Xena’s eyes widened in shock for a moment when she realized that I was the one accompanying the Emperor to the Arena.
The last time I had seen her was when Marius sent me the thoughtful gift she derided, and I think she had assumed I was spending the day with him and now she was having to face the fact the Emperor was no longer interested in spending his time with her and that I was the one he had chosen in her place.
Her mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything and I saw her swallow nervously.
“I didn’t know you had an engagement this evening, Xena. Is General Avitus a friend or a patron?”
I addressed her breezily as I sat down beside her and kept my eyes fixed on the announcer who had returned to the middle of the ring.
He was dramatically reading off the details of the next event
