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second place, three times beating back aggressively coordinated attacks from
both Green riders. Jad alone knew what the mood would be if the Greens
succeeded in sweeping the board once or twice. Such sweeps of the first and
second placings gave rise to the most exultant of faction celebrations-and
sullen despair on the other side. It could yet happen before the day was out.
The Blues' rider might have the stamina of youth, but they could wear him
down.
Bonosus thought they would, in the afternoon. On another day he might have
considered some wagers.
There was, one might say in a literary mode, a grand slaughter building down
below. Being the man he was, Bonosus was inclined to perceive it this way, to
see it as an ironic foretaste of the
Imperial announcement of war, still to come at the end of the day.
The mornings last race came to an end-as usual, a minor, chaotic endeavour
among the Reds and Whites, driving two-horse bigas. The
Whites' lead driver emerged triumphant in a typically sloppy affair, but the
victory was treated by the Blues and Whites with an enthusiasm (more than
slightly forced, to Bonosus's ear) that was almost certainly unique in the
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experience of the White charioteer.
Surprised or not, he appeared to greatly enjoy his victory lap.
The Emperor stopped dictating and rose at the Mandator's murmured
hint. He briskly saluted the fellow passing beneath him just then and turned
to go. An Excubitor had already unbarred the door at the rear of the kathisma.
Valerius would go back down the corridor to the
Imperial Precinct for final consultations before the afternoon's proclamation:
the Attenine Palace for the Chancellor, the Master of
Offices, and the Quaestor of Revenue, then across through the old tunnel under
the gardens to the Traversite to meet Leontes and the generals. Everyone knew
his routines. Some people-Bonosus among them-
believed they had by now discerned the thinking behind this separation of
advisers. It was dangerous, however, to assume you understood what this
Emperor was thinking. As everyone else rose and stood gracefully aside,
Valerius paused by Bonosus.
'Do our honours for the afternoon, Senator. Barring the unforeseen, we shall
return with the others before the last race.' He leaned closer and lowered his
voice. 'And have the Urban Prefect find out where Scortius is. A bad time for
this sort of thing, don't you think? We may have been remiss, ignoring it.'
He didn't miss anything, Bonosus thought.
'I know where he is,' he said quietly, breaking a promise without compunction.
This was the Emperor.
Valerius didn't even raise an eyebrow. 'Good. Inform the Urban
Prefect, and tell us about it after.'
And while eighty thousand of his people were still reacting in a variety of
ways to the White rider's last lap, and just beginning to rise and stretch and
think about a midday meal and wine, the Emperor left his kathisma and that
thronged place where the announcements and events that defined the Empire had
so often been witnessed.
Even before he passed through the opened door, Valerius had begun removing the
ornate ceremonial garb he had to wear in public.
The servants began spreading a meal on large side tables and smaller round
ones beside the seats. Some of those in the kathisma preferred to go back to
the palaces to dine, while the younger ones might venture into the City
itself, tasting the excitement of the taverns, but it was pleasant to linger
here if the weather was fine, and today it was.
Bonosus discovered, to his surprise, that he had both an appetite and a
thirst. He stretched his legs-there was room now-and held out his cup for
wine.
It occurred to him that the next time he ate a meal he would be a
Senator of an empire at war. And not just the usual skirmishing of springtime.
This was a recon quest. Rhodias. Valerius's long dream.
No question, it was an exciting thought, stirring up all sorts of ...
feelings. Bonosus wished, suddenly, that he didn't have a Bassanid physician
and a recuperating charioteer both staying at his little house near the walls
tonight, after all. Guests could be, undeniably, a complication.
'He was allowed to retire to the Daleinus estate at first. He was only brought
to this isle-it has been used as a prison for a long time-after trying to have
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