Page 308 of Scorched Earth

The second was that he was staring down a dozen legionnaires, several with arrows pointed directly at his head.

Rising to her feet, Lydia spoke to them in Cel. Recognition bloomed on several of the men’s faces, all of them bearing the mark of the Thirty-Seventh Legion. Weapons lowered, then the one who appeared to lead them said in Mudamorian, “That’s a decision above my rank, Domina. I’ll take you to the legatus and he’ll decide what to do with you.” Then he jerked his chin at Killian. “Hand over your weapons.”

“You’re welcome to have them if you can take them.”

The man considered his words, then shrugged. “Fine. Start walking. If you piss me off, I’ll have my men shoot you in the back, understood? Today is not the day to test my patience.”

Helping Lydia out of the swamp, Killian started toward the enormous walled city in the distance, the legionnaires forming an escort around them. “So this is Celendrial?” he asked under his breath, and she gave a tight nod. “Heart of the Empire.”

Until this moment, this place had only been a name. A dot on an unfamiliar map. His imagination had not done it justice. There was a gravitas to the city that he’d never experienced before, not even in Revat. A presence, like the city itself was alive, and Kilian fell silent as they reached the gates and passed beneath the golden reptile perched above.

People were flowing in groups toward the center of the city. They gave the legionnaires wide berth, their curious eyes looking over him and Lydia. The escort moved with the flow to a building with columns that stretched incredibly high, the ceilings above painted in vivid scenes, but the crowd carried onward.

“What’s going on?” Lydia asked the centurion. “Where are they going?”

“Executions,” he answered, but refused to answer any further queries as they were brought deeper into the building. Their footsteps echoed down the corridors, and a set of doors opened ahead of them, the guards to either side saying something in Cel to the centurion, who turned back to Lydia and Killian. “The legatus will see you now,” he said.

Lydia squared her shoulders, meeting Killian’s gaze for a heartbeat, then she stepped inside. He followed, eyes latching onto the man standing behind the table. He wore legion clothing and armor, the Thirty-Seventh’s mark stamped on the breastplate.

But the man was not Marcus.

121TERIANA

Teriana anchored theQuincensesouth of Celendrial with strict orders for the ship to flee if the navy came into sight, and even stricter instructions that no one was to follow her into the city. Yet as she entered the gates, hair and face concealed by a scarf, it was clear that the Maarin were the least of the Empire’s concerns. For it wasapparently an empire no longer, the Senate having officially declared Celendor a republic. Yet even that news paled in comparison to the fervor over the executions that were planned for later that day. Because she didn’t know who else to go to, Teriana sought out Lydia’s father.

“Teriana!” Shock radiated across his face when the servants brought her into the villa, but it was swiftly replaced with anger. “Have you lost your blasted mind coming to Celendrial, girl? No matter the reasons and no matter the outcomes, you still led an attack on Celendor and there are countless people in this city who’d happily see you dead.”

“I know.” Teriana was shaking, the weight of all the gossip she’d heard since she’d entered the city pushing her to the breaking point. “But I need to see him.”

His expression didn’t soften. “Marcus is to be executed today, Teriana. He pleaded guilty of all charges, not the least being Lydia’s murder.”

“Lydia’s not dead, you know that.”

“I know. But it doesn’t change what he did.”

It hurt to breathe. “I know that,” she whispered. “I know everything he did, but…”

“But…?” Senator Valerius’s eyes were cold. “This is justice, Teriana. After all that you’ve personally endured, you should see today as a victory. You should be lifting a glass with your people on the safety of your ship, far out to sea. Not standing in my household weeping for the villain.”

He wasn’t wrong, but the tears spilled down her cheeks. “Please, Appius. On my life, I will never ask for anything again. I just need to see him. Please.”

Lydia’s father stared her down for a long time, but then looked away. “As you like. But after you say your good-byes, you need to leave Celendrial. If you have any wisdom in your heart, you’ll never look back.”

122LYDIA

The legionnaire’s blue eyes fixed on her, then he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his short hair. “Why are you here?”

“For Teriana,” Lydia said. “Who are you?”

“Felix. His second-in-command.” The man’s jaw tightened. “Though not for much longer. And if Teriana is here, none of my men have spotted her. Which is just as well. I don’t hold what she did against her by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn’t change that she waged war against Celendor. Many died. The Senate has been occupied, but that does not mean she is safe from them. There’s no reason for her to be here and every reason to stay away.”

“I think we both know that’s not the case,” Lydia answered. “Who is being executed today?”

Felix broke eye contact, walking to the window to look out. “Cassius.”

“Who else are they executing?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“He confessed to everything. Declared himself guilty of everything.”