Octavian glanced at Marcus, and said, simply, “Thank you.” Then he strode from the tent, rigid with anger, or perhaps in simple reaction to the attempt on his life.

The three legionares stared after him. “What happened?” asked one of the sentries. “I thought we were supposed to be allies.”

Marcus grunted and sent them on their way to follow the captain with a slap on an armored shoulder. “So did I, soldier. So did I.”

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 8

“For goodness sake, my lady,” Veradis said in a tranquil tone. “You must calm yourself.”

Isana cast a mildly irritated glance over her shoulder at the younger woman as she paced back and forth across her quarters, the largest room in Riva’s finest inn. “How can I relax, knowing the kind of men I’m about to be dealing with?”

“Not every man in the Senate is some kind of masterful schemer, exerting all his energies to acquire more power and influence at the expense of all others.”

“No,” Isana agreed. “Some of them are incompetent schemers.”

Veradis arched an eyebrow, her expression taking on a quality of mild disapproval.

Isana exhaled. She folded her hands before her and took a deep breath, making an effort to still her emotions. “I’m sorry. Now that we know my son is back, they’re going to push that much harder to take away his birthright. I shouldn’t be pushing that burden onto your thoughts, Veradis.”

“Of course you should, my lady,” Veradis replied. “That is one of the things an aide is for. That, and to suggest that you might take a different kerchief with you to the Senate hearing. You’ve all but shredded that one.” The young woman rose and paced solemnly to stand before Isana, offering a folded white handkerchief. Isana took it with a faint smile.

“Only a man with a certain frame of mind does well as a Senator,” Veradis told her quietly. “He has to be able to speak well. He has to be able to convince others to follow his point of view. He has to be willing to negotiate and make compromises. And most of all, he has to protect the Citizens who voted him into the office—his own interests. That before all. So long as his constituents are pleased, he is safe in his position.” Veradis moved her shoulders in an elegant shrug. “Senators go to great lengths to protect the interests of those who voted for them. Some of them tiptoe along the boundaries between legitimate representation and criminal enterprise. Some of them dance gleefully back and forth over the line.”

The young Cerean met Isana’s eyes, and said, “But in their own way, you can rely upon them more than almost any man in the Realm. They will act to protect their interests. Which means that they make enemies among their peers. You can rely upon them to settle up old debts or compound them, my lady.”