Domain of Power-The Dreamer (Book 3)

Chapter 32: Dare

Two days had passed before I received my next letter from Romeus.

This time his message was longer and heavier than the last one. In his letter, he thanked me for my loyalty before sharing what had happened since the raids and the damage they had caused. The desperation he felt in finding a lender to save their family's sinking business. He said, "If I only knew even half the truth, I would truly understand his growing dissent with the kingdom."

There was nothing I could do about the raids. I promise.

Still another question remained unanswered. How did Silus' father become cleared when others were not so fortunate? I wrote him another letter asking about Silus' cleared reputation and whether Julius could find someone else to clear their family's tarnished name. I waited a few days. A week.

Still no reply. Tiberius sent the letter to his trusted courier, right? Then I remembered Father's new rules on private couriers were being enforced this week.

ALL PRIVATE COURIERS MUST SWEAR LOYALTY TO THE KINGDOM IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE AS COURIERS. ANY MESSAGES CAN BE INTERCEPTED BY THE MESSENGER OR THE KING'S MEN WITHOUT ADVANCE WARNING.

And if Romeus was clever—which he was—he would not speak badly about the Kingdom. At least not in written form.

Dissent was enough to put you on the blacklist and keep you under the watchful gaze of sentinels. All it took was at least one other eyewitness or a written statement of your dissent to charge you for sedition according to the royal edict.

Even sending and receiving a letter from him was a dangerous game. A game I could not afford to lose. I had to stop writing.

***

My heart leaped to my throat when Cornelia handed me a letter with a broken seal. No smiles and pleasantries as she would depart my bedroom. I think she knew who it was even before I could read it.

Priscilla.

I stuffed the letter under a pillow and waited for Cornelia to leave the room before even attempting to devour its words.

In the weeks since the execution, long lessons on history and law filled my days. Anias promised that if I stayed focused on my studies, I could qualify to attend the Rhetoric school this coming fall. I should be "grateful" according to Anias. Not like I wasn't. This was something Romeus and Julius once spoke highly of. We made a pact — the three of us would attend together. Now it would be just the two of us.

As my father and brothers discussed the Council meeting and new rules during dinner, my thoughts drifted to Romeus and Priscilla's letters. No one could blame me for Athena's wretched state upon her release. Her well-arranged ringlets shorn off, her once-powerful face, bruised. Her lavish home burned to the ground. Neither could I help the twins, as sentinels damaged their property after each raid. Nor the ostracism they received from former acquaintances. I could not tell those at the table that I was not listening to their ramblings on politics and silly grievances. I had no eloquent reply to add to their banter. It was just easier to nod and sip my wine.

It made me feel good that I could please both sides. While I played the 'good' son role, I tried to silence the nagging voice that told me I was a hypocrite. I told myself I was keeping the peace even though I felt I was secretly betraying my family. And what about Cornelia? Was I merely taking advantage of her kindness? Was I putting her life needlessly at risk? But she willingly complied with my requests. Then again, she had too! My only hope was that she remained blameless.

The only time I had to clear my mind was taking a dip in the public baths, but even that was fleeting once a stranger decided to join me to chatter about the weather or some dinner party he would be attending.