Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3)(270)

"You know why," Gaius said, voice quiet and pained. "Without furycraft, I might as well cut his throat myself as make him a target to men and women against whom he couldn't possibly defend himself."

Marcus considered that for a moment, then said, "Sextus. Don't be stupid."

There was a shocked little silence, then the First Lord said, "Excuse me."

"Don't be stupid," Marcus repeated obligingly. "That young man just manipulated his enemies into disarray and cut down a ritualist with fifty thousand fanatic followers. He didn't just defeat him, Sextus. He destroyed him. Personally. He stood to battle shoulder to shoulder with legionares, survived a Canim sorcery that killed ninety percent of the officers of this Legion-twice-and employed his Knights furycrafting with devastating effect." Marcus turned and waved a hand toward the Legion camp on the south side of the bridge. "He earned the respect of the men, and you know how rare that is. If he told this Legion to get on their feet, right now, and start marching out to take on the Canim, they'd do it. They'd follow him."

Gaius was silent for a long moment.

"It isn't about furycraft, Gaius," he said quietly. "It never has been. It's about personal courage and will. He has it. It's about the ability to lead. He can. It's about inspiring loyalty. He does."

"Loyalty," Gaius said, light irony in the word. "Even in you?"

"He saved my life," Marcus said. "Didn't have to. Nearly got himself killed doing it. He cares."

"Are you saying you'll be willing to work for him?"

Marcus was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "I'm saying that only a fool will discount him simply because he's furyless. Crows, he's already checked a Canim invasion, helped forge an alliance with the Marat, and personally prevented your assassination at Wintersend. How much more bloody qualified does he need to he?"

Gaius absorbed that in silence for a moment. Then he said, "You like being Valiar Marcus."

Marcus snorted. "After I got done with him and he retired from the Shield-wall Legions... I forgot how much I'd liked being him."

"How long did it take you to do the face?"

"Three weeks, give or take, several hours each day. I've never been particularly strong at watercraft." They both fell quiet again. Then Marcus sighed. "Crows take it, Sextus. If only I'd known."

Gaius chuckled without much humor. "If only I'd known."

"But we can't go back."

"No," the First Lord agreed. "We can't." He turned to Marcus, and said, "But perhaps we can go forward."

Marcus frowned. "What?"

"You recognized him, when you finally got a good look at him. Don't you think anyone else who ever served with Septimus might do the same?" Gaius shook his head. "He's grown into a man. He won't go overlooked for much longer."

"No," Marcus said. "What would you have me do?"

Gaius looked at him and said, "Nothing. Marcus."

Valiar Marcus frowned. "She'll find out soon enough, whether or not I say anything."

"Perhaps," Gaius said. "But perhaps not. In either case, there's no reason it couldn't slip your notice as it has everyone else's. And I hardly think she'd be displeased to have an agent as Octavian's trusted right hand."

Marcus sighed. "True. And I suppose if I refuse, you'll take the standard measures."

"Yes," the First Lord said, gentle regret in his voice. "I don't wish to. But you know how the game is played."