New Rome

52. The Emperor

Tann was swaggering down the gloomy streets of the Lantern. Above their heads, the Imperator's new building programme was underway. The Above Rail. The iron tracks were taking skeletal shape, like a metal web being woven across the sky. Beneath the grind of saws, vendors were hauling their wares from their hovels and flies were already circling around the suspicious meat and entrails on offer. Laughing children ran noisily past, weaving between the shoppers. Tann whistled, getting one kid's attention, and tossed him a coin that the child deftly caught.

"Gratitude, mister."

Tann smiled lazily. In a good mood. Lately, it seemed that everything was going their way. A man passed him on the street and Tann's smile vanished. He turned, his quick gaze lingering on the drably-dressed traveller. Though the clothes belonged to a poor man, Tann wasn't fooled. He'd recognised that stern face. It was Prince Kai, walking around the Lantern dressed in plain clothes. Tann's nerves spiked uneasily. What was the former general doing on their turf?

                   Ellie was sat in the Quaestorship offices, interning. But as he read conscientiously through past case files, his self beeped in his pocket. With deft fingers, he pulled out the device and quickly scanned through the latest news updates – using his pen to mark his place on the page. The main news story was Princess Arly being sent to Amen.

Reporters were speculating why Agrippa hadn't been selected to make the trip. One article hinted that the Imperator reportedly had doubts in his grandson's abilities. Bolder tabloids were proposing that Agrippa's party lifestyle was to blame. Ellie smirked as he read that. But then his thumb froze on the fifth news story down.

Senator Magnus has been arrested.

Ellie expanded the story.

The Senator, who ran for the Consulship last year, has been arrested by the Tribune Office. It is thought that Senator Magnus is being investigated for charges of bribery and corruption. Leading the arrest was Tribune, Prince Kai....

Ellie put down his self and ran his fingers through his hair. Senator Magnus was one of his men. Ellie had gotten Magnus all of the Lantern's votes at the last election. Had the Tribune office made the link? His self pinged once more, this time with a message from an unsaved number. It was a picture message.

Ellie opened it and studied the image. It was his father, dressed in the dirty clothes of a labourer. The iron grid above his head made it clear where Kai was. The Lantern.

Ellie's hands clenched. These couldn't be coincidences. His father, the fearsome former General, was investigating the Silent Prince. Elle cursed under his breath. The Imperator had pulled out his toughest soldier. How was he going to retaliate?

**

                          Arly awoke in her new bedroom, having slept very little the night before. She padded barefoot out of bed and studied herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red from crying in the night and they looked sunken from lack of sleep. Grimly, she splashed cold water on her face and tried not to look at the bracelet that clunked heavily on her wrist.

Once she was dressed, she stood awkwardly in her room – unsure what to do next. Nobody had told her if she was allowed to go anywhere. She rotated slowly on the spot, taking in the sparse room. It was empty and characterless, much like a prison cell – she thought glumly. Shaking her head to pull herself out of her thoughts, she went to the window and flung it wide open.