They set off for home, Darius walking beside her, Livia looking forward to putting her troubles away for the evening.

The next morning, Livia had another brief bout of morning sickness, better than it had been the day before but still horrible in its own special way. When she finished hanging over the chamber pot, she looked up to find Diya standing in the doorway. More sharply than she meant it, she snapped, "Hasn't anyone ever taught you to knock before coming into someone's chambers?"

Hurt flashed in her stepdaughter's eyes. "I did. You didn't hear me. I was sent to wake you," she said, quiet heat in her voice. "I heard the noises and thought you might need help."

Livia sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm fine. Why were you sent to get me?"

"Messenger came," she said, her voice still holding a bit of a growl. "From Constantine and Constantius. They request a meeting with you at Constantine's house, as soon as you can get there. They ask you to come as quickly as you can."

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Is Darius awake?"

"Drilling in the garden, I saw him."

"Would you tell him that I'm going to need to go to Constantine's house? I should be ready to go in a few minutes." Livia was already on her feet, reaching for a grey stola to pull on. When she looked up again, Diya was gone, and by the time she was dressed and her hair brushed into something resembling order, Darius was ready to escort her.

When they arrived at Constantine's house, they were swiftly ushered inside. The two regents and their bodyguards were sitting in a reception room, the one that she had encountered Faydren in on that night that seemed like a lifetime ago, the night of his party. It was a sign, she knew. This room was for Constantine's lies. His study was for the truth. She wondered if Constantius had ever seen the inside of the study. She thought that it was likely that Geras never had.

They all sat and Constantine began to tell Livia about the events of last night. He covered the death of Esayis, the death of Constans, Faydren discovering Magentius as the killer and executing him.

Constantius said nothing, only listened and watched.

Finally, the story was over. "Ah, no. I am so sorry, both of you," Livia said, genuinely meaning it for Constantine if not Constantius. "Faydren caught Magentius, well, that's happy news."

Constantine shrugged slightly. "Bound to happen. Magentius was a bad egg from the moment we both saw him. But you couldn't convince Constans of that. Probably for the best anyway. Constans was dying, very few know that but he was going to be leaving this world for heaven soon anyway."

Livia's eyes widened. "Truly? I had no idea he was ill."

"Contracted a disease of the lower regions, spread to his lungs. Coughed blood a lot, sometimes he coughed so much it got foamy."

Truth, or lie? Does it matter, at this point? "How unpleasant. How much longer did he have to live, do you know?"

"Weeks, maybe, a month at best."

Livia couldn't figure out what game Constantine was playing, but at this point, she was absolutely sure that he was playing one. "That's odd. Magentius must have known, since they were so close. Why would he kill him if a bit of patience would have had the same result?"

There was perhaps just the slightest glitter in Constantine's eyes. It reminded her of something--but what? "We think it had to do with this." He offered her a piece of parchment.

She took it, and read. As she did so, she had to struggle to keep her face neutral. She knew now what that look in Constantine's eyes had reminded her of. She'd seen the same pleasure in the eyes of a dog who had a fox at bay.

The parchment was a will. Constans's will. It did not mention Magentius. Instead, it made Esayis his sole heir. If Esayis could not inherit--

She read the next part three times to make sure her eyes were not deceiving her.

If Esayis dies, then his betrothed, Diya Neria, is my sole heir.

Livia set the parchment down before her shaking hands could betray her. Constantine asked, "Is this not Sextus's daughter? The one residing with you?"

I never told you she was living with me, Constantine, she thought fiercely. "It is, lord regent," she said, her voice neutral.

There was that feral glitter in Constantine's eyes again. "And she is how old?"

"About fifteen. She is currently my ward."

The regent nodded. "By law she can't inherit at that age. It falls to you, as her guardian, to take care of her finances until she reaches the age of twenty-one."

She quickly reviewed her knowledge of inheritance laws. Diya would inherit the wealth and the land but not the position of regent--that would fall to her guardian and then to whichever man married her, when she attained her majority. Which meant that her stepdaughter had just gone from the bastard half-Sassenid daughter of a noble to the most eligible woman in the whole Empire.

Livia took a long breath. Gods, gods, Diya, what have they trapped you in? "It does, doesn't it? Well, then. I'm sure she'll be--startled--to hear this." She put just a shade of her true feelings in her voice, meeting Constantine's eyes. I blame you, lord regent. And if she dies because of this, I won't care what I set on fire.

He inclined his head, and she knew he'd taken her meaning. "As were we, but she is of noble birth and by law has the right to inherit. No regent's house may be sold without the consent of the remaining regents. I myself do not care what you do with the stuff or the house but Constantius insists that it needs to be lived in. So if you could move by the end of the week..." He saw the question in her eyes. "You may retain your original house as well, but we expect Diya to reside there."

Livia pursed her lips. "It's a short time, but I think we can manage. And those in Constans's employ? Do they now transfer to Diya?"

"They do but if you wish to dismiss them, that is your business."

She looked at both of the regents, and suddenly appreciated that her own social standing had just been yanked upward along with Diya's. As the guardian of Diya's newfound power and wealth, she held a status barely below the two men who stood in front of her. She nodded at them. "I should probably get home then, lords regent. I have a number of things to arrange. Good day."

Unexpectedly, Constantius spoke up. "Yes, good day Livia. And after Diya's mourning period, you should start the search for a good husband. May I suggest the leader of Hagia Sophia?"

She kept her voice respectful and her spine straight. "It's certainly an idea, lord. I'm certain there were be a number of people interested in her hand."

"Yes, a great many. Good day Livia."

She bowed shallowly to both of them and took her leave. Darius was at her shoulder, and they were silent until they climbed into the litter to be borne home. Only then did Livia fold in half, tears stinging her eyes, arms folded across her chest. She felt Darius rest his hand on her shoulder. She straightened then, and though they didn't speak, she could see compassion on his face. She couldn't stop shaking.

Just before they reached the house, before the curtains on the litter were drawn back and hands were thrust in to help them out, Livia spoke in a voice that was nearly a whisper. "It's going to be a difficult morning."

He nodded and then the litter was set down with a thump. Darius stepped from the litter and then helped her. Inside, Livia asked one of the servants if anyone had seen Diya. "She is in the workroom, lady," was the response.

As good a place as any, Livia thought. Silently, she and Darius walked through the garden and to the back of the house, knocking quietly on the door and receiving an invitation to come inside.

Diya was standing behind the large table, looking up at them as they entered. She had parchments scattered around her and an assortment of stones in front of her, ranging in size from pebbles to fist-sized. "Darius, does it matter how big the stone--" She broke off, frowning. "What's wrong? Both of you look like somebody died."

"Somebody did," Livia replied. "Sit down, Diya. I have something to tell you."

Her stepdaughter's eyes went wide. All three of them took a seat in the solid wooden chairs that had been provided for the workroom. Livia took a long breath. "Constans is dead. Magentius was executed for the crime. And a body that looks like Esayis was found in the old noble quarter last night."

Diya blinked. "Everyone knew Magentius was going to kill Constans some day. And Esayis is dead--so now there's a body. What's it got to do with me?"

Livia inclined her head. "It has everything to do with you. I read Constans's will. Esayis was his sole heir. If for whatever reason Esayis could not inherit, you would receive everything." She took a long breath. "Congratulations, Diya. You're one of the most wealthy women in the empire as of today, and whoever marries you will become a regent--and perhaps some day the emperor."

The blood had drained away from Diya's face. "Constans hated the fact that Esayis wanted to marry me. He did everything he could to keep us apart. He would have never have made me his heir."

"I don't think he did. The will was changed, I'm sure of it. But that's the will that's going to be read in the courts, and that's the will that will be registered this afternoon. Because of your age, I will be your guardian until you reach the age of twenty-one. Constantius insists that we cannot sell Constans's house, and they expect you to reside there, so we need to move into it by the end of the week."

Diya was shaking visibly. "I--" She stopped, swallowed, and began again. "I grew up on the streets of Ankara. I don't know how to act, how to be one of you. I can't be a noble. It's not possible."

Gently, Livia said, "You'll learn, Diya. I can teach you." She rose and crossed to Diya, taking the girl's clammy hands in hers. "I promised I'd protect you. No matter what. I'm not going to throw you to the wolves. You're as much my daughter now as Optata is. Do you hear me, Diya?"

The girl looked up and her face crumpled. "I can't," she whispered frantically. "I can't!"

"You are your father's daughter," Livia said, steel in her voice. "You can. I have faith that you can do whatever you need to do." She leaned forward and laid a light kiss on Diya's brow. "Be strong," she murmured. "I will take as much of this for you as I can, and teach you everything I know. I promise."

She looked down and realized that Diya had begin to weep, her shoulders silently shaking. Livia knelt awkwardly and held her as best she could. She looked up and saw that Darius had moved silently beside her, and had laid his hand on Diya's free shoulder. His expression, for once entirely unguarded, was worried and sorrowful.

The bout of tears was brief. As Diya rested for a moment with her head against Livia's shoulder, she muttered, "I am so tired of crying. It gets better, right?"

"It does," Livia murmured. "Eventually."

"And do you ever stop being scared?"

Livia kissed the top of her stepdaughter's head. "I'll let you know."

Diya made a sound that was almost a laugh. "What happens next?" she wanted to know. "What do we do?"

Bless you, Sextus, I hope all of your daughters are as resilient as this one. "Next, we give Orla a heart attack by telling her that she is now in charge of a regent's household. Then we go and look at what you own now--and try to find out where its traps lie."

"And me? How am I supposed to act?"

Livia thought about it briefly. "Grief-stricken. Silent, if you can manage it. I'll need to be able to back up the excuse that you're too sad to be introduced into the social fray right away."

Diya muttered, "Not hard," and Livia smiled a smile that felt very fragile. She gave her stepdaughter a gentle hug.

"I have a few things to do. Do you need some time alone?" The girl nodded. "Then we'll go about noon."

Without a word, Diya rose and left the room, likely heading for her bedchamber. Livia stood and found that she was somewhat wobbly herself. Darius caught her, put his arms around her, and she leaned into his solidity. With her head against his chest, she realized that his heart was beating fast, and looked up into his face. His eyes were still unguarded, still worried, still sorrowful. She reached up, putting her small hand on his cheek. "What?" she asked quietly.

"The stakes just got higher, Livia. I think I just realized exactly how high."

"I know." She raised herself up on her toes and kissed him. "But we play the position we find ourselves in. Can you do this, Darius? Can you stand with me?"

"I couldn't do anything else." He tightened his arms around her. "I'm in. No matter what."

Looking into his eyes, she felt words hanging in the air between them, words that neither of them wanted to be the first one to say. Words that would change everything and change nothing.

In the end, the weight of the words was too much, and they released each other without speaking. Livia took a deep breath. "I need to track down Linaeus. I'll start with the mirror. Want to come with me?"

His answer was a quick grin. Livia pulled out the mirror and began to concentrate on Linaeus's face. He was in Constantius's house, it appeared, in a room plainer than most in the regent's house. He appeared to be alone.

"Linaeus," she murmured. "Can you talk?"

He looked at where her voice was coming from. "For a few minutes. "What do you need?"

"Linaeus, I need to talk to you about what you're doing, with the healing. I know you're following your deepest convictions. But you need to keep a mindful eye on the situation around you. If you're discovered, you know you're going to die. Or worse."

He was silent for a moment. "What, exactly, do you suggest I do?"

"Pretend, Linaeus. You have fought for years, give it a little while longer. Don't give up on us just yet. Don't give up on me. Please?"

He looked away from her, turning his head. "All right," he muttered. "I'll try."

"And remember that you can't trust a thing Constantius says to you. I'll talk to you later." She cleared the mirror and sat with her head bowed. "I don't want him to be a casualty of this, Darius," she said quietly.

"You might not be able to help it," Darius said. "It would have been interesting to see what he would have been like without Julia's intervention. As it is, I'm not certain he's ever going to be able to be happy."

"Maybe if he's able to get the demon out." Livia sighed. "I really want to drag him out to see his father. But if Linaeus knows where Lukas is, Geras will soon find out, and that's a death sentence. All right, I need to stop by Constantius's house and see Optata, and then we should go to Constans's--Diya's--house."

He nodded, but anything he was about to say was forestalled by an explosion and a crash coming from what sounded like the garden, and voices raised in outrage--Livia recognized Orla's voice immediately. Darius's face assumed a pained expression, that Livia knew was reflected on her own face.

"I think our wizardling broke something," he said as they turned as one towards the door.

"Better something than someone," she muttered as she yanked open the door to nearly run out to the garden, her earrings jingling as she moved. She discovered Diya in the garden, shouting at the top of her lungs, what had once been a handsome statue of Psyche rubble at her feet. Orla was in her face, shaking her finger at the girl, her face red with rage.

Darius and Livia glanced at each other. They broke away from each other, Livia to Orla, Darius to Diya. Livia put her hands on Orla's shoulders and began to turn her away from Diya. Darius unceremoniously grabbed the back of Diya's dress and spun her around to look at him. At the fierce look on his face, she stopped shouting mid-word, her mouth hanging open.

As Livia guided Orla away, speaking soothingly, she heard Darius growl, "I don't care how high you've risen, Diya, you are still my apprentice, and you will behave yourself. What do you think you were doing?"

"I had an idea," she protested. "Worked stone--"

"Outside of the workroom? On a statue?"

"You were busy!"

Their voices faded as Livia guided Orla towards the back of the house, then spent some time soothing her nerves. Evidently, Diya had been distracting herself by practicing the spell that Darius had given her to learn on the statue. "She's not thinking straight at the moment," Livia murmured.

"I'll say! Sextus's daughter or not, the girl is a menace!"

"That girl," Livia replied quietly, "is Constans's heir."

Orla opened her mouth to reply and then stopped before she could speak. "That isn't funny," she said, finally.

"Congratulations, Orla, you've been promoted. I'm Diya's guardian, which means I manage her finances and tend her power for her until she's of age. We're moving to Constans's former house by the end of the week."

Livia had to move quickly to catch Orla before she fell completely to the floor in a faint. To her credit, after her maid woke a minute or so later, she climbed to her feet and began calmly discussing arrangements, and how many trustworthy people she could probably find on short notice.

"And another thing," Orla said. "There's Aranis to deal with."

"Oh, dear," Livia said, stricken. "There is, isn't there? I'll think of something. I have to go, Orla. I'll see you this afternoon when I have a better idea of what we're going to have to deal with."

Aranis was Constans's wife. Livia had spent a little while asking after her, and had discovered that she was widely regarded to be completely mad. She'd lost her mind after Esayis had been born, had slid into a depression and never recovered. Someone had mentioned that Pollius, one of the members of the council, had been caring for her on a regular basis for most of that time.

One regent's throne, complete with a wizardling stepdaughter, a bodyguard who I'm having some rather troubling feelings for, a whole new set of enemies. and a madwoman in the attic. She sighed as she pulled her palla up over her head. Sextus, if I see you in the afterlife, I am going to have some very serious words to exchange with you.

*****

She stopped at Constantius's house to see her daughter, and to tell Constantius that she wasn't going to be able to be an advisor for him any more, since her duties as regent-guardian would keep her very busy indeed. He nodded and told her that he understood and wished her well, and Livia smiled sweetly at him in return.

She leaned forward and murmured condolences to him, laying her hand lightly on his arm for just the briefest amount of time. Then she smiled again and took her leave. As she walked down the hall, she thought, there are some things I hate about this game. That's one of them.

Optata was well, and this time both Gallus and Julian joined them in the garden. She told the children a story with Optata on her lap and the two boys to either side of her, feeling all the time eyes on her from the upper windows. Geras was watching, and Livia fought to keep her discomfort from communicating itself to the children. Only Julian seemed to notice anything, and she only knew he'd noticed because he scooted closer to her, but refused to look at her.

She returned home, and at about two she arrived on Constans's former doorstep, Diya and Darius behind her and with about half of her house guard behind them. The place was nearly silent as they stepped through the gates.

Inside was a scene that Livia had been half expecting. The servants, in anticipation that she would sack every last one pf them, had departed and taken almost everything small enough to walk away with them. There was only the head cook left, a woman named Madra, who said in a laconic tone that there were three other people in the building--Aranis's nursemaid Reyna, a guard on her door named Nareus, and "that crazy bitch in the back room".

Resolving to speak with the cook at length later, Livia went to see what was what with Aranis. Nareus, the guard on the door, couldn't have been more than twenty years old, and when she introduced herself he bowed nervously and stepped aside for Livia to knock. Reyna answered the door, shot back what had to be five or six locks, opened it to admit Livia, Darius, and Diya.

The room was small, with no furniture but a bed, and no windows. The walls were padded with rough cloth, and to the bed was strapped a woman who was struggling wildly, making frantic grunting noises. Her hair was knotted and her skin grimy, and she appeare3d to be half-starved.

After surveying the scene for a few moments, Livia turned to Reyna. She was about ten years older than Livia, large but by no means fat, her arms corded with muscle. Livia asked her, "Is she always like this?"

The woman nodded. "She is always like this just before Pollius comes to calm her."

"Pollius. A council member, yes? When he is due here?"

"Yes, lady. Hagia Sophia Mage. Any moment, ma'am."

Ah. I see. "How often does he usually come?"

Reyna looked over at the struggling woman on the bed. "Every day, lady. He has to, or she gets violent."

Livia shook her head. "Ah, poor thing. How is she after he comes, usually?"

"Calm and quiet. A bit out of it, but better."

Livia lowered her voice. "Has anyone told her about Constans yet?"

"No, lady, but she doesn't speak or respond to anything since I have been here. I don't think she would even understand it if you tried."

"So there's no clue what's wrong with her? She's simply lost her mind?"

Reyna nodded. "I don't know lady, but Pollius would know."

"We will wait for him, then, and speak to him when his work is done." She gave another glance to Aranis. "Out in the hall."

Livia retreated, Darius and Diya following. Approaching them in the corridor was a man in rich red robes, perhaps in his late fifties or so and a bit taller than Livia. He had the walk of a man who was intimately familiar with the corridor he treaded.

"Pollius, I assume?" Livia murmured,

"Yes," Darius muttered into her ear. "Be on your guard."

As the mage reached them, Livia nodded to him. "Good morning, Pollius. I am Livia Neria. I assume you've heard what happened to Constans."

There was no flicker of reaction, neither joy nor sorrow showing on the man's face. "I have, lady. I will continue my visits to Aranis, if you so wish. "

"I do. Can I speak to you after you're done?"

"Yes, lady. This only takes a minute." He stepped past Nareus and closed the door of Aranis's room behind him. From behind the closed door, Livia heard a scream, starting out loud and building in strength until it cut off abruptly. A moment later, Pollius opened the door and stepped out. "We can step into another room, if you like."

Livia nodded, and Pollius fell in beside her. "What do you do to her, out of curiosity?" Livia asked.

Pollius shook his head. "These days, it's just a pretty light show in her head to keep her occupied."

"The whispers I remember said that she simply lost her mind after Esayis was born, and never regained her senses."

"Certain mothers, seem depressed after they have given birth." He shrugged. "She never came out of it. She withdrew farther and farther into herself. Hallucinations started, lies, sexual cravings out of the norm, things like that. Cutting on herself, mutilations. Soon she stopped talking and tried suicide several times and then we strapped her down. Now she thrashes wildly and makes noises and that's it. It will probably follow with just silence and then death."

Livia sighed. They had reached a room where there were still a few chairs left, and they seated themselves. "She's been like this for, what, almost twenty years? What a tragedy. My mother once said she was quite bright and pretty in her youth. I noticed the locks on the door, and Reyna said that she gets violent. What sort of violent?"

"If she undoes her straps, sometimes before I come to calm her she will fling herself at the door." Pollius leaned back, lacing his fingers together. "She is mostly violent to herself, but if you get in the way, she could injure you. She used to have a room with a window on the second floor."

She raised an eyebrow. "She went out it, I take it?"

"With her nursemaid. Nearly killed them both. The nursemaid quit."

"I'm sure. How long ago was that?" Livia asked. She heard Diya murmuring something to Darius on the other side of her, but didn't pay attention to what the girl was saying.

"Three years or so. Just before Reyna."

"Ah. And there's nothing that can be done to help her, at all? Just try to keep her quiet until she finally dies?"

Pollius's mouth firmed, and he shook his head. "Nothing that I can do. I have exhausted my ability to help her. The clerics of Christos tried and failed as well but something else could help, if you had resources to find it."

Livia tilted her head. "What's that?"

His smile was tightly controlled. "That is what can get you burned at the stake in the forum, lady." She nodded and murmured, understanding him. "I suggested more than once to Constans to seek that option if he cared to bring her back to sanity. He refused and I never revisited the subject."

Mildly, Livia said, "I can see why. Word might have gotten out."

"Yes. So lady, do I continue my visits?"

She nodded. "Please. Things are unsettled right now. If things change, I'll let you know."

He straightened, sitting up. "As you wish, lady. I will return in the mornings." He rose, bowed slightly, and walked out.

Darius looked over at her. "Well. What's next?"

"I need to speak with the guard, and then we need to search the house. Let's see what surprises Constans left for us." Livia rose and took a breath, then walked out of the room.

She approached the guard. He looked oddly familiar, but why? Something is going on here. What? she wondered. Aloud, she said, "Nareus, out of curiosity, why didn't you leave with the others?"

He gave her a glance that seemed almost apologetic. "Reyna wouldn't let me, lady."

"Ah, I see. Are you usually on this duty?"

Nareus nodded, shifting. His armor creaked. "Yes, lady. I normally take the day shift for Aranis's door."

"Ah. One of my men will relieve you for the night, then. Has she ever escaped while you were on the door?"

The young guard shifted again, looking uncomfortable. "Once, lady, she opened the door just as normal as you please."

Livia blinked. Her fingers worried the edge of her palla. "What did she do after she opened the door?"

"She asked what day it was."

Her eyebrows raised. "Did you tell her?"

Nareus nodded. "I did. And then put her back to bed. Reyna wasn't around at the time. I didn't tell her about it either, they wouldn't have believed me."

"No, I imagine not. How long ago was that?"

"Several months. It was when Pollius was sent away to Ankara for a week."

Livia crossed her arms. "And she went back to being her usual self when Pollius returned?"

He looked away from her, his armor creaking again. "Yes, it was like she knew when Pollius returned, that day she went when she saw him."

"Interesting, that. Thank you for your time. One of my guards will come by to relieve you around shift change."

He nodded. "Thank you, lady."

Livia retreated, and said to Darius and Diya, "Shall we start with the searching? Me with the key, and you two with your sharpest eyes on? The regent's quarters first, I think."

They found the chambers that had once been Constans's, the looting that had happened last night or this morning having stripped the room almost bare. There would be much finery being sold in the markets and the souks sometime soon, Livia figured, and the jewelry would likely be melted down for the gold.

There was an open vault in the wall, hanging open and emptied of whatever its contents had been. "Not very secure," murmured Darius.

Diya was looking at the lock with a critical eye. "A child could have picked this lock, without the magic on it." Darius gave her a sharp look. "A child with a set of tools, of course."

They began to walk through the house, Livia keeping one hand on the key as she searched. On the first floor, in what appeared to be a disused closet, was a hidden door to a tunnel that led to Constantine's and Constantius's houses. The ways were locked and barred, of course, which argued that they knew of the tunnels' existence, but Livia estimated that with a little work, they could get through.

The library had been thoroughly looted, but behind one of the bookcases was another room, one containing what seemed like hundreds of old scrolls. There were ledger books, too, and account tallies. This was where Constans had kept his real treasures, it seemed.

Diya had picked up one of the several open scrolls that littered the desk. "On the Healing of certain diseases caused by a dissipated life?" she read aloud, wonderingly. "This one's about miraculous healings. What's that all about?"

Livia twisted her mouth. "He was dying of a disease he picked up somewhere. If Magentius hadn't killed him, the illness would have inside of a month."

Diya's mouth twitched but she didn't respond, putting the scroll back down on the desk gingerly. This room would bear further inspection later, but for now she wanted to see the rest of the first floor.

Next to Constans's room was another room, small and windowless, in which there was a bed similar to Aranis's, complete with leather straps. This room had not been looted, and there were still clothes and pieces of armor strewn about. "What the hell?" Livia muttered as she looked around.

Darius had picked something up from a table. He held it up to Livia. "Magentius's helmet," he said quietly. "I'm betting this was his room."

Livia only looked at him mutely, the turned away. "The rest of the house, then."

In the great hall, a puddle of blood still marked the place where Constans had died, and bloody footprints were all around from the people who had trod in the puddle to take Constans away to be prepared for burial. Diya's jaw tightened as Livia watched her looking around, her eyes wide. Other than the blood, it was a beautiful room, and Livia watched as Diya tried to come to grips with the fact that it was hers.

"Are there magical protections in the walls?" Livia asked Darius.

"There were, and fading quickly. Someone was here and tripped them. They were good. Didn't miss a one that I can see and didn't set them off, just got rid of them. I can count to about twelve people that could do that."

"Wonder if that was Pollius? Well, no knowing now."

He gave her a brief smile. "Nope, I am afraid not. But it's a good guess, him or Faydren."

Livia sighed. "I wish I could tell what Collita's loyalties were. I'd get her in here and have her replace some of them."

They began walking back towards the library. Diya was silent as a ghost beside them, and Livia glanced over at her. She tried to imagine what the girl was thinking, but didn't have a guess.

Darius said, "Collita is the best. You could hire her independently but that's no guarantee she wouldn't tell Faydren."

"I actually don't care if she tells Faydren she's doing some work for me. What I'm worried about is what extra things she might put into the spells."

He smiled as they reached the library. "That I can watch her for."

Livia thought about it. I'd still like Faydren to think I'm a bit dim. This might help. "Might be a good thing for Faydren to think he's getting her into my household, actually. We'll see. If you could watch her, I may do it anyway."

He nodded. "I can, Livia."

"I think I may well do so, then. I'm likely to run into Collita sometime this week at Constantius's house, I'll see if she's interested then."

"She may well be. What do you want done?"

Livia dropped into a heavy chair. At least Constans's taste in furniture had tended towards the heavy and padded, and these chairs had not gone walking off with the servants. "Alarms, mostly, especially on the windows. some heavier defenses on whichever rooms the three of us will be sleeping in. A few surprises for intruders." She glanced over at Darius, a smile touching her lips. "Some shielding on whatever place you and Diya decide on as a workroom, unless you'd prefer to do that yourself."

"That might be best, for now." His intent eyes told her that he knew exactly what she meant by shielding--not only would it keep fire and other destructive forces contained, it would make it more difficult for them to be overheard, accidentally or otherwise. "Do you think that the similar setup in Magentius's room meant that Pollius was visiting them both?"

She nodded. "I think it might have been. If so, he must have been under some very heavy control."

"But what for?"

"Good question. And another good question is, whose control was he under? He was out walking around like a sane person. While he wasn't a pleasant person, he didn't spend all his time making noises like Aranis does. Wonder if he was a madman, and Constans was using him as an extension of himself?"

"Or were they driving him mad for some reason?" Darius paused, and frowned. "Or was he as scapegoat in case things went wrong?"

Livia saw that Diya was paying intent attention to the conversation, thought she was saying nothing. She returned her gaze to Darius. "Someone they could control, with a history of bad habits and serious ambition, who could be blamed if Constans happened to die one day."

"That's what I am wondering. Seems very coincidental doesn't it?"

She gave him a wry smile. "About as coincidental as Aranis coming down with a bad case of madness after having Esayis."

"Just about, and it clearing up when Pollius leaves for a week."

Livia sighed and stretched her legs out in front of her, pointing her sandaled toes. "I can see how that would work out for Constans. He had a wife that he couldn't sleep with anyway, but that he wouldn't divorce, freeing him to have his own lovers. And she couldn't tell anyone a thing." She kept her eyes on her feet. "I'm thinking that Pollius might need to stop visiting sometime soon. Of course, if I do that, Faydren knows that Aranis is probably going to regain her sanity."

"Which makes you a large target. Nice."

She looked up at him. "Not only me, but her."

The big mage ran his hand over his hair. "And if things go sour, Magentius is the scapegoat, who it can all be blamed on."

"And it did, and he was. So the question is--who's their new scapegoat? I can't imagine that they don't have one. I'm really hoping it's not me."

Darius shook his head. "If their pattern holds they will shift the blame to someone that they want dead anyway. Constantine, perhaps?"

"Possibly, if this is Faydren, with Geras as a backup possibility."

He nodded. "Eliminating Constantius will push him up even further on the lists, but he will want Constantine dead first, I think."

"Probably. Well, now I know I need to figure out how they're going to make the blame fall on Constantine." She tucked one of her feet up under her and looked around at the empty shelves. I'm going to have to restock this place, she caught herself thinking.

"We had better, before they do it." Darius looked at her, his eyebrow raised. "How would you do it? Maybe we can head them off."

She thought about it briefly, pondering the problem that was Constantine. "If I were trying to make Constantine a scapegoat? Hm. The problem with the man is that he's not vulnerable to a lot of the things Constans was. I'd corrupt one or more of his closest advisors, first of all. Those, I think, are his main weakness. If I controlled enough of his advisors, I could make him stick his neck out at exactly the wrong time. Make him do something stupid, like going up against Faydren without proof of what he's doing."

"Which means we have to get close to his advisors, to find out if they've been compromised. The other option that I can see is to link this whole mess with Constans back to him, which you do through Pollius."

"There's an opportunity for a lot of innuendo there, as well. After all, who benefited from Diya inheriting?"

"Constantine, and you of course. And if you can prove Pollius was on the payroll or Magentius was, viola. From what I know of Pollius, he wouldn't have said some of things he did. He is a secretive man, usually. Dropping hints like that isn't like him, nor is leaving guards and nursemaids behind that could say incriminating things."

Livia nodded. "He meant for me to put together what I have. Which argues that he's a potential ally."

Darius shifted, frowning. "Or Faydren wants you to link Constantine to Constans's death for him. Hence the agreement by Constantius to let Diya have the inheritance." He ran his hand over his hair again and added, "I think, Livia, that we should follow Reyna and Nareus tonight and see where they sleep."

It was something Livia had been thinking, herself. "An excellent idea, Darius. It might be enlightening."

The afternoon was filled with work, Orla joining them after about an hour or so to survey her new domain. There was much to do to get the large house in order, and Orla seemed determined to prove that she was equal to the task.

A few hours before sundown, Nareus was dismissed and Reyna went home for the day. Livia and Darius followed them at a distance, seeing where they went. They didn't have far to walk. They went to a house in the noble quarter, the guards on the door stepping aside to let them past and bowing.

"Any idea whose house that is, and why a woman who's probably nobility is doing working as a nursemaid for a madwoman?" Livia asked in a low voice.

"One name explains both. Pollius."

"His house?"

"Indeed."

Livia's jaw tightened. Without a word, she turned and walked away, looking for a place she could use the mirror. A gap in a hedge gave her a chance to sidle through and crouch on the other side, pulling out the mirror and picturing Reyna.

There she was, smiling, caught up in Pollius's arms. Nareus was also in the room. From the conversation that followed, it was apparent that Reyna and Pollius were married, and Nareus was Pollius's son. "Must be his second wife," Livia muttered as she shut the mirror down. "Darius, we've been set up."

"But to what end?" He straightened and offered his hand to Livia, pulling her up to her feet.

"I don't know yet. Maybe to implicate Constantine. I don't know, it doesn't feel quite right for that. There's something else, but I'm missing the piece that would tell me. All right, let's go pick up Diya and go home. We've got some work to do tonight."

There was a smile touching the corners of his mouth. "What might that be?"

"We're going to go pay a little visit to some rat creatures."

*****

True nightfall found them out in the desert, approaching the fissure where they had fought Zaran. The starlight was bight enough to see by, and it was very, very cold.

The dim light revealed, as they approached, some odd lumps on the ground. Livia trod on something soft, and almost managed not to squeak as it gave under her foot. Darius stooped briefly. "Human flesh," he said. "Looks like Faydren just left Zaran out here. The animals have been at him."

Diya pointed. "The others, too. Look."

There were indeed more bodies out there. They had interrupted the nightly scavenger feeding, it appeared. Livia went to the outcropping where she'd seen Faydren in her dream, running her hands over the surface of the stone.

The key under her dress twitched. She pulled it out and saw that it had formed itself into a complex knot of stone. Searching the surface, she found a place in the stone that looked like a chip, but that the key slid fluidly into. It clicked softly, then the rock swung down and away. "Be careful, you two. We don't know what Faydren's left behind for people."

Both Diya and Darius nodded and silently followed her down into darkness.

The cave was rank with stagnant water, unwashed bodies, and the effluvia of people who could not leave their cages. The torches before them brightened, and Livia heard stirring sounds, people beginning to wake up. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Livia saw that there were eight people here, caged two to a cage. The humans were one male and three female, all Sassenids. It was difficult to tell what sex the rat creatures were.

There were many things around, shelves of bottles, papers that at a glance Livia couldn't make any sense of, likely mage stuff. She looked around, attempting to find something she thought might be used to control the rat creatures, and found only a set of keys to the cages.

The people and creatures watched them look around, a bit wide eyed and unsure. We might be Faydren's people, Livia thought. One and then another stretched their hands out in silent supplication. Livia realized that there was no evidence of food or water ever having been put in the cages.

She fetched the keys from the wall. She eyed the rat creatures. One of the cages had a pair that were slightly smaller than the others. Livia said "One of those, please," to Darius.

He nodded and they moved together towards the cage. The rat creatures shrank back as Livia unlocked the cage and Darius drew his sword. Almost gently, he wove the blade between the two rat creatures, herding one forward. It was shaking, its black nose twitching frantically and its shoulders atremble.

Livia had never seen a live rat creature up close before. Its body was oddly built, seemingly built to be more comfortable on four legs than two. The head was long and pointed, and the ears were a delicate pink on the inside, flickering back and forth. It was covered with mottled fur, even the hands which were largely human-like. Only the palms of the hands were bare skin.

And its eyes were very human, and very afraid.

She realized she was staring and shook herself. "Hold him--her--whatever, please?"

He sheathed his sword and grabbed the rat creature by the upper arms. Diya, seeing somewhere she could be useful, laid her hands on either side of its head. Darius asked in a low voice, "What are we going to do with the rest of them? They have seen us."

"Depends." She forced the creature's mouth open, noting sharp teeth, and poured in a vial of the potion she'd brought with her, then shoved its jaws shut. "It'll be all right, I promise," she murmured to it as it swallowed.

She hoped that fate would not make a liar of her. For a few minutes, it appeared that it would. Darius let go as the rat creature convulsed and dropped to the floor, a thin wail escaping it. In horror, they stared as its fur began to slick down as liquid bubbled up form its skin. It thrashed and screamed, bones cracking, fur and skin sloughing away as it moved. Then, almost too swiftly to see, skin began to wrap itself around what Livia could now see was a naked girl--perhaps about Diya's age, her hair cut raggedly short and her body starved.

Livia knelt and laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. The girl came around and sat up, crossing her arms over her chest, shaking. She was able to answer simple questions, though she seemed groggy still.

Darius caught Livia's eye and jerked his chin towards the entrance of the lab. Livia stood, telling Diya to see if she could find a blanket for the girl, and followed Darius to a corner near the entrance. "Now, this is the thing what we do next depended on. I don't think any of these people actually want to be here, do you?" she asked.

"I wouldn't, would you?"

"Not even slightly. Let's get them out of here. I don't suppose you have any magic that will set a reasonably large fire, Darius?"

He gave her a fierce grin. "Yes, I do, and some of those bottles will explode nicely." He glanced back over at the cages. "What are we going to do with them? Just let them go? And the rats?"

Livia grimaced. "You think they'd be welcome in--ah--that priest's camp? Not the rats, the people."

"The people, yes. How many of those things did you bring?"

She shook her head. "Only two. I didn't know how many to expect here. And I'll bet since Faydren made them, he can control them."

Darius's voice was low and intent. "We can do one more and release the people but the other two?"

"I think we're going to have to kill them. Damnit." She glanced over at the cages and took a sharp breath. "I don't think we can manage to keep them."

He nodded. "Best to do it quick then. Choose one and I will shoot the other two."

"The other one in the cage with the girl. Wait--" She laid a hand on his arm. "Don't leave arrowheads in the rats, and pull the bodies out of the cages when you're done. Make it look like the rats got out and started the fire. It might buy us some time."

He nodded, his eyes suddenly preoccupied. He pulled out the second one from the cage and they dosed him. This one was male, much older than her or Darius. They unlocked the rest of the cages and Darius shooed them out, the people talking to each other in low voices.

The cold air outside was a shock, and they huddled together as from the open mouth of the cage came a pair of twangs, then some metallic sounds. soon enough, there was a foom and Darius retreated from the cave. Livia closed the door behind him, hoping that there was enough air in the cave to make things burn well.

She turned and surveyed the six people they had brought out. The girl that they had changed back from a rat creature was standing by herself, wrapped in a blanket, staring up at the stars. There were tears on her face, and Livia wondered if they were of happiness or sorrow.

No matter. "All right, everyone. We've got a bit of a walk ahead of us, but at the end there will be food and rest and warmth. Follow me."

The next four hours were very, very long. They had to stop on a regular basis to rest, and when they were moving they moved very, very slowly. Diya started talking to the girl who'd been a rat in a low voice, using the language of the Sassenids. Livia spent much of her time helping hold up one or another of the women.

Finally, the camp was in sight. Livia left the others at the edge of the camp and went to find Lukas. "Well, at least you brought me live ones, this time," he chuckled as they walked back out to the others.

She gave him a quick grin. "I'm getting better. Before we leave, Lukas, I need to talk to you about an unrelated matter."

He nodded as he looked over their little group. "Certainly, there is really little I can do for these people but feed and water them."

"That should be enough. There may be someone looking for them, is that going to be a problem?"

Lukas glanced up at the sky. "Don't think so, unless they really want them back for some reason, then magesight might be a problem. I will place them off from the camp a bit in that case."

Livia nodded. "Probably a good idea. We freed them from someone who's going to notice that they're missing sometime soon."

Lukas spoke to one of the men from his camp, who nodded and left to go roust a few more people up. The began to set up a small camp a little way away from the main camp. As they were doing so, Lukas returned to Livia. "So what do you need to talk about?"

She took a deep breath. "It's got to do with Linaeus. His lover's been removing the demon from him. Which I approve of, except for the fact that it's making him very pliable as he comes out from under the demon's influence. She doesn't know if there's anything that can be done to bolster his personality while the process is happening."

The priest's eyebrows twitched. "She must be pretty good, to be doing that."

"She's a council member."

"Which one?"

"Thalea."

"Julia's old apprentice." He stopped, and considered. "She was very pretty."

Livia gave him a small smile. "She still is. Strange, but pretty."

He chuckled softly. "Yes, that's what would get Linaeus's attention."

"Her heart really does seem to be in the right place where he's concerned, but she didn't know that Geras was still around."

"And Geras will use him and find out about you, correct?"

She shrugged. "Actually, that's almost less of a concern than the fact that Linaeus has started not caring if he gets caught holding his healing clinics in the Sassenid quarter. He's trying to atone and has been for years, but if Geras finds out, everything will unravel. I'm mostly worried that it'll get Linaeus killed."

"It might but if you act quickly, you can change the stars."

She looked at the priest, narrowing her eyes. "How's that?"

Lukas smiled. "If it makes Linaeus more pliable and Geras has the same demon..."

"I might be able to get Thalea to do the same thing for Geras?"

"And control Geras just like Thalea is Linaeus."

Livia shifted, thinking about it. It was very tempting, that was for certain. To have Geras working for her without having to run quite so much of a confidence game on him would be a major accomplishment. "For a little while, at least. I think the whole process takes maybe a month, from something Thalea said."

"So in two weeks Geras works for you." Lukas's grin was almost too swift to be seen. "Know any mages that can get close to him on a daily basis?"

Livia thought about it. "One, but she's not scheduled to be working at his house past the end of the week."

"She might be able to extend that work for a good cause. Then you can let Thalea complete her work on Linaeus and have Geras under your control."

He wants the demon out of Linaeus almost as badly as Thalea does. Gods, I hope I can help give that to them. "I'll see if I can speak to her about it. There's one other possibility, but it's a huge gamble. And I don't know offhand if Darius can cast that spell."

He glanced over at the mage when she named him. He was helping feed the people they'd freed, keeping one watchful eye on Livia. "Darius probably can, but would have to be taught it. Though it may be over his head, the council is a strong lot. It's probably something Thalea invented."

"From what she said, it is. And getting him in there would mean that I'd be in there, as well, and there's only one reason for me to be under Constantius's roof for any length of time, since I'm no longer working for him."

He nodded, taking her meaning. "That's an ugly solution if I see where you are going. I would try the other mage first, if you can trust her."

"I think I may have to take a chance on her. I wish I knew for sure, but it's not like I can walk up to her and ask her if she's really working for either Faydren or Geras." Livia chuckled, thinking of Collita. "Well, I could, but she might not tell me. She's got a grudge against Constantius, though. I may be able to depend on that."

"Probably not, but it depends on the mage. Julia used to talk about this one mage named Collita. had a mouth on her. Said whatever went through her mind."

Livia eyed the priest. "That's odd. It's Collita who I was talking about."

He chuckled. "Ah, then she does have a grudge against Constantius. Constantius had dealings with her father. When the deals went south, her father met some lions in the gladiator games."

"Sounds like Constantius. Well, I was going to speak to her tomorrow anyway. I'll have to see how she feels about it."

"I think you can see the advantage this would give you if you can pull it off."

It would improve our position immensely, that's for sure. "Very much so. It would undo some of the damage that's been done."

"And it might save Linaeus in the process."

"With any luck." She shut her mouth on the thought that was trying to come out of her mouth. Your son is a tormented man who wants so very much to be a good one. I wish you could see him. I think you'd be proud of what he's done despite the demon.

It was not the time or the place for that comment, though. Livia saw a flicker in the priest's eyes and knew that he had seen at least some of her thoughts on her face. He said, "Well, you are welcome to spend the night, I will have two tents set up for you."

"Thank you, Lukas." She inclined his head, and turned away to walk towards the people she had brought him. She followed him and when she approached Darius stepped away from the others. "We're here tonight?" he asked.

"I am not walking to the beachhead." She gave him a tired smile. "Sunrise is going to be here soon enough."

"That's the truth." He put an arm around her and she leaned into him, closing her eyes and shivering. Tents were set up, theirs a little way away from the others, and by the time Livia crawled between the blankets she was shaking with fatigue and cold. There was no question of anything more than sleep between them that night. She was barely aware of Darius taking off his sword and shoes and lying down next to her. The moment Livia closed her eyes, she tumbled headfirst into sleep.

She woke the next morning to a change in the light as the sky outside lightened. She rubbed grit from her eyes as she rolled out of the blankets and climbed to her feet, feeling as if she hadn't slept nearly enough. Darius was sitting up, yawning. "The nights are never long enough, are they?" he said wryly as he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Never," she replied with a smile. She watched as he pulled his hair back--it had fallen out of the tie he usually kept it back in overnight. "Here, let me." She knelt behind him, pulling his hair back, making sure to get all of the little wisps that tended to fall down around his face. He handed her the leather tie he used to keep it out of his eyes, and she secured his hair.

She gave into a sudden urge and leaned forward, sliding her arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek. Darius raised his hands, putting them over hers. They stayed like that for a little while, and Livia wished that there was more time, that they didn't have to go back to the city just yet.

Livia kissed him again and chuckled. "Time to go pretend to be upstanding citizens of the empire for a little while."

He snorted and released her. "We're both going to be able to be actors when this is over, at this rate."

"It would be a nice change, wouldn't it?" She brushed herself off and stepped into her sandals, and pretended that she hadn't seen the strange look in his eyes again. "I'll wake Diya. We should be off soon."

As they walked back to the city, the sun rose before them. It was a spectacular sunrise, all purples and reds lightening to yellow. The white walls of the city gleamed in the morning light, and Livia felt a sudden surge of affection for her home.

She shoved away the sudden image she had of the walls broken, the buildings on fire, and hoped she could prevent that from coming to pass, at least for the moment.