Page 38 of Ironhold, Trial One

“How do you know that?” I ask, cautiously.

“I felt what you did,” she says. “A connection with beasts is one of my talents. You have heard, of course, that beast speech only allows people to talk to animals, to communicate?”

I nod. Until the last couple of days I had believed it to be the limits of my own powers. Beast speech is a weak talent compared to so many others.

“It is a lie,” Lady Elara says. “Oh, it's true for many of those with a connection to animals, just as the majority of those who can someone illusions can only create a few brief lights, and most of those who manipulate minds can only make strangers are a little better disposed to them. The magic of Aetheria does not touch all equally.”

“So I'm just a stronger version?” I say.

She smiles, then looks around as if watching for anyone who might be listening. “Those of us with more used to be called beast whisperers. But it is a talent that is looked on with suspicion. There was a time when those who had it were killed out of hand. Certainly, no one teaches those who have it how to reach their full potential. No one except me and… a few of my friends.”

I stand there, staring at her. “Is that why you're showing an interest in me?”

She laughs. “Did Ravenna convince you that I really was just trying to seduce you after all? That is how she thinks. Given her talent for mental manipulation, it’s hardly surprising. But no, I represent a group. We have been called many things, but the name people know best is the spectral covenant. It is a group dedicated to helping beast whisperers, such as yourself.”

I have never thought of myself as that, did not even know the term existed until a few moments ago.

“Tell me, are the others at Ironhold looking at you with more suspicion yet?” Lady Elara says.

I think of Vex and the other free gladiators. “Perhaps a couple, but that’s just because they didn’t think I would last before.”

“It’s more than that,” Lady Elara assures me. “Rumors are already starting about you. But everyone assumes you will be killed in the arena, and people aren’t quite sure what kind of threat you represent.”

“I’m not a threat,” I insist.

Lady Elara laughs again. “You don’t knowwhatyou are yet, Lyra. But I can help you find out. I will help you to harness your talents. But remember, there are dangers to that. The more power you show as a beast whisperer, the more people will fear you.”

“But why?” I insist.

Lady Elara is silent for a moment or two. “Because a beast whisperer is destined to overthrow the emperor.”

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

I'm left thinking about that troubling pronouncement throughout the rest of the day. Many people have more than one fight. Ravenna returns to the arena, and I watch as she wraps a much larger foe in her spiked chain, bringing him down.

The crowd are calling for blood, on the emperor stands, raising a fist, thumb down. Ravenna rips her bladed fan across her foe’s throat.

After that, I do not watch the fighting. I wait instead until it is time for us to return to Ironhold. We process back through the city, but we are accompanied by carts this time, carrying those too wounded to walk.

I'm shocked to see that Rowan is on one of them. He is clutching a wound in his side, every jolt of the cart forcing sounds of pain from him.

“Naia,” I call out. “Over here!”

She hurries over. “Oh, Rowan, what happened to you?”

“A spear. They had me fight blindfolded. I felt most of it through the earth, but then they threw their spear. I was too slow. I… I lost the bout, but I was entertaining enough that they want to see me fight again.”

He sounds bitter, and it is a frightening thought that even Rowan might be able to lose a fight. Yes, he was blindfolded, but in some ways that is the point. The colosseum is not about fair fights. It is about spectacle and violence. And if it costs our lives to produce that, the organizers do not care.

“Can you help him?” I ask Naia.

She nods, but she is already looking around at the others there on the carts. “There are so many injured. I don't know if I can fully heal them all.”

“Then do what you can for as many as you can,” Rowan says. “Don’t focus on me.”

“Rowan!” I say. I don’t want to see him in pain. “You can’t do this. If you’re injured for your fight tomorrow, you could die!”

“Do you care so much?” he asks.

---