"There's no choice." Radulf shook me to get my attention. "They're within the terms of their bargain."
"I never agreed to this." Panic swelled inside me. "Not to this!"
"I'm sorry, Nic," Aurelia said.
The Praetor beside her put his sword to her chest. "You were warned not to talk, girl."
When he swung it back, without even thinking, I sent a burst of magic to him, dropping him to the ground like a swatted fly. Maybe it was only a threat, but I didn't care. In response, every other Praetor withdrew their weapons, half of them aimed at Aurelia. I couldn't even focus on where the others were aimed.
"Lower your swords," Radulf said. "Brutus, this girl is a Roman citizen. You cannot force her to race, or punish her if she fails."
"I am a judge in Rome," he said. "She is a criminal accused of helping your grandson escape his master two months ago. I believe my fellow Praetors will support my interpretation of the law."
"No!" I shouted. "You cannot get away with this!"
"Test me." Brutus's coal eyes became even darker. "I dare you to test me, Nicolas."
"Not here, not now," Radulf said. "We accept the terms!"
I looked at him, angry enough to send magic his way too, but he shook his head, warning me to back down.
"They have her, and they have your mother," Radulf said. "If this is the number of Praetors that we can see, then you can bet half the stands are filled with more of them. There will not be another chance to bargain with them. If you want to save your mother, you must race."
I shook my head, begging him to give me another solution, but it was clear that he didn't have one. Brutus gave us a deep mocking bow and said he would be waiting to meet me again at the finish line. Aurelia was dragged away without being allowed to say even a word.
Once they had gone, I turned to Radulf, but before I could speak, he said, "I warned you not to expect fairness. I warned you, Nic!"
"I expected all of this," I said, almost under my breath. "Just not Aurelia."
Crispus had come beside me again and was so upset he could barely talk. "If I hadn't let her leave my home --"
"I made the bargain. I even set the terms," I said. That was most horrifying of all, realizing this was my fault.
"What will you do?" Livia asked.
I turned to her. "Radulf's horses can't remain here in the stables, and I don't want them stolen too. Someone needs to take them home."
"Those old horses are the least of my concerns right now," Radulf said.
"Well, it's the greatest of mine!" I shouted. "I don't want my sister to watch this race!"
I pulled her aside, just the two of us, and explained everything. What I now understood about the key to the Malice, why she couldn't be here at the race today, and what needed to happen if I was to succeed. It was hard to say, even though she had asked to be a part of it. I knew she was afraid for me. Worse still, I knew that she didn't like what I was asking of her, and I could only hope she would do it anyway. When we came back to Radulf, she said with tears in her eyes, "I'll take the horses to your home. But when I come back, I'm going to watch Nic race. I have to."
I nodded at her, though my heart was pounding too loudly for words.
Radulf sent one of his servants to accompany her home while the other began hitching up my chariot to Callistus. While they did, I went to his side and whispered an apology to him.
"You aren't meant for such a task," I said. "But I've had to ask it of you anyway. The race will be difficult. You must stay ahead of the other chariots; that is the only way to protect yourself."
Callistus tossed his head, and I hugged him with full gratitude.
"Can I speak to you alone?" Radulf asked me.
Radulf was the last person I wanted to speak to privately. I didn't need his scolding, his reminders of all the times I'd failed, or his threats or curses of my stupidity. I knew all that without him telling me so. And my expression showed it.
"Nic, I will speak to you." Radulf's tone was firmer than before. "Now."
"I'll make sure the chariot is hooked up properly," Crispus offered.