Page 9 of Ironhold, Trial Two

“Ultimately, it doesn't matter,” Vex says. “What matters is that you won't last another season.”

“Just pray that you're not facing me,” I say. “Maybe next time I won't be merciful.”

I stalk out of the gallery space, heading back through Ironhold, to my quarters.

I watch for Vex over the next couple of days as I train. I know he is vengeful and petty. If he can find a way to hurt me, he will. I see him in some of the halls, talking to some of the newer gladiators. That's a surprise since he normally doesn’t deign to talk to the enslaved gladiators, unless it’s to insult them.

As such, it's not entirely a surprise when Arctus takes another run at me in the dining hall. This time, he doesn't speak but just comes at me, swinging a punch at my head. I avoid it; Ihave trained long enough now to be able to dodge out of the way of clumsy punches. If anything my defense is better than most people's, because I must defend perfectly if I am to win fights without killing. I keep dodging to the side, then land a couple of punches of my own. I have been practicing, trying to learn things that will allow me to incapacitate an opponent without slaying them. It is not enough to put the big man down, but it makes him come at me more cautiously.

That's the point at which the trainers run in, pulling us apart. Lord Darius is there, and there is no way he is simply passing by the dining hall. He has been pointed this way. I look around to see Vex standing at the back, looking very pleased with himself.

“That’s enough!” Lord Darius says. “Save the violence for when you train. Take these two to a punishment room each. They’ve both earned a whipping.”

“But he attackedme!” I say.

It doesn't do any good.

“You will take your punishment,” Lord Darius says. “Or I will drag you before the arch magistrate and recommend that you are impaled.”

The mention of Lady Selene brings fresh fear running through me. The arch magistrate is known to be tough, applying the law ruthlessly. My fear is enough to freeze me in place. The trainers grab me, dragging me away to a room where a single whipping post stands at the middle. They tie me to it.

I have endured beatings before. This one is worse because I haven't done anything to deserve it. Arctus attacked me. I was just defending myself. And normally that kind of fight would be overlooked by the trainers anyway. But this time Lord Darius himself was on hand to see the ill discipline. I know that is down to Vex.

The beating is agony. It keeps going until I don't think I can scream anymore. Until I sag in my bonds. I'm left there like that,abandoned. Alone. How long is it before someone comes for me? I don't know, but I'm grateful that Naia is one of the ones who does come, because her touch is cooling and healing all at once.

I'm much more surprised to see Alaric there. He's the one who cuts me down from the post. He's the one who helps me to stand.

“You're here?” I say.

He shrugs. “That fool Rowan is too busy trying to argue with Lord Darius about fairness. If he's not careful, he'll end up in a room like this too. I prefer to deal with things as they are. It seems you weren't careful enough.”

“Is this really the moment to chide her?” Naia asks.

“This is exactly the moment,” Alaric says, “because Lyra here needs to understand the stakes around Ironhold. You've become a good gladiator, Lyra… in your own strange, far too peaceful way.”

“You couldn't just leave it at the compliment?” I say, groaning as Naia continues her work.

“But there is more to this place than just being skilled with a blade. You need to be able to navigate its politics. You need allies to watch your back.”

“Are you volunteering?” I ask. Alaric has always made it clear that he is looking out for himself. That he doesn't want to be encumbered by connections to others.

“Yes,” Alaric says. “I think that might be a good idea. It will encourage Vex not to try this kind of thing again, and it means we can pool resources, work together.”

“What resources could I have that you want, Alaric?” I say.

“Oh, you have plenty of things I want, Lyra,” Alaric replies. Even here like this, his pointedly lecherous look is enough to make me laugh. “And the truth is that even I need someone to watch my back occasionally.”

He holds out a hand. “Are we allies?”

I clasp his wrist. “Allies.”

Chapter Five

I want to just stagger back to my room and rest, but I quickly realize that tonight is the night I'm meant to be going to meet with Ravenna and her friends. My first instinct is to ignore the whole occasion. They won't expect me there after what has just happened. Ravenna will excuse my absence. She will understand that I am still recovering. Possibly she will think that I am still hanging by my wrists, waiting to be cut down.

But what has just happened is the main reason I cannot miss this. Alaric is right: I need allies. This place runs because of the power playing out behind the scenes. Ravenna understands that power, and she's giving me a way into that world. I need to grasp this opportunity if I am to remain safe enough to get through my seasons at the Colosseum.

So I forced myself to make my way up through the fortress to Ravenna's rooms. Rooms, plural, because she has a whole suite of them, on one of the higher floors. Compared with the privation of my cell, it might as well be a palace.

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