16

TALIN

I’ve only ever known the Chief Architect of the Karensa Federation as a monster and a coward, a scientist who enabled all the anguish that Constantine has wrought.

It’s an astonishing experience to sit here beside her and the mayor of Cardinia and hear her speak against the Premier.

“Karensa values their premiers because of their perceived strength,” Raina says. “Their invincibility. Constantine’s father was a ferocious man who instilled fear in everyone he met. Constantine does the same. The people of Karensa who support the Tyrus family think of them as the ones chosen to inherit the power of the Early Ones.” She gives me a pointed look over her shining glasses. “But the Federation’s borders have become unstable. Conquered people can only tolerate so much. Now is the time to make our move.”

“Our plan is to weaken Constantine before his public,” Mayor Elland continues. “Ensure their—as well as the military’s—support of our move.” She holds a hand out at Raina. “Fortunately, our Chief Architect has quite a way with manipulating the human body. Don’t you, Raina?”

Raina winces at the mayor, but doesn’t disagree.

The mayor winks at me. “She’s so humble, isn’t she? That’s Raina’s job in our rebellion—to make sure Constantine’s health is where we want it to be.”

Throughout all the time I’ve been with Raina—while she’s been ordering wings grafted onto my back and steel infused into my bones—she’s been quietly working with the rebellion.

Raina now coughs nervously. “The medication I’ve been giving Constantine has been sickening him for over a year. Gradually enough that he thinks it is a real illness, and looks to me to help cure him of it.”

“And the military is primed for this?” I sign, skeptical.

She must sense my lingering dislike for her, because she shifts in her seat and looks away from me.

Mayor Elland looks questioningly to the Chief Architect to translate what I’ve said. Raina does, then answers, “The games that are about to happen are the right time to act. I will be increasing Constantine’s doses over the next week. It should cause him enough pain to make him visibly weak and thus unfit for rule. There are enough in the military ready to act against the Premier when we give the signal at the end of the games.”

“All of our rebels will be in place at the arena, ready to ignite the overthrow,” the mayor adds. “The appropriate members of the military are prepped.”

“And what happens afterward?” I sign. “Constantine is overthrown. Then what? What about General Caitoman? How will he react when you topple his brother?”

“We have a council ready to decide on the next ruler,” Mayor Elland says.

“We will handle the General when the time comes,” Raina says at the same time.

Then she pauses abruptly, as if ceding way for the mayor to speak again. But the mayor just shrugs her agreement. After a while, the Chief Architect says, “At any rate, that’s not what you need to worry about. The coup is our main priority.”