Antonius nodded slowly, absorbing this. "In the North, such arrangements are not unheard of, though usually it's one man with multiple wives, not the reverse. But there are exceptions. Among the Ice Tribes, where women are fewer due to a strange sickness that affects female infants, some women take multiple husbands."
"And how does that work?"
"Better than you might expect. The men become like brothers, each with his own role in the family. There is remarkably little jealousy." He smiled slightly. "Perhaps because any man foolish enough to fight over his wife would find himself sleeping outside in the snow."
I chuckled at the image. "A powerful deterrent."
"Indeed." Antonius's gaze drifted back to Livia. "She seems happy, though. With her arrangement."
"She is," I confirmed, watching him closely. "Are you interested in her, Antonius?"
The big man's cheeks darkened slightly, but he didn't deny it. "She's a remarkable woman. Strong, skilled, fearless. In the North, she would be highly sought after as a wife."
"And here?"
He shrugged his massive shoulders. "Here, I am just a foreign giant, a curiosity at best, a barbarian at worst. She would have no reason to look twice at me."
"I wouldn't be so sure," I said, surprising myself with the words. "Livia sees people for who they truly are, not what others label them. And she values strength of character above all else. Something you have in abundance."
Antonius looked at me, genuine surprise in his eyes. "You would not object? If I were to express interest?"
The question gave me pause. Would I object? There had been a time when Livia and I might have built a life together, before duty and circumstance pulled us in different directions. Part of me would always love her, always wonder what might have been. But that time had passed, and I had made my peace with it.
"No," I said honestly. "I wouldn't object. But I should warn you—Livia makes her own choices. Always has. She's not a woman to be pursued or won. She either wants you in her life or she doesn't."
Antonius nodded, a new respect in his gaze. "Thank you for your honesty. And your... blessing, though I know it's not yours to give."
"Consider it friendly advice from someone who knows her well," I said with a small smile.
Our conversation was interrupted as Livia and Tarshi approached our table. Tarshi was moving better than he had been, though he still favoured his injured leg. Whatever had changed between them seemed to have eased some of the tension I'd noticed in previous weeks.
"Mind if we join you?" Livia asked, already pulling out a chair.
"Please," I gestured to the empty seats.
As they settled, I couldn't help but notice the way Antonius straightened slightly, his usual stoic expression softening almost imperceptibly. Interesting. I wondered if Livia had noticed his interest. She was usually perceptive about such things.
"What did Kalen want?" I asked Tarshi, nodding toward where the resistance leader was now speaking with Mira near the stairs.
A shadow passed over Tarshi's face. "More details about the festival plans. Nothing important."
He was lying. I could tell from the way his eyes slid away from mine, the slight tension in his jaw. Livia seemed to notice it too, a small furrow appearing between her brows.
"You don't seem convinced," I observed.
Tarshi shrugged, a deliberately casual gesture. "The usual resistance talk. Glory and sacrifice and striking at the heart of imperial power."
"And you believe we can succeed?" Antonius asked, his deep voice pulling Tarshi's attention away from me.
"I believe we have to try," Tarshi replied after a moment's hesitation. "The Empire won't fall from a single blow, but each demonstration, each act of defiance, weakens its foundation."
Noble sentiments, and ones I might have agreed with completely not long ago. But the doubts that had been plaguing me wouldn't be silenced so easily.
"Unless the Empire is counting on those acts of defiance," I said quietly, voicing my concern at last. "Unless they're allowing us to plan this demonstration because it serves their purposes somehow."
Livia's gaze sharpened. "You think it's a trap."
"I think we need to consider the possibility more seriously than we have been."
