Page 116 of Of Love and Treason
Titus turned to the four men still accompanying them. “You go on and celebrate. I’ll get him to the prison.”
One of them shook his head. “And let you have all the glory when you alert Trecenarius Faustus? Not a chance. We’ll celebrate together later.”
Titus’s mouth tightened and he avoided Valens’s eye as they entered the prison. The four guards waited outside as Titus shoved Valens toward the prison warden, a bucktoothed guard with thin hairs slicked over a balding pate, who took his duties overly serious.
“Name.” He settled on his chair with a wiggle and inspected the point of his stylus.
“Valentine Favius Diastema in for questioning,” Titus answered for him.
Valens felt his eyebrows lift slightly even as his stomach sank. He should be in for execution. He carried evidence of his crimes on his person. Questioning was a light excuse for imprisonment, even if a dreadful prospect.
The warden flipped open a tablet and wrote his name in letters that were painstaking and slow.
Titus shut his eyes. “Curse you for having such a long name.”
Valens stared straight ahead down a hall of doors lit at the end by a single torch. “Most people call me Valens, or Val.”
“Number twenty-three.”
Valens twisted around as Titus prodded him into the cell. The warden locked it and went back to his duties.
Titus hesitated. “I thought you were smarter. I didn’t think you’d show.”
Valens felt a flicker of surprise.
“You had everything.” Titus’s voice dropped to a whisper, unable to mask the anger and envy in his tone. “And you gave it up for this.” He gestured to the cell.
Valens let out a long breath and looked away, taking in the shadowy grime of the dampened brick walls and the smell of mildew and unwashed bodies. “Do to me what you will, Investigator. You’ll have fame enough for bringing me to justice.” He shifted his eyes back to Titus, drilling him with a gaze firm and entreating. “But I beg you: leave my friends in peace. They’re protecting Iris and Quintus.”
LIII
IRIS WOULD NOT LOOK ATTITUS.She couldn’t force herself to. Not after what he’d done. After what he’d taken from her.
An agonizing day had passed since Titus had shown up in Valentine’s place, warning them all that Valentine had been arrested. Titus had said he’d meant to warn Valentine, but his men had charged out before his signal and he’d had no choice but to aid in Valentine’s arrest or be labeled a traitor himself. He’d watched Iris, his posture begging her to understand why he’d had to go through with it. She’d refused to look at him then and she refused now.
“Sit and eat with us.” Marius gestured toward an empty couch. Only the four women and Abachum were gathered to break their fasts. Quintus was resting and Cato and Audifax had left on a medical summons. Titus moved into the room and sat on the edge of the couch, looking as though he expected a barbarian attack at any moment. Through the open balcony doors, the children competed for who was the tallest.
Iris gripped the blue-cushioned arm of the couch with a damp hand. Beside her, Beatrix sat stiffly, clutching a steaming cup of calda and staring at Titus.
“How is he?” Beatrix’s expression turned tentative.
Titus shrugged. “He’s... singing like a madman.”
His eyes widened and flicked around the room in obvious surprise when everyone chuckled.
“Will they move him to the Tullianum?” Marius asked.
Titus shook his head. “He’s been transferred to the Ludus Magnus for questioning, and he’ll remain there until the Lupercalia Games.”
“Questioning?” Iris’s head snapped up then. Beatrix reached over and gripped her hand.
Titus shifted and explained in a voice that said he didn’t want to. “That’s why I’ve come.” His gaze slid over them all. “The prefect has ordered Valentine’s questioning. They don’t believe he acted alone and want him to give up the names of anyone who harbored and helped him. And names of the other church leaders and their meeting locations.”
Fear tingled in her arms. Iris choked back the lump lodged in her throat. “Who’s doing the questioning?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I’m here to warn you all—for your safety and everyone else’s. Get out of the city while you can.”
“Who’s questioning him, Titus?” Her voice grew louder, sharper.
