Wrath of the Storm

by Jennifer A. Nielsen

  "I didn't know it'd be today. I swear I didn't. Do you really believe Brutus would share all his plans with me?"

  "Can you stop them?"

  "I've only barely begun acting as a judge, and I have no power within their ranks."

  "They're inventing these charges. Why don't they charge Radulf with imitating birdcalls or overeating his dessert -- those are just as much made-up crimes."

  I was struggling to climb the crater as Aurelia had just done. Crispus reached out to help me, then must've realized why I backed away from him, and he lowered his hand. Still, the expression in his eyes was just as heavy as the weight I felt in my heart. "These are real charges," he said. "For real crimes."

  There was truth in his words. Over his lifetime, Radulf had been many things to Rome: an outsider, a gladiator, and a Roman general. As my grandfather, he had protected me here in his home, in defiance of the empire and despite the fact that I had committed a few crimes of my own. For years, Radulf had likely also been the greatest threat to the future of the empire. Until now.

  Aurelia and Livia helped me out of the crater instead. "Take Callistus and hurry back to the villa," Livia said to me. "Aurelia should go with you too, in case there's trouble. Crispus and I will follow on his horse."

  I nodded and accepted Aurelia's help getting onto Callistus's back. Then she climbed on behind me. As much danger as Radulf had been in with the Mistress, something in my gut told me that being arrested by the Praetors was going to be far worse.

  Even after we arrived at Radulf's villa, Aurelia wouldn't let me go in until she had wrapped the Malice around my wrist again.

  "You need its strength," she said. "And the Malice needs your protection."

  I felt magic flow into me and with it enough energy to confront the Praetors on my feet. But I wasn't strong enough yet to fight, and that worried me.

  A great many horses lined the front of the villa, along with a caravan wagon, one used for the transport of prisoners. A lot of Praetors had come, all of them prepared to face me.

  "I won't let them take him," I muttered to Aurelia.

  "We may not have any choice," she said. "I can defend you against as many of these men as possible, but if they get a hand on you --"

  "Then all is lost, I know." When Radulf had his powers, we could watch each other's back. Now, despite whatever Aurelia might do to help, I was about to face the Praetors alone.

  Decimas Brutus greeted us at the door as soon as we walked in. His eyes traveled to my hands, already raised in front of me. "Let's not fight here, Nicolas, for your own sake."

  "Crispus left with you yesterday, after you promised to let me save my grandfather," I said.

  "And you did, I assume." Brutus's smile congratulated himself on his own cleverness. "I never agreed to stay away forever."

  "If you don't want a fight, then leave this home. You have no right to be here."

  He laughed. "On the contrary, I should have come sooner." He gestured around the atrium. "What terrible crimes this home has concealed. I'm not sure where to begin. Maybe I should start with you, an escaped slave, holding magic that should belong to the empire, or to the gods themselves."

  Aurelia stepped forward. "He received it from the gods. The empire has no claim on Nic or his magic."

  Brutus ignored her, keeping his gaze fixed on me. "Who purchased your freedom? And who purchased your mother's or sister's?"

  "Leave them out of this." The bulla at my chest was warming again.

  "Your sister is property of this empire, as are you," Brutus said. "And your mother belongs to me."

  With that cue, seven Praetors led my mother out of the room she shared with Livia. One of them held a knife against her side. Beside me, Aurelia let out a quiet gasp and started looking around the room. Looking for a weapon of her own, no doubt.

  Magic filled my hand, but I held it in with a tightly clenched fist. There was too much risk of missing my target and hitting my mother instead. "Release her," I muttered.

  "Your grandfather allowed her to be sheltered here," Brutus continued. "Even after you stole her from me."

  "I won her freedom, in a chariot race where you cheated."

  "A chariot race where you lost," Brutus said. "I am justified in arresting your entire family. Especially you."

  My eyes narrowed. "You won't succeed with them, and you won't succeed with me."

  "Of course I will," Brutus said. "Do you think I didn't feel that explosion behind this home a short while ago? Whatever you were doing back there, it must've cost you a great deal of strength, even with the help of the Malice. Do you think I can't see how much effort you're making just to stand now?"

  "I have enough strength to stop you," I said. That was true enough. It was the countless other Praetors here that worried me.

  Brutus raised his hands. "I'm not afraid of you."

  Aurelia crossed between us, ensuring Brutus could not touch me. "If I had my bow --"

  "But you don't," Brutus said. "And if you did try to shoot me while I'm acting in my official capacity as a judge in Rome, that would be yet another crime in Radulf's home." He made a tsk-tsk sound with his tongue and pushed Aurelia out of his way, then moved closer to me. "Stand aside, boy."

  I countered with a step away from him, though magic was still building within me. "You will not take anyone from this home."

  He arched his neck, looking more confident than I felt. "Radulf has been charged with treason and must appear before the courts. If you continue to defy me, then I will make good on my promise to arrest everyone here."

  "Touch any of us, and you'll regret it."

  Now Brutus laughed. "Touching you is exactly what I intend to do."

  He stretched out a hand. I immediately released enough magic to throw him against the atrium wall, where he cracked the plaster before he fell. Hearing that, a dozen Praetors swarmed in from other parts of Radulf's home, all of them with at least one weapon and with a clear coordinated plan to surround me and Aurelia. My mother was somewhere behind them. I couldn't see her anymore, which bothered me.

  "Stay close," I muttered to Aurelia.

  "Look behind you!" she cried.

  I turned and repelled two men who had been inching forward, their hands outstretched. Then I raised a shield to protect us, though I wouldn't be able to replenish my magic while keeping that shield in place.

  "What now?" Aurelia asked.

  "I'm going to explode enough of this room to stop these Praetors. That'll drain me, but you'll have the chance to find my mother. Get her out of here, and Radulf, if you can find him. I'll fight with whatever I have left until you can all get away."

  She scowled. "I hate all your plans, do you know that?"

  By then, Brutus was back on his feet. "Surrender, Nicolas, or else!" My mother let out a cry of pain, and my heart sank. We all understood what "or else" meant.

  "Release them!" Crispus shouted as he barged through the door. "Where is your authority to be here, Brutus? Where is the written order?"

  "I am here on my authority as a judge in Rome!" Brutus said. "Thus, no written orders are needed. My charges are legal. You know that as well as I do."

  Crispus glanced at me and nodded very slightly. His options to save Radulf would be limited.

  So Crispus tried a new approach, one that required a calmer voice. "Surely, there is no need to bring a wealthy man like General Radulf to the prisons. Under the law, he is entitled to remain in the home of a friend who will guarantee his appearance at trial."

  Brutus laughed. "And who is that? You?"

  Crispus stood taller. "Why not? Aren't I a Praetor now?"

  "You may look like a Praetor, but you do not think like one." Brutus's eyes narrowed. "I know you hired a carriage to take this family out of Rome. Indeed, I believe I heard that carriage arrive only a moment ago, no?"

  I looked over at Crispus, who lowered his eyes. Yes, the carriage had come. Livia was probably already inside it.

  "I will pay any re
maining debt for the freedom of Nic and his family," Crispus said. "Release his mother to me."

  "I will not sell her," Brutus said. "But if it avoids a fight" -- he raised a finger -- "I will offer Nicolas a fair choice." He nodded behind him, and men dragged Radulf from his room, looking even weaker than I felt and wearing heavy chains that must've made standing that much harder on him. "Will you save this evil man, who left you to die in the mines, nearly killed you in the arena, and once imprisoned you here in this home?" He arched a brow, amused with himself. "Or the loving mother who bore you?"

  Beside Radulf, my mother tried to pull free from the Praetors who were still holding her, but it did no good. Then she looked at me and shook her head.

  I wouldn't let her be taken away from me, not again. But I was also determined not to fall into Brutus's trap. "I'm offering you a better choice. In exchange for my mother and grandfather, I'll let you leave this home with both of your arms still attached."

  He smiled. "Reach for my arm, then. Let's see what happens next."

  "Test me," I said. "I'm ready for you."

  His smile darkened. "I have surprises here that you cannot possibly anticipate, especially with your lessened strength."

  "I will collapse the rest of this home if I must!" I yelled. "You saw what I did to that temple. Do you think I need nearly that much strength now?"

  "Collapse a home with your family and friends inside it?" Brutus shook his head. "I rather doubt you will."

  It was my turn to smile. "As I said, Brutus, test me. See what I can do."

  "Enough!" Radulf mumbled. "Take your mother and sister and leave Rome." When I only stared back at him, he added, "Do as I say."

  Brutus turned his attention to Radulf. "How weak you must feel, General. How useless you are without magic." Then he looked at me again. "Your choice is simple. Will you save your mother or your grandfather, a known traitor of the empire? Is this really so difficult?"

  I raised one arm and shot out magic toward the men holding my mother. It collapsed part of the wall behind them, but when they released her to protect themselves from the falling plaster, she took the opportunity and started toward me. However, she didn't get far before Brutus grabbed her again and pulled her in front of him, using her as a shield against me.

  "You're making things worse!" Brutus shouted. "And I promise you, they can get even worse still."

  "They will only get worse for you!" The anger rising in me was hard to control. "Release my mother. She is not part of this fight!"

  "There are too many Praetors here," my mother said. "They're hiding everywhere, Nic!"

  "Take someone down who has a weapon I can use," Aurelia whispered. "I'll help you."

  I felt stronger now, and if Aurelia could get a weapon, then I had a fair chance in a fight. But whatever direction I might aim, I had to choose between my mother, who was being pulled toward my left side, and my grandfather at my right.

  "Stop this!" Radulf's voice boomed through the atrium, though it was noticeably weaker than usual. "I like my home. I have no wish to see it destroyed. Nor a few of the people in it." He glared at Brutus. "You will also have to survive, I see. How unfortunate."

  "I will not choose between you," I said to Radulf. Both of my hands were raised now.

  "The choice is mine." Radulf nodded his head toward Brutus. "Release Nic's mother. I will go with you."

  Brutus's eyes drifted from Radulf to me; then he released her arm. She ran toward me, but I only angled her toward the door as I said, "Go get in that carriage. Tell the driver to leave immediately, as fast as he can go. We'll catch up to you." She nodded at me, then hurried outside.

  "They'll convict you," Crispus warned Radulf. "Sir, you know the penalty for treason."

  I didn't know the penalty, but seeing the color drain from Radulf's face gave me a good idea of what it would be. Even for minor crimes, the empire's punishments were short on mercy.

  "Lower your hands," Radulf said to me. "Nic, I am your pater familias. Do as I say."

  "We have to let him go," Aurelia whispered.

  Inside my head, the Mistress laughed. "Pledge to serve me, or I will eventually take everyone from you, as easily as I'm taking this one."

  "No!" I wasn't sure who I was shouting at, but at the moment, it applied to everyone equally.

  Radulf broke through that with a louder voice than before. "Nicolas Calva, there will not be a fight over me! You will lower your hands!"

  Finally, I did, hating the feeling of having lost. Once I did, Brutus motioned to his men. "Take the general away," he ordered.

  "I'll go with them," Crispus said. "I'll do everything I can for him. You and Aurelia can still catch up to the carriage, if you hurry."

  I shook my head in reply. Obviously, I would not leave Rome while Radulf was facing a trial. But I did move aside for the Praetors to lead Radulf from the home. Too many still remained in here, which bothered me more than I wanted to admit aloud.

  "Go outside," I muttered to Aurelia. "Go with Crispus."

  She mumbled about how I couldn't force her to do anything, which was frustrating, but equally comforting. Because this wasn't over.

  Brutus's smile returned again, and he seemed eager for the words he spoke. "Now, Nicolas, shall we discuss your treason to the empire? A second prison wagon is on its way here, for you. I warn you, the punishments are much worse for our slaves. Runaway slaves are treated the worst of all."

  "Find us a way out," Aurelia whispered. "We need to get out now, or it'll be too late."

  Yes, we did. The only remaining question was how.

  The fact that Brutus had attempted to deceive me was hardly a surprise. Expecting him not to lie was roughly the same as expecting a hen to not lay eggs. Radulf had just been the first step in their plan.

  I had enough magic to make myself disappear, but I wasn't positive I could bring Aurelia with me. I only needed another minute or two.

  If I had that long. Brutus crossed toward me, and so I countered in the opposite direction. Aurelia stayed close to my heels. I felt the tension in her steps and knew she was kicking herself for not having her bow nearby.

  "I will allow you to bargain for your freedom," Brutus said. "Tell me where the Mistress is, and perhaps you can walk away from here."

  My eyes narrowed. That was yet another lie.

  He was stalling too, giving enough time for Radulf to be taken away, and for the rest of his Praetors to gather here in the atrium. They entered from all sides, surrounding us, and were as wary of me as I was of them.

  "The Mistress is cursed," I said. "If I killed her, it would remove the curse, but also kill Atroxia. There must be another way to stop her."

  "Of course there is."

  "Tell me what it is and I'll free her."

  Brutus laughed. "You cannot believe I would tell you that! Atroxia chose to follow Diana and chose to be the Mistress. Becoming a dragon is Diana's gift to her. If only I were so fortunate!"

  "I wonder what her gift will be to you," Aurelia said. "Give you warts perhaps?" Her eyes narrowed. "Or more warts?"

  "Charming young lady," Brutus said, casting a dark eye toward Aurelia. "Your betrothed has accepted his place with the Praetors. When will you accept us too?"

  "If Crispus continues to accept you, he will not be my betrothed much longer," Aurelia said.

  "Oh?" Brutus set the tips of his fingers together, clearly pleased with himself. "The Mistress will be interested to know that."

  "Their agreement has not changed," I said, eyeing Aurelia. "It will not change."

  Aurelia's proud shoulders fell. For the first time, she seemed to understand at least this one reason why I had not offered marriage. As long as she was connected to Crispus, she was safe from the Mistress.

  "If that is true," Brutus said, "then my only business here is with Nicolas. I have an offer for you."

  "My answer is no," I said, which would be the response for whatever he wanted. Enough magic had returned to me that I could
get both Aurelia and myself away from here if I chose to. But something had changed in this conversation. Brutus wanted to talk and not simply fight. I needed to stay and hear what he had to say.

  Brutus arched a brow. "You answer quickly for someone who is in the process of losing everything."

  I kept my expression even. I wasn't losing. I had the Malice and the bulla, the Mistress was trapped, and my mother and Livia were safely on their way to Britannia.

  Yet at the same time, I knew I wasn't winning either. The greatest force of my magic had failed to destroy the Malice, which meant I was still a target and always would be. The Mistress was constantly in my head and would inevitably escape from the cave one day, with my name at the top of her list for revenge. And even if my family was safe, everyone else I cared about was still in terrible danger, Radulf most of all.

  Maybe he was right. I really was in the process of losing everything.

  "What is your offer?" I said to Brutus.

  "Accept it." The Mistress's growl echoed within her cave. "Pledge loyalty to me, or face a battle such as you have never seen." Only I could hear her. I knew that, yet I shook my head to try to separate from her voice.

  "Don't listen to him!" Aurelia said.

  "Don't listen to her," Brutus said. "You have warred against me, Nicolas, as if I am the enemy. What if I'm not? What if I hold the only solution to the one thing you want most? Your freedom."

  The beat of my heart quickened, but I still spoke with caution. "If you claim the power to give me freedom, then you must believe you have the power to take it back again. I will claim my own freedom instead."

  "Then claim it while you stand at my side," Brutus said. "The price is less than you think, and the rewards are sweeter than you can imagine."

  "What rewards?" I asked, taking a step toward him.

  Brutus arched a brow. He liked that I was curious.

  Aurelia was somewhat less enthusiastic. She grabbed my arm and gave it a tug. "Let's go."

  I shook it off. "You want me to make a Jupiter Stone, is that it?"

  "You would hold the full power of the gods. What finer reward could there be?"

  "It wouldn't be my reward," I said. "The Mistress wants to use it, to use me."

  "Yes, she does need you," Brutus said. "Imagine the greatness of what she offers. Perhaps she would give the orders, but you'd be the one holding the power."