The Subtle Web

When Livia, Darius, and Diya returned home, they took the time for a quick wash and change of clothing, and then went to the regent's house. Livia had sent a message to Collita, requesting that she come for a visit that afternoon.

The house was in an uproar, Orla having been at the regent's house all morning. Livia was introduced to a batch of new faces, servants that Orla had hired. Too many new people, Livia thought. It can't be helped. Orla can manage it, and I'll come to know each of them in the next few weeks. She impressed each face and each name on her memory, the same as she did when she was circulating through a room of nobles she did not know.

Diya and Darius had found a room that had obviously been used as a mage's workroom at some time. She poked her head in the open door to find them discussing shielding, Diya having scrambled on top of the heavy table in the center of the room and pointing at something on the ceiling.

Livia rolled her eyes at Diya's unladylike behavior, but didn't comment. "Are you two going to use this room?" she asked.

Darius turned. "It's out of the way, and the walls are reinforced. Diya just noticed that there's a chimney or vent of some sort in the ceiling, I think it might lead outside. A good precaution, but I'll want to find out where it comes out before I put up the shielding."

She nodded. "I have some traders to see. If Collita comes, do you want me to call you?"

"Please do."

Diya jumped down from the table. "What do the traders have?"

"Cloth mostly, and I think there's one that's got crystal glasses, very precious stuff. There's a goodly amount of things to replace. My regular merchants are overjoyed at my sudden rise in status, let me tell you. Want to come help me pick out things? It is your house, after all."

The girl thought about it, a slow light kindling in her eyes. "I don't think I'd be much use here for the rest of the afternoon. And it might be fun to see what the traders have."

Livia smiled. "Call it your first lesson in being noble--how to deal with traders who think you're stupid."

Darius said, "Go, you two. I'll check the vent."

And it was so that Collita found Livia and her stepdaughter, bent over a tray of crystal glasses. They both jumped as the mage walked into the room. Livia gave a choked gasp. "Collita! Lady mage, I didn't hear you announced."

"I knew the way in. I didn't mind bypassing the guards." The mage gave Livia a secretive smile. "Afternoon, ladies. Diya, I presume?"

"She is, yes. Diya, may I present Collita, of the council of Hagia Sophia. Collita, Diya, Sextus's daughter and Constans's heir."

"The regent-presumptive." Collita gave Diya a smile that was meant for her alone. "She does love you, you know. It's not just an act she puts on."

Diya flushed and rose, nearly upsetting the tray of crystal. "I--I'll just be going."

Livia had given the mage a questioning look, then turned her attention to Diya. "Could you find Darius and tell him where I am? I'd like him to stand door duty."

Diya nodded and left hastily. Livia sighed. "All things considered, she's handling this better than I would have. But she wasn't raised as one of us."

"She will learn many lessons from you. Most of which you won't be aware that you're teaching her. What did you need from me?"

She said, "A couple of things. I was wondering if, when you finish with Constantius, if I might hire you to put up some alarms and wards on this house. It used to have some, but someone came through and removed them before we took possession."

Collita's lips curved in a smile. "Sure, pretty simple stuff or the more complex work? Basically, are you trying to stop people from stealing things or are you trying to stop demons, mages, and regents?"

"Well, considering that demons, mages, and regents are most likely to try to kill us, it's probably the latter."

"Ah, good, the fun stuff. Be about a week or a bit less before I can start." She paused and once again seemed to look right through Livia. "That it?"

Livia shook her head. "Another thing, which might delay you starting here, actually. You said you were open to doing things that would hurt Constantius. I have something that might not hurt him, but it's certainly not in his plans."

Collita had reached out and touched one of the crystal glasses on the tray. Her hand stopped cold at Livia's words. "I'm listening."

"Constantius is currently...influenced by a demon. I think I have a way to rid him of that influence, but it takes a powerful mage who is close to him on a daily basis. Taking out the demon will leave him vulnerable in several different ways while the process is going on. Afterwards, well, it's difficult to tell."

The mage's dark eyes were intent on Livia. "Well. That could be fun."

She gave Collita a smile that she knew was ruthless. "It makes him more likely to believe what people tell him. I plan to tell him some very interesting things when he's in that state. Taking out the demon should take about a month total, but he'll start to show the signs of being affected in a week and two weeks will see him very pliable indeed."

"Any way to speed that up?"

"I don't know. I'd need to ask the mage who came up with the spell." Livia was hoping that trusting Collita was the right thing to do.

"Who was that?"

Livia hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should reveal the name. Well, she'll find out sooner or later anyway. "Thalea."

"Thalea. Well she can come up with some interesting spells. Might be worth the effort. Have you talked to her about me borrowing the spell?" Collita asked.

"I'm not sure if she'd be willing to share the spell with someone else, but I think I can give her the incentive needed."

Collita folded her hands. "Well then, find out and get back to me. I will do it. Let me know. I will start on your house in the week. Otherwise back to demon boy's house."

"You're there full time now?"

"Nearly. Keeping an eye on things. I'll see you later, then."

"Thank you, Collita," Livia said quietly, her eyes meeting the mage's. Collita met her eyes and then nodded. She rose and walked out without another word.

Darius stepped in after Collita left. In his eyes was a question, and Livia smiled. "She'll do it."

"One more piece in play," he replied.

"A powerful one. I hope she succeeds. I need to make a visit to Constantine, and to Thalea."

"Thalea I can see, but Constantine?"

Livia smiled. "Making a pre-emptive move."

Darius gave her a long look, then nodded. "Constantine now, Thalea tonight?"

"Julia in between, I think. Can you run an errand out to Lukas while I'm with Constantine? I need someone to take the cure for the rat creatures out to him and ask him to make more of it for me.

He thought about it and nodded. "I can get out and back by nightfall. We should go now, probably."

"Before any more traders show up on my doorstep!"

An hour later, she was ensconced in Constantine's study. Livia perched on the edge of her chair, and they exchanged the usual greetings. Livia said, "I have an idea I wanted to talk to you about. You heard Constantius suggest that I marry Diya to Faydren. I'd like to head that off at the pass. Your son's of an age with my stepdaughter. I was thinking that perhaps we could put together an informal betrothal, at least until Diya's mourning period is over."

The regent was giving her a calm, evaluating look. "And after her mourning period?"

"If it's still advantageous to both sides, a formal betrothal or a marriage, depending on what's going on at the time."

Constantine smiled, and he leaned forward in his chair. "I personally would like the union to go forth all the way, if you can convince your stepdaughter of it."

"That's going to be the difficult part. I haven't told her yet about this idea, she's having difficulty with the whole concept of being Constans's heir at this point. She'll probably be calm enough tomorrow for me to talk to her about it." I hope, at least. "It will make Cyricus even more of a target than he already is, though."

"Really? How do you figure?" Constantine asked.

Livia spread her hands. "Whoever marries Diya becomes a regent. He's already an heir, but now he becomes a more immediate concern."

He shook his head. "He is already third in line for the throne after the death of Constans. So it makes no difference who he marries, but you see if he does marry Diya, he is instantly raised to Constantius's level. Then I have a majority in the ruling." He smiled. "I can influence my son."

She nodded. "True enough. And if he survives, and Constantius persists in having no sons, he'll eventually be the emperor."

"Otherwise, Faydren gets regent status and then we are stuck again."

She twisted her mouth. "I would really like to avoid having Faydren for a regent if I can."

"As would I."

Livia sat back, letting out her breath. "I'll see what I can do with Diya. She might take a little while, but I think she'll come around. She knows as well as I do that with her new position comes some responsibilities, and political marriages are one of those."

Constantine shrugged. "He is not unpleasant as sons come, but I can see that he is no Esayis."

"She's a determined girl." Livia smiled, remembering that this girl had survived things not many would. "If she decides to make this work, it'll work. She does have her father's example to look at, after all."

Constantine's voice was soft. "True enough, Livia. Sextus was a good man. Sorry he is gone."

"I am, as well. I miss him terribly." She gave the regent a smile tinged with sorrow, then bit her lip a little. This next thing might be touchy. "I do have one more thing to ask you. I have reason to believe that someone might be attempting to strike at you, through your advisors. Are any of them susceptible to outside influences, do you know?"

"They all have their faults, but I will keep an eye on their counsel. Faydren pulling some strings?"

"I believe so. You don't exactly have a lot of weaknesses to attack, unlike your brothers."

"I try not to. A fact Constans forgot." He shook his head regretfully. "Magentius was bad to begin with, but there was no telling him that."

Ah, there was the opening she needed. "Constans was, regrettably, a man of a number of weaknesses. Speaking of Magentius. We found some very interesting things indeed in Constans's house. Was Magentius notably unstable before he took up with Constans, do you know?"

"Greedy, unstable not really. He became more and more paranoid as time went on."

Livia frowned. "There's evidence that he might have been under Pollius's care, the same as with Aranis. You haven't hired Pollius for anything recently, have you?"

His eyebrows went up. "Pollius's care? Both of them? And no, Pollius is a Faydren follower. I stay away from the mages. They all work for him in one manner or the other."

She nodded. "Well, let's just say that Magentius's room looked a lot like Aranis's. Either the man was mad, or being driven that way, or he was really, really kinky and liked sleeping secured to the bed.

The corners of Constantine's eyes crinkled. "I could believe the latter, really. It explains some of his behavior. But Pollius could have been influencing him and possibly my brother."

"That was my thought. I worry that someone might uncover this, and then try to claim that Pollius was working for you."

"It's a thought." Constantine set his elbow on the desk in front of him, cupping his chin in his right hand. Livia started a bit as she noticed the ring that he wore on that hand. She had never noticed before that Constantine wore a crest ring that was very similar to Constantius's. It was similar enough that she realized that she might have mistaken one for the other, give only a brief glimpse.

A sick feeling was spreading through her gut, but she ignored it. Think about it later. To Constantine, she said, "Be ready. I'm not certain what Faydren's next move is going to be, is all. I'm trying to cut him off at the pass on the things I know about."

"It's the things I don't know that worry me."

She gave the regent a wry smile. "You and me both. That mage is a slippery fellow, and always manages to come up smelling like roses."

"Yes, he does. We can maybe catch him in the act someday, and I will pull Hagia Sophia to the ground."

Livia sat back a bit, forcing herself to relax. She smiled sweetly. "It's a pleasant thought. Speaking of, do you happen to know of any mages or mage-types that are great hulking men? Bigger than Darius?"

Constantine frowned. "There was one, years back. Called himself Hadrius."

"He's not still around?"

"Faydren and he got into it. Both were on the council. Faydren took over and Hadrius quit. Disappeared by all accounts. There was some talk that Faydren had him killed. Wish he were still around, though."

Livia nodded. "He'd be a good ally right about now, I agree. Sounds like he was as fond of Faydren as we are."

"He wasn't. Only one to stand up to Faydren's magic and survive."

"Hm. Well. perhaps I'll put out some feelers and see if Faydren really did have him killed." She sighed, and shifted again. "I should be going. I'll broach the subject of marriage to Diya and see what she says. After she stops screaming, I may be able to talk some sense into her."

"Good luck, Livia." Constantine smiled. "My guards will see you out."

At home, there were three messages waiting. The first was an official notice of the death of Constans. The culprit was named as Magentius, who had been caught and killed by Faydren. The second was one from Hagia Sophia, announcing that the information that led to Magentius's apprehension had been supplied by Zaran, who had died in the process of obtaining it. The third was from Julia, telling Livia that she would meet her in the usual place.

"And Faydren ties a bow on top of it and calls it good," muttered Livia. She folded the parchment and sighed. She had a pair of hours before she needed to be at the baths, and Darius probably wouldn't be back before she left. There were so many things she should be doing...but she yawned and realized that she was exhausted.

The idea of a nap was so appealing that she immediately acted on it. Once more, the moment she laid down, she was asleep.

*****

Later that afternoon, Livia met Julia in their usual room in the baths. Julia told her that she was now going to try and pin the blame for Sextus's death on Magentius, which Livia approved of heartily. After they'd got that settled, Livia said, "I wanted to ask you for a rundown of the council members. I have names but not much else on them. I was hoping you could tell me more."

Julia nodded. "Why don't we start at the top, then. Faydren. He was born noble, ran through the mage school faster than anyone in history. Fell in love with another mage, named Aranis. She became Constans's wife. Faydren fell into a fit of depression following that." She paused, and took a breath. "Esayis was born, and Aranis went mad. Faydren went into a mad power struggle, found allies and got himself named to the council. Had a great deal of problems with Hadrius and myself. We disagreed on council matters. This was after I retired, of course." Her eyes were distant, remembering. "Got named as the council mage successor and succeeded after two years. Hadrius quit in a rage. Nearly killed Faydren before the rest of the council stopped him. Hadrius was never seen again. We assumed Zaran got to him sometime."

Livia replied, "Probably the case. I've seen Aranis, she's still quite mad."

"Too bad, she was a very nice woman."

"Interesting that Faydren and Aranis were involved before she married Constans. Was there any whisper of them being involved afterwards?"

Julia shook her head. "There was always rumor. But after the child was born, Aranis was never the same. Constans locked her away and was never seen again really. Only Pollius saw her."

Livia nodded. "He's still a daily visitor. He will keep visiting, for the time being, to keep her calm."

"Can't think of anything more about Faydren, keeps to himself a lot. Anything specific you want to know?"

"What's said about his relationship with the harpist he keeps--Neera's her name? anything?" Livia asked.

"Neera, unusual girl. Great talent as a musician. He put her through school from the time she was about eight. She works for him now. Reading minds they say, according to the gossip. Never heard of anything other than a platonic relationship. But that would be Faydren." The mage made a sour face. "No mingling of the races."

"And Faydren never married?"

Julia replied, "Never. Never kept any lovers besides Aranis."

A servant knocked at the screen, bearing wine and glasses. As she poured for the both of them, Livia said, "Interesting. Perhaps he was never interested in anyone besides her."

"Maybe, he is very single minded."

"Or maybe he was keeping himself free, just in case he had a chance to marry up." She handed Julia a glass and picked up her own. "Anyway. Zaran's dead. How about Didius, then?"

The mage sipped at her wine. "Didius is a very boring man, on the surface. Works mostly on items, finding, identifying them. Now, in reality. He is the builder of most of the magic in the city--for Faydren, anyway. Scrolls, potions, wands, staves, weapons. That's him."

"Definitely allied with Faydren, then?"

Julia made a face. "Only works for him. won't hardly talk to anyone else. I think Faydren has something over him. He had a large family once but I never see them anymore, a great deal of them moved to Ankara. I only see a daughter anymore, only once in a great while and not anytime in the last three months."

Livia frowned. "How old is his daughter?"

"Early thirties. She was married, but her husband died. A lung disease of some sort. No children."

"She lives with Didius, then?"

Julia nodded. "She did. I don't know if she still does."

Livia sipped her wine, thinking. "Let's see. I know a little about Attius, he's the opium dealer who smokes his own profits and can brew just about any potion you want, if you can keep him awake."

The mage gave her a wry smile. "Yes, that's pretty much the sum of him. Though in the last week, he seems different somehow. Less red eyes, more coherent."

She tilted her head. "Wonder what's gotten into him? Might be good to find out."

"Might be. Follow him around a bit."

"Oh, I likely will," she said breezily. "He is--or was--pretty much under Faydren's thumb, right?"

"Has always been. Used to be partners, that's what they say transformed Faydren into the very rich from just the rich."

Livia nodded. The information confirmed what she already knew. "Pollius, then. I've met him. he deals mostly with mind stuff, right?"

"Yes, very much so. That's all he does now. Information is the key here to him. He is always looking for information. He is the eyes and ears of Faydren. Married, second wife. One son by the first wife."

"And he's been treating Aranis for her madness. All right, I'm not certain I like him being in the house, but I'll abide for the moment," Livia said, her tone disapproving.

Julia grimaced. "He has been treating her for decades now and she is not getting better. Once long ago, Lukas would have walked up to her and that would have been the end of it. Cured." Her voice was a little wistful, but she shook herself slightly and seemed to bring herself out of it.

Livia ran through the events of the previous day in her mind. "He wants me to believe that his treatment has been keeping her mad, I think."

The mage set down her glass of wine and sat up. "Why?"

"He let some things slip, but double-checking reveals that he's not the sort of person who generally drops information accidentally," Livia said.

"No he is not. He wants you to find something."

"I know. But he's so far into Faydren's pocket that I can't trust that he's doing it out of the goodness of his heart."

Julia picked up her glass again, cupping it in her hand. "Faydren wants something. Aranis, I bet."

Livia smiled. "He might want her back, but he can't exactly walk up to me and ask that I transfer custody of her to him."

"So he as Pollius let it slip. You stop the treatment, she gets better and she goes to Faydren."

She took a deep breath, and then a sip of her wine. "In that case, though I sort of hate to say it, she's a useful bargaining chip. Faydren won't kill her, I don't think."

"She is. Old Faydren wouldn't. New Faydren might if you use her against him too much."

She sighed. "I'll keep that in mind. Who knows, if I gave her back to him, he might soften a bit."

Julia gave her a small smile, and Livia was struck anew by just how beautiful a woman Julia was. "He might. Faydren does repay his debts."

"I'll see. I expect to receive a visit from him sometime soon. Perhaps he'll actually ask."

"Maybe, but only after you discontinue the treatments. He can't admit that he knows that."

Livia shifted and tucked her legs up under her on the low couch she was sitting on. "Depends on how brave I get. Anyway, that's Pollius. How about Tetius?"

Julia replied, "Tetius is a strange one. He openly debates with Faydren but always votes on his side. I know very little of Tetius personally. He is outspoken in his opinions and very clever. He can get his hands on just about anything. Some very interesting contacts."

Interesting. I need to find out more about this fellow. "How strongly is he allied with Faydren?"

"Enough that he always votes with him but many times grudgingly. They did go to the school at the same time, and hung around the same friend group."

Livia mused, "I'll have to see what I can dig up about him. He might be a swing vote, as it were. How about Aphe?"

Julia's lips curved in a slight, cruel smile. "Aphe is the diviner. She is always covered from head to toe in scarves. I don't think I have ever seen her face uncovered. Comes from an old, rich family. Claims to have to be a virgin to still see the future. Superstition mostly or a lack of interest in sex, I think. With Neera and Aphe, Faydren knows way too many things. "

"She's definitely on Faydren's side, then?"

"On his side or not, he is always consulting her."

Livia thought. "Hm. If she were suddenly unreliable, Faydren might start having a bit of trouble." Her mind touched on an idea--if she had control of Geras--

No. No, no, no. There are a few things I won't stoop to, and that's one of them. She shuddered a bit.

Julia was speaking, and Livia turned her attention back to her. "If his information is wrong, then life would get difficult. Next would be Statilla. Statilla is a plant mage. She does things with plants that I have only seen clerics do in the past. She claims it's mage magic, but I have my doubts. She is older, her children are grown and gone."

"You don't have any idea what Sextus was doing for Statilla, then?"

The mage shrugged. "No, I don't. I would bet on importing plants and things. She is a sucker for rare plants."

I don't think plants would have caused what I saw in her in my dream. "Generally votes with Faydren?"

"Doesn't care, really. She's in her own world. Votes as she sees fit but he has so many on the council on his side her odd vote here and there makes no difference."

"How about Collita, then?"

"Very blunt, very security oriented. Will invade your mind at the drop of hat. likes to know what everyone is thinking and doing. Drives her crazy if she can't."

Livia gave the mage a fierce grin. "I see. I must be driving her a little bit mad, then."

Julia chuckled. "With the bracelet, yes you are. She's got no relatives that I know of, no husband, lovers, children."

"She's got that hair without a trace of grey, but she's got those deep lines around her eyes that say she's older than she looks at first. I'd say she dyes her hair, but I'm not sure she cares," Livia said.

"I don't think so. I think she is a great deal older than she looks. Now that I am back on the council, we are the only three that were from the old council, Statilla, Collita, and I. The rest are Faydren's appointments, including Thalea."

Livia nodded. "Quintia, then Thalea, then."

Julia took a swallow of her wine, then grimaced. "Quintia. Bit of a hedonist. likes relationships, sweets, new things, gets bored easily. Out and out the most powerful mage, next to Faydren. No specialty at all. She can do a bit of everything. She's pretty to look at and she can kill you quicker than you can blink." Julia's voice had taken on a tone of disapproval. "Dangerous, that one. Most of her lovers disappear for good after she is done with them."

Livia knew the type. There were a few women, not many, but a few among the nobles who were the same way. None of them were mages, though. "Nice. I take it the people who get involved with her either don't know or don't care?"

The mage shook her head. "Some don't care, thinking they are the one she will stick with. In most cases, they are just the next victim."

"Any notable exceptions to the disappearance rule?"

Julia snorted softly. "None so far. She wants Faydren bad, but he ignores her and the more he ignores her the more she wants him. Stay away from her, is my opinion."

Livia agreed heartily. "That's excellent advice. Wonder what her reaction would be if Aranis suddenly arrived back on the scene? Women like that can get unpredictable when faced with defeat."

"I don't know. Might cause a problem. Might be worth a try."

She nodded. "I think I'll try to avoid tangling with her. She sounds almost as bad as Faydren to deal with. I think Thalea's the last, then."

Julia looked away, shifting in her seat. Her voice dropped low and soft. "Thalea was my apprentice. She was a good kid, got involved with my son, has been on and off for years. Now does all the research in the library for Faydren."

Livia took a sip of her wine, and then set the cup down on the table. "Everything I've heard about her says that she's still a basically good person."

"She is. A bit deluded. She thinks that she can change the heart of a man to be like her. I don't think she can without killing him or making him someone she doesn't want."

She was watching Julia closely, now. "Your son, I take it?"

Julia suddenly looked tired, more exhausted than Livia had ever seen her. There were shadows under her eyes, and Livia suddenly wondered if the magic that made her look young was slipping a bit. "Yes, I am afraid so."

Softly, Livia replied, "It's a hard lesson to learn that you can't change people to suit you, even if you are a mage."

"Yes and she will learn the hard way. I fear what he may or may not become."

A small, cold fear was curling itself around the base of Livia's spine. "You think she's not going to end up with what she thinks she will? She's a bit of an optimist, I noticed when I spoke to her."

Julia looked away, and it was a moment before she replied. "Once long ago, I did the same thing. Tried to change someone and the result was worse. I learned that lesson. She is trying to undo my mistake but I think it will undo her."

"Why?"

"He may live through the process but he will never be the same." She took a long breath and set her glass carefully down. "The hard clipped decisions that he makes, I think come from the demon. He loses that demon and he will be putty. Anyone can convince him of anything."

Livia frowned. "I think she believes that when the demon is out, the person he is underneath will reassert himself."

Julia shook her head. "He has had that demon since he was three. He grew up with it. His personality formed with it. Lose it and it's like losing a section of his brain. He won't be the same man."

I think that may be what Thalea is going for, thought Livia grimly. "True enough. she may find that she doesn't love the person the demon leaves behind. But, perhaps I'm misestimating her. Perhaps what she really does want is someone she can mold into the person she wants. I'm told that some people do." Livia shivered. She couldn't imagine wanting a partner without a spine.

"Maybe, and if she can be happy with that, so be it. I just hate to see her look at Linaeus after and say, what have I done?" Julia's pretty mouth twisted. "I should know."

Livia's heart ached unexpectedly. Julia had not forgiven herself for what she'd done to Linaeus, it seemed. "She'll compound your mistake with her own," she replied softly. "Have you told her this?"

"She won't listen. She doesn't know I know. But I have made veiled comments."

She gave the mage a wry smile. "Well, she knows I know. And she's agreed to stop for the moment."

"He's caught in that limbo state, then."

"It was better than the alternatives. She keeps going, and Geras probably kills him. She lets the demon out of the bottle and he becomes more or less as he was before."

Julia nodded, pressing her lips together. "Yes, a rock and a hard place."

"I rattled her but good, I think. Linaeus was doing some things that were going to lead directly to getting himself killed."

Julia shook her head, and the shadows were back in her eyes. "I fear that may be his only fate soon."

Livia replied, "We'll see. I'm going to do what I can to keep him alive."

"Good luck." Julia picked up her wine glass again. "Anything else you want to know, that I might be able to answer?"

She eyed the mage, wondering if she dared ask the question. Well, I'm not going to find out any other way, she told herself. "Actually, I'm curious about something. You said, when I asked about Darius, that you'd trust him with your life. Why?" She chuckled and added, "I'm not questioning your judgment, I've come to the same conclusion myself. He doesn't talk about himself much, though."

Julia smiled. "No, he doesn't." She sat back and took a breath, her eyes going distant. "Darius came to me right after being released as a gladiator. He was a quick study and I noticed him as having great potential. He also didn't like the current regime, he questioned everything. I took that as him being older than the normal student." She paused and sipped her wine. "Long about two years ago, in a class that I was teaching, a fire started. There was no way to get out from the classroom easily. I didn't have the right spells and a classful of children. I got most of them out but fell from the smoke. He pulled me out."

She shifted and then looked directly at Livia. "Never found out who started the fire but over the next few years similar attempts were made. He took a spear meant for me, and a few spells."

Livia nodded. "So you knew he could be trusted as a bodyguard, then."

"Yes, he had the mindset for it." She shook her head slightly. "His life was less important than the cause."

Livia shivered a bit, and looked down at her cup. "I've noticed that. It worries me, sometimes."

"He probably won't live long. Giving his life for something he believes in."

"He's been walking with me into some very dangerous places. I'd hate to think how I'd get along without him, but I keep giving him outs and he keeps on staying." She sighed, thinking, What am I going to do, if he dies in my service? How will I survive knowing what I've done to him?

Julia's voice softened. "He will, he is righting a wrong. And until he sees it through, he will stay with it."

Livia sighed. "Well, if I can I'll see him through this alive."

"I hope so, he is a good man. Those are difficult to find in this city."

And how fortunate I am to have had two of them in a row. "I know. He said his parents were caught in the purge that Constantine the Elder did that killed most of the pagan priests. Did you know them, at all?"

Julia nodded. "I did, actually. Unfortunate, that business."

"Who were they priests of, just out of curiosity?"

"Good question. Zeus maybe--no, Apollo, I think."

Livia sipped her wine, just barely wetting her lips. "I suppose it really doesn't matter, now. I occasionally wonder what might have happened to Darius if he hadn't been made a gladiator, is all."

"I don't know. He may have become a mage to begin with. He felt the calling anyway." Julia shrugged gently. "But his demeanor could been different. He could be just like Faydren."

"True. And now he's been pulled into something where he's opposing him."

Julia's smile held just a touch of pride in it. "And oppose him, he will. He will die trying to bring him down."

"I know. What will happen, will happen." Tears prickled at Livia's eyes, and she willed them away. "He claims that if ten years as a gladiator didn't kill him, he's going to die only when it's his time."

"If that didn't kill him, he is probably right. Maybe he was meant to finish this battle."

Livia swallowed, and nodded. "I can only hope. He's a friend, and I have few enough of those."

The mage raised one golden eyebrow. "A friend? That look you get, seems like you want more."

She felt herself flush in response, and she looked away. "Perhaps. It doesn't really matter, though, does it."

Julia's voice was unexpectedly gentle. "Doesn't it?"

I am still probably going to have to marry according to my station. I don't have a choice in that. Admitting my feelings is only going to make it harder when the time comes. Instead of saying any of that, Livia replied softly, "There have been--things--going on between us. They might turn into something more one of these days. I've been trying to keep it quiet, but I'm not very good at hiding my feelings at times."

The mage shook her head. Her voice was low and intent, now. "Sometimes in these dark days, that touch is all you have holding you together. Don't push it away."

Livia nodded, thinking of how much easier things had become when she finally stopped fighting her attraction to Darius, when she'd been able to ask for what she needed--an embrace to hold away the cold, the silent reassurance that she was not turning into the monster that she sometimes thought she might be becoming. "I've been trying not to." She turned back to Julia then, her smile a bit tremulous. "Everything's been happening so quickly that my head is still spinning a bit."

"I understand, Livia. I truly do."

They fell back to making small talk and sipping their wine, and when her glass was finished, Julia took her leave. Livia sat for a little while after she was gone, feeling strangely as if someone had kicked her in the chest.

She yawned and stretched, then rose. She would return home, then come back to speak with Thalea.

*****

Thalea did agree, when Livia asked, to provide her with the spell written down. "I wrote it to pull the demon out slowly. Do it quickly, and you stand a chance of killing the subject." Livia thanked her for the information, then went home. She'd see Collita on the morrow, when she went to visit Optata.

Despite her nap earlier in the day, she was exhausted. "I always forget that being pregnant makes me so tired," she muttered. She dragged herself upstairs, and saw that though Diya's door was closed, Darius's was open, and he had his lamps lit.

She knocked on the doorframe and looked in. He had his sword out on the table in front of him, and was evidently oiling the metal. He looked up at her knock. "You're back. Did you learn anything good?"

"Lots of things. Did Lukas agree to make the potion?"

"Quickly enough that I think he was anticipating the request," the big mage replied. "You look about done in. Are you awake enough to tell me about what Julia told you?"

"It's the pregnancy," she told him, coming in and closing the door behind her, and seating herself on the edge of the bed. "The first few months aren't a lot of fun, between the morning sickness and the exhaustion. The last six aren't too bad compared to that. But, yes, Julia told me a lot of things." She went on to recount everything she could remember. Only after she interrupted herself with a deep yawn for the third time did she realize exactly how close she was to falling asleep sitting up. "I think I'd better go to bed."

She suddenly found herself lying down where she'd once been sitting, and pulled her legs up on the bed. She wasn't quite sure how she'd gotten here, but it was nicely soft. "Or maybe I'll stay here," she said, feeling faintly ridiculous but too tired to figure out why.

"Come on, sleepyhead. Back to your own bed." Darius's hands were on her shoulders. "If Orla finds that you've been home all night and not sleeping in your bed, she'll have my head."

Livia shook her head. "Your balls," she murmured. "She'll have your balls. She just needs to get over it." She yawned hugely once more, and closed her eyes. "I'll go if you don't want me here tonight..."

She felt him move, and then felt his lips on her cheek. "You are welcome to stay, any time," he told her, fondness in his voice. Through her closed eyelids, she saw the light in the room dim, and heard some noises as Darius put things away. Then she felt him taking off her sandals, and then he slid into bed beside her, pulling her close to him.

She muttered happily and snuggled closer. That was the last thing she knew until morning.

*****

Morning did find her vaulting out of Darius's bed and making a dash for her own chamber. After she was done with that, she rinsed out her mouth and sighed. She needed to speak to Pollius this morning. With what she'd found out yesterday, she rather thought that if she could get Aranis better sooner rather than later, it would go better all round.

About an hour later, they were organized and ready to go. The day was bright and clear, the morning air still holding the chill of the night before. Marble gleamed in the sunlight as they walked up the street towards the regent's house, an escort of guards around them.

Diya, beside them, was silent and watchful. She was wearing a simple dress in a fine grey fabric and a beautiful, dove grey palla that one of the merchants yesterday had brought with them. She was officially in deep mourning, and as such would not be required to attend social events just yet.

Livia was grateful. Every day gave them additional time to school Diya in the rituals of nobility.

They reached the regent's house, and it was in much better order than it had been yesterday, though not quite habitable as yet. Livia requested to be informed when Pollius arrived, and a few hours later the man himself walked in.

She shut the two of them into a small reception room, with Darius on the door. "Pollius, I believe that Aranis will no longer be in need of your services, at least for the moment."

Pollius inclined his head. He kept his eyes on Livia, and his thin lips were almost curled in a smile. "As you wish lady, she is your charge. I don't envy you the sleepless nights, though."

Livia shrugged. "I don't sleep well since my husband died, as a rule. I take it without being calmed, she's quite loud?"

"She will be, I think but you never know with mental patients. I suggest a good herbal remedy in her water to make her sleep."

"I'll look into it. I occasionally use some things myself, but they're probably not strong enough," Livia said mildly.

"Probably not. Well lady, I wish you good luck. If you have need of me again, just contact Hagia Sophia."

"I will, thank you." She escorted the mage out of the room, saw him to the door, and went to find Orla. "Reyna and Nareus," she said quietly. "Their employment in this household ends as of right now. Give them a generous amount of gold as severance and show them out."

Orla's smile was thin and sharp. "I will take care of it."

"We'll need a pair of nursemaids for Aranis. They should be women, preferably strong, and willing to clean and feed her. I don't know what she'll be like."

"I have a few women in mind. Not long on the social graces, but they're hard workers. I'll see if I can get them in today."

Livia nodded and Orla bustled away. Her maid was in her element, ordering around a whole new batch of servants. Livia only wished she felt so comfortable with her new role. She turned and went up the stairs, towards the regent's quarters. Darius fell in beside her as she climbed. "Where's Diya?" she asked.

"Trying to decide if she really wants to sleep in the room that was Constans's. She's muttering something about cleansing magics, and I gave her a few things to read. She has two of your house guards with her."

"We need to find her some trustworthy bodyguards of her own," Livia said. "Too bad there aren't more of you in Hagia Sophia, Darius. Maybe I can talk Iraeus out of a couple of his men."

"Might be an idea. So what's next for today?"

They had reached the top of the stairs, and Livia stopped and turned to face Darius. "Attius, I think. Do you know where he lives?"

"In the noble quarter, just behind Constantius's house."

"Close by, then. I'm not sure I want to talk to him. He can't possibly be dealing opium out of there, can he?"

"Depends on who he's selling to. There are nobles who have habits, and they're the ones with the money to indulge them."

Livia smiled. "Shall we go look at his house, then? Let's tell Diya that we're going."

The girl was walking around the chambers that had once been Constans's, muttering and looking at a scroll. When Livia told them that they were going, she waved one hand vaguely. "Have fun. I'm going to try and make sense of this thing."

And so it was that they found a convenient garden across the street from Attius's house, watching people come and go. There were quite a number of people coming and going, most carrying boxes and bags of various foodstuffs. Either Attius was feeding an army today, or he was really, really hungry.

There were a few other people coming and going, well-dressed people who went in, spent about five minutes or so inside, and then came out again. Livia elbowed Darius gently and murmured, "Does that look like what I think it looks like?"

"Customers," he replied with a shrug. "Almost certainly."

"Let's move on. I don't want to be caught here." She rose and stretched, then began to stroll away, Darius at her shoulder.

A man rounded the corner before them, walking towards them. The gold medallion of Hagia Sophia was glittering on his chest, and with a start Livia recognized him. It was Attius.

Oh, dear.

She nodded at him as they approached each other, no more than she would have done to any stranger on the street. Attius stopped, a questioning look on his face. "Livia Neria?"

Livia blinked. "I am. And you are?"

"Attius from Hagia Sophia. Thought I recognized you, but didn't assume you would recognize me. We haven't met formally but I have seen you attending around at social functions." He paused and inclined his head. "I knew your husband, Sextus."

Mildly, Livia replied, "He had a great many friends, and people he worked with. I'm only now truly finding out how many. Something like half the city has rendered their condolences."

"He was well liked and very popular."

How much did she dare say to this man? "He was. I had no idea that he knew as many mages as he did. He left behind a few surprises for me, it seems."

Attius smiled gently. "I do not wish to impede your day, lady, but I do have some things of Sextus that he needed urgently, but after his death I had no idea what to do with them."

Livia raised her eyebrows. "Perhaps I should have a look at them. There is a chance I can make more sense of them."

"Please, if you have the time." He turned and led them into his house. Livia and Darius exchanged a look. This could be a trap. Livia could only hope that this man was who she thought he was, and that he thought he was on their side.

The house was a pleasant, airy place, well kept, and from the direction of the kitchen wafted all sorts of lovely smells. There was food cooking, quite a lot of it if Livia didn't miss her guess. Attius led them to a large sitting room, furnished with a number of low couches. The mage waved her towards one of them, and she sat. She nodded to Darius, who took up a place by the door.

"It smells wonderful in here, by the way. Your cook must have had an inspired morning," she said with a smile.

Attius sat down on another couch. "She always has inspired mornings." He patted his stomach and smiled. "Now lady, if I may be so bold. Does Darius know everything you do?"

Livia froze. Carefully, she responded, "Yes, he does."

There was a canny look in Attius's eyes. "Darius, please set in and close the door. Have a seat with your lover."

Cold washed over Livia. She thought for an instant about protesting, about angrily rejecting his words and blasting him for his presumption. No. It'll just waste time. He knows, and I'll only annoy him if I try to lie. She raised her eyes to meet Darius's, who was looking as if he was having second thoughts about this situation himself, and nodded. He raised his eyebrows, and she nodded again. Finally, Darius inclined his head and closed the door, then came to sit down beside Livia. She had an urge to take his hand--her own hands were freezing cold all of a sudden--but she did not.

Attius spoke again. "This room is protected against a great many spells. We can talk freely. I have reason to believe a great many things about you, like you are actively investigating Sextus's death. Am I right?"

Well, if this is a trap, then we are well and truly stuck. "I am. Trying to find out why he died, and trying to protect both of my daughters."

"Faydren is watching you."

Livia shrugged. "I know. I can't exactly do anything about it at the moment. He suspects that I know at least some of what I do."

"He does. Now the question is, what do I tell him?" Attius smiled, and Livia tried not to bite her lip. "You see, he assigned me to watch you."

Her eyebrows went up. "And you are telling me this, why?"

"Because I think we are working on the same side but different angles."

She gave the mage a wry smile. "I don't want Faydren for an emperor, if that's what you're asking. I think it's quite likely that we're on the same side--if this mess can be said to have sides."

Attius chuckled softly. "Oh, it does. No one wants Faydren or Geras for rulers."

"Except Faydren and Geras, of course. And Geras has my daughter more or less hostage."

He nodded, and his expression sobered. "He does. Which makes me wonder, why are you still playing the game?"

Her voice was quiet but confident. "Because I think I can still make a difference. And because if I stop, I'd probably end up dying anyway. And because my stepdaughter's been forced to be a player on the board."

"Why didn't you run?"

Livia shrugged. "Sextus left this behind for me to finish for him. At first, I had no idea how dangerous it was, and when I learned, I was already committed."

His eyes were intent. "You are going to see this through to the very end?"

I think it's rather too late for me to run now. I'd have to leave Diya behind, and I won't do that. But instead of her true thought, she said, "I don't know yet. I might yet choose to disappear."

Was that disappointment in his eyes? "As you wish, then. At least, we may be able to cooperate until that day."

She gave him a canny look. "I assume, since you know so much else, that you know the angles I've been working. What are yours?"

"Same as yours, the rat creatures. I thought they were the key, and they were up until Zaran died."

Livia shook her head. "I don't know if the rats know yet that Magentius is dead."

"They knew nearly at the same time we all did. They were waiting on Zaran to return."

She shifted, a move that brought her just a little closer to Darius. She glanced at him and saw that he'd retreated behind the stone facade that was all she'd seen of him when she'd first met him. She asked Attius, "What are they doing now?"

He gave her a sharp smile. "They were going to dump the toxin and kill the whole city, but I have doped the opium that I give them and they are currently very relaxed."

"How long can you keep them like that?"

"A while but not real long, They will get used to it being at that high a level. After a few days, they will start to build tolerance to it. A week, at most."

Livia thought about it, then shook her head. "And they're probably not relaxed enough that we can remove the poison from their possession without making a fuss."

"Probably not, hence why I need your help or if you are going to leave the city, now is the time to go."

She raised her eyebrows. "What do you need from me?"

Attius learned forward a bit. "I need your friend Iraeus to do some rat killing."

"I can likely talk him into something like that." She sighed. "Damn, the timing's rotten here, though. Another week and here would be another way."

He sat up, startlement crossing his face. "You have another way?"

"It requires time we don't have. But there's a cure for the rat people. It just doesn't exist in any quantity at the moment."

Startlement had settled into an intent look on Attius's face. "How quickly can you make it?"

Livia looked at Darius. He said, "The first batch should be ready in seven to ten days."

She nodded. "Like I said, not enough time."

"But maybe enough, if I can help."

She gave him a speculative look. "I've been told you're handy with the potions."

"Yes, I have been known to dabble in a great many things. I just need to know who and where you are working on it."

Livia's face took on an unhappy cast. "A friend I cannot betray even to another ally is working on it." Behind the unhappiness, her mind was working. I can perhaps get something from him this way that I cannot otherwise. Confirmation.

"Then we will have to go with the second option. Iraeus and the slaughter of hundreds of them." He had a dark look on his face. "We don't have many options."

Carefully, Livia said, "Then I would need to have you answer a question for me, honestly. A piece of surety for the safety of my friend."

Attius gave her a speculative look. "I will as best I can, if I know the answer."

Her voice was quiet. "My question is, who are you?"

He just looked at her. She folded her arms, frowning. Finally, he replied, "Someone who has reason to want Faydren and Geras dead, just like you."

That's not good enough, and you know it. Lukas's name whispered in the wrong quarters will get him, and me, killed. I need something from you that's just as dangerous. "A name for a name," she said, quietly.

He sighed. "Attius by day. Hadrius whenever I can."

Livia smiled. "Then it is good to meet you, Hadrius. Julia still speaks highly of you. My friend who is working on the potion is Lukas, the Athena priest who lives outside of the walls."

"Lukas, he is probably one of the best. We should be able to do it quickly."

"I'll need to take you with me to introduce you. He would recognize you as yourself, but not as Attius."

"That I can understand, but I can't be gone for that many days in a row. Anyway we can get him in here, without getting him killed? Unless you want to assume this role."

I've got enough trouble with the ones I'm already playing. "I've got my own role to play that I can't be absent from for any length of time." Livia gave a heavy sigh. "I may be able to talk to Constantine about him. It would tip my hand though, and I trust Constantine these days about as far as I can spit him."

"No, Constantine is as bad as the rest."

"I don't have a good reason for him being lifting the ban on pagan priests in the city, unfortunately. Unless we can give Lukas a good disguise that won't wear off unexpectedly, and I can talk him into wearing it, I'm not sure we can do this. Lukas is--stubborn."

Attius--or Hadrius--shook his head. "Lukas was always stubborn. He could have stayed in the city. Constantine the first gave him a way out."

Livia's eyes widened. Beside her, Darius shifted, looking uncomfortable. Livia asked, "Did he? What way was that?"

"He only had to say that he wasn't a pagan cleric and he could have stayed. Constantine even told him he could still practice, if he would conform to that simple rule." The mage shrugged. "He refused and then nearly got killed."

Livia stared at Attius. "Are you telling me that that whole bloody situation was due to Lukas being pigheaded?"

There was no smile on his lips now. "Yes. Julia was declared a heretic and many of Lukas's followers were put to death. Including Darius's parents, if he didn't tell you that."

In a clipped voice, Livia said, "No. He did not." She glanced at Darius, who shrugged and looked away from her. I had no idea what I was taking him into when we first went to see Lukas. He doesn't seem to blame Lukas, at least on the surface.

Attius spread his hands. "But to answer your question, if I can look like Attius, I can make Lukas look like just about anybody."

She took a deep breath. "Well. If you're up for a trip out to the desert, we can at least talk to him. I might be able to talk him into doing it."

"Lukas's weakness is people. If his pride gets in the way of him saving hundreds, you might be able to convince him."

She nodded, and thought about how she could approach the priest. "True. And if he doesn't, well, there's always Iraeus as a backup plan."

"Yes, not the best of options but at least an option," Attius said.

"The last resort." She pressed her lips together. "It takes some time to get to the camp. Usually, we go out before the gates close and spend the night."

Attius leaned forward. "I would say tomorrow but I don't think it can wait that long. Tonight would be better."

"I don't have anything other than a visit to see my younger daughter tonight. I can see her earlier, and then go."

He nodded. "Tonight then. I will not be in any form you know, but you will recognize me by the purple staff." He gestured to a staff, intricately carved out of purple wood, topped with the head of some legendary creature. Livia thought it might be a dragon, but she'd have to get closer to see it.

She asked, "Is that--the shape-changing thing--how you've managed to find out so much about me?"

Attius smiled. "Good eye. Yes, it is."

"I wondered. What will you be telling Faydren, by the way?"

"That you are a slip of a girl without a brain."

Livia sighed. There are days that I wish that my best disguise wasn't to appear to be an idiot. It's not particularly flattering, and it's getting harder to play. "I've been trying to convince him of the same thing. Geras, as well, but I think Geras suspects that I might actually have a mind."

Attius said, "He does. He was speaking highly of you the night Constans died."

Sharply, Livia asked, "He was? What was he saying?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that you were very capable and easy to look at. He thought that certain people may have underestimated your abilities. Then all hell broke loose, with guards running all over, shouting about Constans being dead."

Livia's hands clenched. "You were with him when Constans died?"

"Yes, for about an hour before until about ten minutes after."

She bit back a curse. She took a moment to control her voice, and said, simply, "Well, then. As if my skin weren't already crawling enough. Geras was my first suspect for the one holding Magentius's sword. I'll have to look elsewhere for the blame."

He shook his head. "It wasn't him. I was with him. Bastard that he is, he didn't do this. Probably knew though."

"Very likely. It's too bad. A whole city full of nobility, half of whom had one reason or another to want Constans dead."

Attius frowned. "Constans wasn't the bad guy. Magentius was."

I wonder, she thought. "He wasn't the bad guy, but whenever you have a regent or an emperor, you have at least a half a dozen plots to remove them from power forcibly. Constans wasn't particularly popular among the nobility."

"No, he wasn't." The mage shifted. "So tonight then, unless you have other questions?"

"Tonight it is. We'll see you before sunset."

He smiled briefly. "Good day Livia, Darius."

Livia rose, and Darius followed her lead. "Good day," she said, and turned and walked out.

Back out on the street, Livia let out a long breath. "For a minute there, I thought we were dead."

Darius remarked mildly, "Me, too. But any confrontation you can walk away from is a good one. What's next? Home?"

Livia's jangled nerves wished that home were on the agenda, but she knew better. "Statilla next," she said. "We're out, and didn't you say she lives near here?"

The big mage nodded. "This way, then."

A few streets over, on the edge of the noble quarter, they stepped under the shade of a tree, as if to stop and rest. "It's that one, in the middle," Darius said in a low voice. They watched the house for a bit. Unlike Attius's place, there was nobody going in or out of Statilla's house. As a matter of fact, a few people going by made a sign against evil eyes and scurried until they were out of sight.

Livia raised her eyebrow at Darius. "Any idea what we're going to walk into in there?"

"She's a bit eccentric. Other than that, could be anything."

She sighed, gathering her courage. "Well, I'll just have to tread carefully, then. I don't know what she does and doesn't know." She adjusted her palla to shade her face, and then crossed the street towards the house. Darius followed.

She knocked, and a few moments later the door was answered by an older gentlemen, who peered at them a bit nearsightedly. With the opening of the door came a warm wind, laden with moisture, and Livia could see tendrils of mist curling out towards the street.

The man who had opened the door said, "You must have the wrong house, lady."

Livia shook her head. "Statilla, of Hagia Sophia, lives here, correct?"

He gave her a doubtful look. "Yes, but she hardly ever has visitors."

"My name is Livia Neria. I believe she knew my husband Sextus. I won't take much of her time."

He shrugged, a bit helplessly, as if to say, I warned them. "As you wish, lady. Please come in. "

There were more plants in one place than Livia, a child of the desert, had ever imagined could exist. Darius had to stoop most of the way to the inner courtyard that they were led to, and even Livia had to duck under plants and hanging vines. They emerged into the sunshine of the inner courtyard, which was filled with even more plants. In a small clearing was Statilla, looking much as she had in Livia's dream. Her hair was wild, grey streaked heavily with brown, and she wore an oddly mismatched set of clothing--a long, formal peplos, no palla whatsoever, bare feet, and no jewelry. She was standing with her eyes closed, her face turned to the sun. her arms outstretched.

The older gentleman disappeared into the undergrowth without a sound. Livia cleared her throat quietly. She didn't know what disturbing the mage's meditation might do.

Statilla turned and opened her eyes. They were a startling shade of blue-green, easily the prettiest thing about her, and they did not at all reflect her age. "Love, very deep, born of unusual circumstances. How can I help you?"

Livia flushed, and glanced at Darius. He was looking at the mage, a stunned expression in his eyes. I think I'm not going to ask. "Statilla, my name is Livia. I believe you knew my husband Sextus. I am clearing up some of the things he left behind, and I believe he was working with you on something."

She smiled, a bit impishly. "Oh he was, yes very much so. Beautiful boy, he was." Her voice dropped, and sorrow entered it.

"What was it, can you tell me?"

Statilla folded her hands together. "Certainly. He needed a plant extract for some potion he was working on."

Livia tilted her head. "Ah. Nothing else, then?"

"Many things. He had me grow a great many plants to help him." She gestured widely, at the plants all around her. "Things to paint his face, things to make you sleepy, even things to stop a heart."

She took a step forward. "Ah. Did he ever tell you what he wanted these things for?"

The wild-haired mage shook her head. "No, not a lot. But I knew. Geras was back. He didn't run in time." Statilla sighed, the look in her eyes distant. "No, my poor little boy. He didn't make it." She gave Livia a sharp look. "Can you?"

Livia gave her a half-smile. "I don't know, but I'm going to give it a good run."

"Good, well you are one less again today. High odds for my niece."

What on earth is she talking about? "Your niece. Diya?"

Statilla's gaze abruptly cleared, and Livia took a surprised breath as she felt the impact of the mage's presence. It was as if she'd been speaking from a long way away, and had suddenly stepped into the room. "You, by marriage. Sextus was my nephew--great nephew, but still."

That explained that. "Ah. I had no idea you were a member of the family."

"No one they talk about. Only Sextus came to visit." Her eyes went vague once more. "How do you think his daughter has the gift? Both of them."

Livia nodded. "I was wondering. Optata's beginning to show the signs. I had figured out that there must be mage blood in his family."

Statilla's smile was rueful. "That would be me."

"Too many secrets. I would have liked to have met you before he died."

The mage shrugged, then glanced upwards at the sun. "I always wanted to, but one thing or the other got in the way."

At her shoulder, Darius shifted and then poked her gently in the small of his back. "One less, she said?" he murmured.

Livia nodded to him. "You mentioned something--one less?"

Statilla's hands seemed to each out of their own accord, finding the large leaves of a nearby plant and tracing the green veins inside the leaf. "Yes, of the old ones," she said softly. "We were three, now we are but two."

She took a sharp breath. "Which one died?"

The mage's eyes were on the leaf, and she seemed to be speaking to it, not Livia. "Her heart failed. My fault, I knew how. But I never thought it would be used against her. But she chose to spell the wrong person. Collita died in her sleep."

Livia took a half-step backward and felt Darius's hand on her back, steadying her. She swallowed. "Oh, no. Why did her heart fail?"

"They say old age. No, she tried to go against Geras by casting some spell. He poisoned her, I would bet. Digitalis."

Ah, no, no Collita, I'm so sorry. "That is very, very bad news indeed."

Statilla shrugged, her hands still on the leaf, though still now. "Very bad, but not unseen. Those who go against him seem to end up dead."

"They do. She had a hope of success, and it failed."

"Too blunt, always her downfall." Statilla's voice held heavy sorrow, and still she was not looking at Livia. "Knew too many things, said too much to too many. Faydren she knew better than most. Carried him in the womb, he would never admit it. Only secret she had left." She finally raised her eyes to Livia's, and she winced at the sharp pain she saw in them. "Now that's gone, too."

She blinked, surprised. "Why wouldn't he admit that she was his mother?"

The mage shook her head, then raked her fingers through one side of her hair. "Noble birth, but born out of wedlock. Hated them all for what he couldn't have. What his father couldn't claim."

His father. Who was his father? "It turned him bitter, it seems."

"Very. The house of Constantine was four brothers, not three."

Livia suddenly understood She'd wondered about a connection between Geras and Faydren, but she hadn't thought that old Constantine might have sired a bastard in his time--and with a powerful mage. "And Faydren could never claim the name. No wonder he's doing what he's doing now."

"Light in the dark." The mage's voice was quiet, but she was looking at Livia intently. "She sees again. Now you have the wedge. Geras and Faydren. Use it wisely."

An intense rush of understanding went through Livia, leaving her breathless. Geras just killed Faydren's mother. That was a mistake he may not live long enough to regret. She took a long breath, steadying herself. "I'll do my very best."

Statilla had gone suddenly vague once more. "Come back anytime. I can use the company."

"I will. Gods willing, I might even bring my daughters to meet you one day. Optata, at least, would love it here. She loves plants and gardens." She looked around, thinking of just how much her younger daughter would love this place, the hours she would spend running through the plants, lying dreaming in the undergrowth.

The mage smiled. "Good, it would be nice to pass on the place to someone. I vote with Julia. Good luck."

It was obviously a dismissal. Livia bowed and took her leave, Darius following close behind her. Once they were out on the street, the door closed behind them, the big mage shook his head. "Now what?"

Livia's smile was merciless. "Now," she said, "now we frame a guilty man."

*****

"What do you think?"

"I think you have a large chance of starting a civil war all by yourself," Darius said, a note of wonderment in his voice. "Too many variables, and you're counting on Faydren to contain himself."

Livia was perched on a chair with one of her feet tucked under her. They were in Darius's chamber, having fetched Diya from the regent's house and settled her into the workroom. When the girl got obsessed with something, she wasn't easily distracted, and right now she was very interested indeed in cleansing spells. Darius was sitting across from her, a worried look on his face.

"I know. But we have got to get Geras and Faydren apart, and if this kills Geras, so much the better. Geras on his own, Faydren on his own, both of these things are able to be handled. The two of them together? No, I don't think so."

"You're going to plant evidence, but what? And when?"

Livia grinned. "Do you think I buried Zaran without searching him first? He had a vial of digitalis on him. Plant it somewhere in his house, let rumor get back to Faydren, Faydren puts things together and things explode. As for when, the funeral is the day after tomorrow, and fortunately I'm the guardian of a girl who's lost both her father and her betrothed in less than a month. A hysterical fit in the middle of the funeral will be quite believable, and give us an excuse to get away. I, of course, am welcome in Constantius's house any time I want to be."

"So you'll plant the evidence then. Then let Faydren know?"

"Maybe through Neera. Maybe let him work it out himself. Either way, we'll see what happens." Livia took a deep breath. "I think I see what Constantine's game is."

Darius raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I think he's finishing the job that his father started--systematically taking down every source of power in the Empire that doesn't stem from the regents. His father broke the pagan temples. He's going to pull down Hagia Sophia. He probably killed Constans, and at this point I wouldn't be surprised to find out that he was behind Geras returning to town." She shook her head. "I think he wants absolute power. I honestly can't decide if I approve, or not."

"You're a child of the Empire, and of the nobility," he said quietly.

"From the moment I was born, I was taught that the Senate might take care of the day to day workings of the Empire, but the emperor was the figurehead, the one exemplary man we all look to. His power is supposed to be more or less absolute."

"You have your doubts now?" he asked.

Livia nodded. "I do. I don't know what Constantine wants to do with the power, and that scares me. I don't know why he's trying to get rid of the only real checks to imperial power that we have, and that scares me too. And there's another thing, as well. There is a route to power I could take, where I could take what Constantine has and hold it, at least for a few years."

"His son?"

"Yes." Her smile held no happiness in it. "Kill Constantine, his son becomes the emperor, and I can influence the son to my own liking. But do I really want that? There are things I could do, things I could make better, but...it's an empire. What would I do with it?"

He chuckled. "You'd figure something out, I'm sure. You usually do."

Silence fell between them, and in the quiet Livia remembered something that made her blush and look away. Then she frowned and looked back over at Darius. "You didn't tell me about your parents and Lukas."

He folded his arms. "It didn't matter. It's years ago by now. I miss them, but they died for something they believed in, and it meant that I ended up where I needed to be. Besides, if you knew, you probably would have been more reluctant to go out there, and we need him. There are a number of things we don't talk about between ourselves, Livia. That was simply one of them."

"And the rest?" Her voice was unexpectedly raw.

"Ask Statilla. She certainly seems to know."

Livia was lost for words. "Darius, I--" She stuttered to a halt. What am I afraid of? she asked herself. Am I afraid he doesn't return my feelings?

Or am I afraid that he does?

Finally, she took a breath. "She was right, for me at least." She looked up at him, her hands twisting together. "I love you, Darius. I didn't set out to fall in love, I didn't expect to, but somehow I've managed it." She dropped her gaze once more to the floor. "I don't know how you feel about me, but there it is, out in the open."

She heard him move, rise from his chair, and then she was being lifted to her feet and held tightly. She was laughing and crying all at once as Darius lifted her off of her feet, kissed her, and set her back down again. "I thought you knew," he said. "Of course I love you, Livia."

Livia leaned against him, the tears that had fallen to her cheeks soaking into his shirt. "It makes it harder, in some ways," she said quietly. "Knowing that I'm probably going to have to marry for power or protection. Be glad you were not born a woman, Darius. Too many pacts are sealed with your body."

He kissed her forehead, and then her lips. "It's part of the human condition," he said gently. "We all sell ourselves, or are sold without our consent. All we can do is enjoy what we have while we have it."

She captured his mouth with hers again, and kissed him quite thoroughly. When they were through, parting breathlessly, Livia murmured, "I wonder how much time we have before sunset?"

Darius glanced out the window. "Not enough, I think. Pity. Tonight, though."

Livia grinned, kissed him, and then slipped out of his arms. "Tonight. After we try to talk one very stubborn priest into giving up his pride for a few days."

"You always have to choose the hard tasks, don't you?" Darius was laughing now, and she joined him, a silly grin spreading itself across her face.

After they parted, she to make some arrangements to have Diya guarded that night and he to do a few things in preparation for the evening's journey out to Lukas's camp, she caught herself reflecting, thinking how much and how little could change in just a few words. Oh, she was still scared, still grieving, still fully knowing that she could not marry the man she had fallen in love with, still knowing that one day, perhaps soon, what was between them would have to become a pleasant memory and they would have to take up the roles they played for the outside world in truth.

But it is not today. Not now.

That fierce thought buoyed her through the rest of the afternoon.