Page 143

‘What do you mean?’

‘Let me show you.’

Jaxon led me along the Via Sacra. It was difficult to conceal my wonder, but I refused to let him see it. He gestured to the most restored of the buildings, which had arcades along its upper and lower floors, each arch housing a plinth.

‘The erstwhile Basilica Julia, where the Romans conducted imperial business. Now it is our meeting chamber, the Basilica Arcana,’ he informed me. ‘Records of voyants’ lives and predictions will be stored in the vaults below it. In the future, we intend for each embassy to be full of sculptures, paying homage to voyants from the region – but since this is our headquarters, this building will celebrate our predecessors from the world over. So far, we have plinths assigned for Allen Kardec, Bhrian Ruaidh, and the Oracle of Nusku.’

‘How nice,’ I said. ‘And since when, exactly, did you care about the world beyond London?’

Jaxon chose not to answer this question.

‘There were once seven honorary columns here,’ he said. ‘We hope to raise these once again, and adorn them with sculptures of voyants who lost their lives in pursuit of defeating Scion.’

I imagined a column for Liss. Jaxon probably wouldn’t deem her worthy of remembrance.

‘Three former temples,’ Jaxon said, sweeping a hand towards the southern buildings, which I had seen from a higher viewpoint with Verca. ‘This one to our left is the House of Divining. Here, we mean to provide wrought numa for soothsayers, and to commemorate the numa of history, from theYi Jingto the Cup of Jamshid. Its neighbour is the House of Augury, or Auguraculum – a work in progress – where we intend to have a lush Garden of Fate, abounding with plants, fountains and eternal flames.’

Now I understood the painted roof tiles. They matched the corresponding orders’ auras.

‘I see,’ I said. ‘And will you provide for the vile augurs, Jax?’

‘Of course. We have even obtained the Liver of Piacenza, to exalt the art of haruspicy.’

Somehow I doubted Jaxon was responsible for that.

‘Here is the House of Possession, formerly known as the Temple of Concord. This one will open next year.’ He led me towards the enormous arch I had seen earlier. ‘All inscriptions have been removed from the triumphal arches, so we might celebrate modern heroes.’

‘Modern heroes.’ I huffed. ‘Like you?’

‘My contribution to this enterprise has been modest. You would make a much finer subject.’

Jaxon led me under the arch, giving me a few moments of relief from the relentless sun.

‘The Old Tullianum.’ He gestured to the building to our left. ‘It will serve as our jail, and the Curia our courthouse, where the Kassandran Code – international voyant law – will be debated and upheld. Scion has proven that we cannot trust amaurotics to judge us.’

Stately letters above the door readignorantia juris non excusat.

‘I assume that’s Latin,’ I said. ‘What does it mean?’

‘Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Few voyants know of the Kassandran Code, but all are expected to follow it by instinct. Anyone who flouts it must therefore be held accountable for their crimes.’

‘I look forward to seeing you answer for yours.’

His only reply was another maddening smile. He strode past a lemon tree, into the shaded arcade of another building, almost a mirror image of the Basilica Arcana.

‘This is destined to serve as our debate chamber,’ he said. ‘It also houses our treasury, the Bank of Charon.’

‘Howhasthe Council of Kassandra been able to afford all this?’

‘A select number of generous patrons, as well as voyants like myself, who have donated money from both outside and inside Scion. Do you recall when I said we were low on coin in London?’ he asked. I nodded once. ‘That was because I was funnelling it here.’

‘How noble. If only you hadn’t done it by condemningothervoyants to imprisonment and death.’

‘All for the greater good.’

‘It must have cost millions.’

‘Oh, we’re some way into the billions now, darling.’