by Taylor Leigh
Molly scowled irritably. ‘Why won’t you just tell me? If I’m dreaming about her then I deserve to know!’
Tollin huffed his breath. ‘Leave it alone, for your own sake. Just trust me, it’s dangerous. The more you focus on something, the more real it can become. Please, promise me you’ll try to ignore it.’
He’d shut down the subject with considerable finality. She desperately wanted to press him on it, argue, do something to get Tollin to actually open up for one bloody moment. As angry as it made her, she knew staying cross at him wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She needed to stay near Tollin; he was her life and her ticket to a world beyond Miol Mor. If he was determined to keep secrets, well, she supposed she’d just have to live with it. For now.
He was still glowering at her. ‘Right, I promise, I’ll do my best.’
He gave her a gentle smile and tousled her hair. ‘Good girl. Let’s go.’
Molly walked towards the door, not wanting Tollin to see her expression. She had no intention of ignoring her dreams. She didn’t understand what the Light was, or why Tollin was so cagey about it, but Molly knew one thing: there was splendour beyond her dreams, and she wasn’t about to let it go. He’d admitted himself he wasn’t right all the time. He didn’t know what hollowness she felt when she saw the Light. What longing. There was something out there, and Molly had to find it. Still, her neck prickled under the burning stare of Tollin’s suspicion and she quickened her pace to be free of it.
* * * * *
It was dark outside the city gates of Layers. Still, Reginald wished it were darker. The planet Scottorr was casting its pale silver glow down across the desert, shifting everything to a contrast of bright light and black shadows. Most of the city was dark, growing more so with each layer as fuel became more expensive. He could just make out the flickering lights of the palace, perched far above them like a stone gargoyle watching over the desert.
Before him stood the darkened structure of the gladiatorial arena. It looked lumpy and misshapen in the darkness, like wet sand drizzled into the shape of a circle. The arena was connected to what was commonly known as the Pen where the gladiators were housed during the night, where wealthy patrons could pick up any fighters they paid for. This was Reginald’s destination. He wasn’t here on a friendly visit, and to be honest, he was terrified. And confused.
Arkron had, without much explanation, dragged him out here without any communication about her plans to Savasa. This appeared to be a mission of her own, and she hadn’t enlightened him as to why. And that made him nervous.
There were no gladiators in Reginald’s province, but he’d heard stories about them. They were not a friendly lot, not that he blamed them. Being taken at a young age and forced to fight their entire—usually short—lives was a good enough reason for them to hate the ruling class.
With that in mind, Reginald wasn’t sure it was such a good idea that he came along. He didn’t know what Arkron’s plans were and that made him nervous.
A creature screamed somewhere in the desert and Reginald stopped dead in his tracks. ‘You gonna tell me why we’re here?’ he stammered.
Arkron rolled her eyes. ‘The gladiators are the best fighters we can hope for. Plus, they hate the government and even more so, the Denizens. They’re the perfect choice.’
‘Yeah, it’s just that little part about them hating the government that’s got me worried.’ Reginald swallowed. ‘I don’t think they’re gonna take too kindly to me asking them to fight.’
Arkron took him by the elbow and dragged him towards the Pen. ‘That’s the reason I want Savasa to think we’re here. One of the gladiators is a partner of mine. Part of my group. He’s invaluable and I need him to help out. I have a feeling he’ll only come if the rest of them do, though, so I need you. Now, come on.’
Reginald blinked. ‘If he’s part of your group why won’t he help?’
Arkron shook her head. ‘Because he’s working on something else. We weren’t here because of the Denizen takeover. We were investigating something else, and I think he’s much more interested in finishing that project than helping fight a battle. He might be a gladiator, but if he has a choice between doing something lazy or something hard, he’ll pick something lazy every bloody time.
‘Now, do your best to recruit them. Give him something to think about. Impress him.’
Reginald silently prayed they’d all be asleep, but as they approached, he realised glumly that that wasn’t going to happen. He could see firelight flickering off the walls, and walking closer, noticed a small group of people hunched round the flames.
He neared the wrought iron gates slowly and cleared his throat. The gladiators were busy in their own talk, heads hunched close together, men and women, young and old. For some reason, he pictured them all at odds, chained up away from each other like fighting dogs, but they weren’t. These people were forced to kill each other, yet here they sat, sharing the same fire.
‘Hello?’ he choked out. He told himself he was being ridiculous. There were iron bars separating them, after all. The gladiators did not look his direction.
‘Hey!’ Arkron hissed. A few heads turned her way. ‘Marus! Get over here!’
One of the larger forms cast a glance their direction, said something to the others and then stood. Reginald fought down the urge to bolt. The feeling increased when he realised that they were all coming, not just the one, Marus, that Arkron had called.
Marus approached the gate, looming out of the flickering shadows like a ghost. He was tall, and Reginald had to take a step back to get a good look at him. Dark brown hair flopped down into his shining, midnight blue eyes. He had a strong jaw, set by a grim smile. A dusty open tunic showcased his impressive muscles. The man was both good-looking and intimidating.
‘What can I do for you, handsome?’ Marus purred, leaning against the bars, arms crossed. His voice was slightly higher than Reginald had imagined, which surprised him. It carried a strange, flat accent, unlike anything he had heard before.
Reginald tried to speak, but found he didn’t have the voice.
Marus’s dark blue eyes flickered over to Arkron. His brows raised and he smiled pleasantly. ‘Well, this is a surprise. Didn’t expect to see you here! How’s life on that side of the fence, Arkron? What’s the news?’ His voice dropped to a sultry growl. ‘Or are you coming to give me a little attention?’
Arkron sidled up to the gate, dangerously close, Reginald thought. ‘Don’t start with me, Marus. We’re here on business.’ Her fingers wrapped round the front of Marus’s tunic, pulling him closer.
‘The only folks who come here at night for business have something rather particular in mind.’ He grinned, flashing his white teeth. ‘So what can I do for you?’ His eyes flicked back to Reginald. ‘And who’s this? Why are you letting him tag along? He seems a bit young for you. But I will say, he’s not too bad-looking.’
Arkron pushed Reginald forward. ‘This is Reginald, nephew to Queen Lucinda. He’s got something to say to your friends.’
The other gladiators had gathered round in the darkness, like a pack of desert wolves. Marus grinned and raised his eyes skyward. ‘Oh, this should be interesting.’
‘Look,’ Reginald swallowed and screwed up his courage. ‘I know I really don’t have any right to be talking to you. After all, the ruling class has never done you any good. It doesn’t mean much, but I’ve never been for this—’
‘Cut to the chase,’ Marus interrupted.
Reginald sucked in a breath. ‘Right. Obviously, you’ve seen what’s happened. I don’t really know how it’s happening, but the Denizens are taking over. They’ve…drugged my aunt and most of the ruling class. Last time I saw her she was completely radge. The Denizens have taken over the government and they’re kidnapping people from families—’
The gladiators muttered in agreement.
A giant of a man said, ‘Ali was taken from his home last week. We had a slaughter two days ago. Had to kill off
an entire group of teens from the lower layer who were protesting against the Denizens. Not even sport anymore. Just slaughter…mercy killing, really, when you realise what would happen to them otherwise.’ He had a lion skin draped over his shoulders and was missing an eye, but he looked strangely kind.
‘So you do know,’ Reginald sighed. ‘We obviously can’t let this keep up. If it continues this way, the entire city will be destroyed. Denizens are pouring into the city from the desert daily and it won’t stop here. It will only stop when they’ve taken over every city on this planet.’
‘And?’ Marus asked.
‘And—and we’re going to do something about it! The Red Scorpion have agreed to help us out, to overthrow the Denizens and change the government for the better. We’ll make things right! Stop the human sacrifices, stealing people from their homes and stop the gladiatorial fights! You will all be set free if you help us or not, but please, we need your help. Your fighting skills and influence over the lower layers is imperative for this to work!’
Marus held up a hand. He took a deep breath. ‘Let me get this straight. You have teamed up with Red Scorpion and are planning on overthrowing the swarm of Denizens that have taken over this city, and you want the gladiators to help you, is that right?’
‘Yes!’ Reginald cried. ‘We’ve got the lower layer citizens on our side, and some of the soldiers, but we need you. You’re the inspiration the citizens need! You all are the symbol of government tyranny! You’re their family, their friends, their heroes! And you’re the best fighters on the entire planet.’
Marus exchanged a look with the others round him. Doubtful eyes met his. He turned back to Reginald. ‘No,’ he said flatly.
Reginald felt his stomach crash somewhere round his feet. He stumbled, a bit dizzy. ‘No?’ he choked.
Marus shook his head. ‘No. All they’ve done is fight and die for the likes of you. ALL THEY’VE DONE! Why should they do it again? So you can get power back? So things can go back to exactly the way they were? They’ll be your slaves, fight your little fight and then get thrown right back in here once it’s all over.’
‘NO!’ Reginald threw himself up against the gate, forgetting the danger. ‘That’s not how it’ll be! I swear! I won’t let that happen to you! You’ll be free. You’ll be heroes! You can help us make a new government, one without all the barbarism we’ve had! No more slaves, no more banished plunderers and no more gladiators! Please!’
A few of the gladiators had turned away, walking back to the fire. Marus crossed his arms across his broad chest again. ‘You’re desperate, kid.’
‘Yes! Without you, our plan won’t work…You know it, don’t you? You know that without you we’re all going to die…’ It began to sink in.
‘Won’t be less than you deserve,’ Marus growled.
‘But…but what will happen to you? Do you really think the Denizens will just let you stay here? They want to destroy all humans! You’ll be slaughtered!’
‘No different than it is now,’ a woman said.
Marus nodded. ‘We can take care of ourselves.’
‘Marus, could I talk to you for a moment privately?’ Arkron’s voice was dangerous.
The man glanced at the others and then reluctantly stepped forward. ‘I’m not changing my mind, Arkron. I didn’t sign up to fight to save a Realm. I agreed to come here because you promised me I’d be very, very rich if I did.’
Arkron sighed dramatically. ‘That mission is over; we’ve got bigger trolls to fight.’
Marus leant in closer, suddenly looking slightly hurt. ‘But I’ve been working on this for ten years! You can’t just take me off of it now! I can’t be put on to something else, not after I’ve worked so hard on this!’ He grew more conspiratorial. ‘You were right, there are shape-shifters here and I’ve gained their trust. Just a little longer and I’ll finally figure out where they’ve stored the reactor! I’m not going anywhere, not when I’m so close! One mission at a time, that’s what we always have said. What you’re planning is crazy. I’ve been here for ten years, and once I find that ship and the reactor in it, I’m leaving and spending my hard-earned wealth on whatever the hell I want.’
Arkron snapped. ‘Dammit, Marus! Don’t let your greed get in the way! You know you can help, you know you can help stop this! Why sit idly by? That’s not you! You would help, I know you. This is more important than any bloody spaceship.’
Marus leant in close to Arkron. ‘Maybe I care more about alien technology than I do saving a pointless planet like this. Like I said, what will it matter? Things will go back just the way they were, and these gladiators still be stuck here. You know, I’ve kind of grown to like these people. They’ve been a lot better friends than you have lately and maybe I don’t want them putting their lives on the line for something like this. Maybe I sympathise. Maybe I’m not such a big fan of the government on this dust-ball either.’ He pointed behind him. ‘You see that kid? That’s Assad. He was stolen from his family when he was just a little kid. He’s been here his whole life. The Denizens didn’t steal him. You lot did.’
Reginald nodded. ‘It’s wrong. I know! And I swear I won’t let it continue. Just help us. I won’t abandon you.’
Assad crossed his arms. He must have been eavesdropping, but didn’t seem too concerned about Marus’s strange words. ‘Don’t use me as an example to not fight, Marus. Reginald is right. If we have a chance to fix things then it’s our responsibility to our families. The Denizens suspect me anyway. I might as well fight before they kill me.’
‘I won’t forget about you all,’ Reginald said. ‘Help us change the world for the better! Better for everyone, including you!’
Marus leant in closer. ‘I’m holding you to that, boy. If I sense any sign of betrayal, consider yourself dead.’
Reginald held Marus’s gaze steady. ‘I promise you, I won’t let that happen. If it does, I deserve to die.’
‘You’re going to help?’ Arkron said impatiently. ‘About bloody time. Stars, you should have gone into politics. That speech of yours was rather inspiring. Very believable performance. Remind me not to leave you alone on missions for so long. You’ve gone native.’
Marus turned away from them. ‘I’ll help conditionally. And I wasn’t acting. Believe it or not, I do actually care about these people. And my warning wasn’t part of the act, either. That kid screws us, he’s dead.’
Reginald took a deep breath, knees suddenly weak; by the look in Marus’s eyes, he knew if he made one wrong move, he’d be wishing the Denizens had killed him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‘Guess what?’ Thedric stumbled into the room.
It was late, but as usual, everyone was still up. Andrew had been performing a new song he’d composed on the harpsichord and they’d enjoyed a pleasant evening inside from the foggy rain. Thedric had been missing up till his sudden entrance into the lodge and Victoria felt rather guilty for not noticing his absence.
‘Have you been out cavorting with Lily again?’ Molly accused, looking him over.
‘Oh, I should think not,’ Andrew said, leaning back to observe his brother. ‘He’s not wearing his good tunic. No, he’s been out in the mud and the rain and he didn’t want to be spotted.’
Thedric stamped impatiently. ‘Are you going to assess me all night or can I just tell you?’
‘By all means,’ Andrew said dramatically. ‘Though I already know what you’re going to say.’
‘What is he going to say?’ Molly demanded.
‘Can’t I just tell this?’ Thedric shouted over Andrew, who’d just opened his mouth to speak. ‘Please! I’ve been out there all bloody night!’
Victoria smiled. ‘What is it, Thed?’
He grinned smugly. ‘We just arrested Chance Brockshire for the murder of Quinn Snippet!’
Molly and Victoria burst into excited congratulations. Tollin and Andrew didn’t seem incredibly surprised by the news. Victoria tried to ignore Andrew’s mutterings.
> ‘The fool did exactly as Victoria said: tried to break back into his house. Seemed pretty desperate. But we got him.’
‘Where is he now?’ Tollin asked.
Thedric was clearly soaking up the fact that for once he was the centre of attention and not his younger brother. He smiled broadly. ‘Locked up down in the penitentiary.’
Andrew clearly couldn’t stand the fact Thedric was getting all the glory. ‘Yes, well, I need to talk to him,’ he said, spinning round in his seat. ‘Bring him up here, will you? I don’t want to walk all the way down there in the rain.’
Thedric swiped up a throw pillow from one of the couches and hurled it at his brother. ‘I’m not bringing a murderer up here! I just caught him! You’re the one who always wants to be moving and doing things! You go down there!’
Victoria could tell by Andrew’s grin he’d said it simply to upset his brother. He’d gotten the reaction he’d wanted. He stood, left the room, and came back a moment later with his cane, wearing his coat. ‘I need to go interrogate him—alone. The rest of you will interfere, so stay here.’ He moved to the door.
‘Hey,’ Thedric shouted. ‘Don’t upset him! I’ve seen the way you’ve handled these situations in the past and he’s already in a bad way. Don’t make it worse!’
Andrew flung the door open and stepped into the messy night. Victoria watched him go, disappointed.
‘My,’ Thedric grumbled. ‘The gratitude is overwhelming! Dramatic git!’
Tollin produced a deck of cards and started doling them out, barking for players. Victoria sighed and picked up the cards Tollin slid her direction.
The door swung back open and Andrew leant in. He fixed his gaze on Victoria, frowning. ‘Are you coming, or not?’
Victoria stood, grabbing her boots. ‘You just said you didn’t want anyone.’
‘You’re not anyone. We’re a team, remember? How could I go anywhere without you?’ he said with a hint of sarcasm, eyes shining, then closed the door and stepped back into the darkness.