PROLOGUE
“Stay calm, Jayden!” the attendant said. “This reptile is old and harmless. He puts on a good show but has never hurt anyone. Show him who’s in charge!”
Easier said than done, I thought, fighting rising panic. My inner demons urged me to run away and forget the coins I had already paid for the lesson. I almost gave in. Be sensible, I told myself, taking a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. Everyone you know has been riding for years. They're all still alive. You can’t be the only nineteen–year–old in Janiculum who has never ridden an allosaur. It’s time to learn.
Suddenly, the allosaur lunged at me, roaring and swinging its deadly claws. I shrieked and instinctively jumped back. The beast turned its massive head, locked eyes with me, and growled menacingly, baring its sharp teeth. It loomed over me, sensing my fear as easily as I could smell its horrid odour. My heart pounded uncontrollably. Stories of people being slashed to death flashed through my mind. I kept telling myself that such incidents were rare and highly exaggerated, but facts did little to calm my vivid imagination.
The attendant chuckled, tightened the reptile’s muzzle so it couldn’t bite, and gave the allosaur a treat to calm it down. He helped me mount, ignoring my trembling hands and awkwardness. It took three attempts before I finally settled into the saddle. Despite needing a walking cane because of an old injury that never healed properly, the attendant leaped onto his allosaur effortlessly with his strong leg. My confidence, already low, sank even further.
“Grip the reins and keep your feet in the straps,” he reminded me. “Trust me and don’t worry. I’ll ride beside you and make sure nothing goes wrong. Use the reins and your knees as I taught you to put this old reptile into a slow walk. It’ll obey your commands. You’re in control!”
My mind went blank. I’m not sure what I did. The allosaur bolted at full speed as I screamed frantically. The attendant shouted something, but I couldn’t hear him. I panicked, forgetting how to make it stop. My ineptitude confused and annoyed the beast, and it began bucking. I let go of the reins and grabbed the saddle—my worst mistake. Seconds later, I was flying through the air. Just before hitting the rocky ground, I threw out an arm to protect myself. A searing pain ripped through me, and I blacked out.
*****
Her hand trembled slightly as Joie Artius read the encrypted note for the last time in the flickering candlelight. The ink was barely dry.
Our secret is out.
I can’t contain it. Activate the plan.
Let the others know.
May the Gods be merciful.
It wasn’t like her to feel so nervous. Stop being foolish, she told herself. If the Sine Nomine intercepts my message and breaks the code, they won’t learn much. The wording is obscure and reveals nothing. Joie Artius carefully folded the note, slipped it into a small wooden capsule, and tied it securely to the leg of the tiny nemisaur.
“Be quick and be safe,” she whispered as she opened the window.
The messenger reptile flapped its wings, took one last look at her as if to say goodbye, then flew off into the night. As she watched it disappear, Joie prayed that no one had seen it leave and that it would reach its destination in time. She had known this day would come for years and had planned for it meticulously.
Why, then, do I feel so anxious?
Joie quietly shut the window, settled into her favourite chair, and brooded until dawn, endlessly second–guessing her preparations. Will they be adequate? Have I missed anything? There’s no room for error. Our lives are at stake!
Her enhanced eyes and ears missed a man shrouded in black slipping out of the shadows from the alley across the street. After many fruitless nights, he finally had something suspicious to report to the Optio of Janiculum.
