Copper Chain by James Maxwell

Author:James Maxwell
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781612185767
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2017-08-03T04:00:00+00:00

26

The Assembly of Consuls was in session at the lyceum. The men sitting on the raised tiers surrounding the central floor were shouting, angry and red-faced. As first consul, and – after Lord Philippos’s murder – the man now certain to be re-elected, Nilus was speaking, but struggling to be heard over the din.

‘Not only is this sacrilege,’ he thundered from the speaking floor, despite the fact that half the seated men around him weren’t listening, ‘but it is also an outrage, an assault on our very institutions and the people we most hold dear. It is sacrilege. Sacrilege! Any attack on a consul is an attack on our entire Assembly. And the capture of Lady Isobel, well, that – that! – is an affront to all of our sons and daughters.’

Lord Philippos’s supporters, on the opposite side of the gallery from Nilus’s faction, shook their fists and cried out. ‘Sit down!’ an elderly consul shouted. ‘You were no friend to Philippos. Who will challenge you now, Nilus the Sly?’

Ignoring him, Nilus pressed on. ‘We must do what we can to aid the king of Xanthos. It is obvious that whoever these men were, they came to kidnap Isobel and her father got in the way.’

As another roar of outrage greeted Nilus’s words, Chloe moved quickly through the crowd, heading down the long series of steps that doubled as seats to reach the floor. Men turned in surprise when she pushed through, but then fell silent, stunned when they recognized her. The din faded. The youngest men were surprised to see a woman in the lyceum, but the rest were shocked beyond belief. They remembered seeing Chloe in this very building defending the eldren. But Chloe, daughter of Aristocles, was supposed to be dead.

Reaching the floor, empty except for Nilus, she raised her voice as she approached the portly first consul. She came to a halt in the center of the lyceum. Her eyes narrowed, staring at him directly. Rather than apprehension or fear, she felt only anger.

‘I agree with you, Uncle Nilus,’ she called out. ‘Philippos did get in the way. Like my father, Aristocles, he was an obstacle to your ambition.’

‘Chloe?’ Nilus’s mouth dropped open. His face was pale; for a moment he was at a loss for words. ‘What are you doing here?’ Regaining his composure, he frowned. ‘We are in session – no women allowed!’

His allies raised their voices. ‘Get her out!’

But the faction of consuls loyal to the late Lord Philippos stood up and cried, ‘Let her speak!’

Chloe raised her hand. As the lyceum fell silent, the consuls sat down again, many leaning forward to hear what she was going to say. Having seen her father practice his speeches a thousand times, Chloe knew to speak clearly, turning and sweeping her eyes over the rows of staring men, so that everyone present could hear her words. ‘I think that this time, on this day, the Assembly can make an exception.’

Now the common citizens on the higher tiers were calling out to allow Chloe to speak.

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