Page 58 of Hallowed Games

Hugo whistled. “Well, I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be.” Percival sighed and leaned back, not touching his food. “I’ve made zero progress so far in identifying the rebel Luminari. It’s not like we have many chances to speak to them.”

I breathed in deeply. “What do you think they’re working on, if they do exist?”

He shook his head. “If they exist, I think they’re trying to find out more about how to bring down the Order. Searching for weaknesses, information about the best time to rise up.” He leaned back further, his shoulders slumping. “Or I’ve cocked it all up, and there is no resistance, and I’ve sacrificed my life for nothing.”

My mind churned. “I don’t know that we can take on the Order. I don’t know how to find the rebels. But do you think we could at least find a way out?”

“How?” asked Godric. “You’ve seen the walls, with archers at the top. We can’t scale them, and even if we could, we’d be shot before we got over.”

My thoughts flicked back to the books I’d read in Maelor’s room. “Hugo, you mentioned tunnels in the lands around here. The labyrinth was part of that, yes? They were tombs from long before the Tyrenians invaded. So what if there’s more? What if there is a way out through the tunnels?”

Percival scrubbed a hand over his mouth. “How would we get to them? It’s not like we can explore.”

“I’ve spent some time with the Raven Lord,” I whispered. “What if I can get information out of him during the unburdening?”

Sazia smirked. “Let me guess, do your methods involve him being celibate and extremely sexually frustrated? Use your tongue skillfully to loosen his, yes?”

Percival met my gaze. “You can’t mention the resistance to him. If he doesn’t yet know it exists, he’ll report it to the Pater. It could ruin the entire rebellion and cost them their lives. You can’t give him any information. Just find out what you can from him.”

I nodded. “Of course. I won’t mention it.”

At this point, I was keeping secrets from everyone. I wasn’t telling my allies about the vampires, and I wouldn’t be telling the Raven Lord about the resistance. “Maybe I can find something else. An escape route.”

“Just be careful.” Godric’s brow furrowed. “And if you can, ask him about the Trial of the Abyss. Ask him if it’s real. I’ve heard things…terrible things. I’ve heard that most in the final trial will end their own lives out of sheer horror. I’ve heard they kill the other Penitents with their teeth—”

Sazia slammed her cup down on the table. “We get it, Godric. But we don’t need to feel that terror now, do we? Can we just try to enjoy our meal a little bit? Honestly, the food is the only good thing here.”

“She’s right,” said Percival, scrubbing his hand over his jaw. “We still have another trial before we even get to that one, yeah?” He plucked his wine glass from the table. “And in the meantime, we can think about a plan for escape and keep our eyes open for signs of the resistance. We won’t go to our deaths like sheep. We will fight back. It’s the only thing that can give my life a purpose at this point.”

CHAPTER 27

Between every meal and every trial, we were escorted back to our rooms and locked inside. And that time gave me a very solid understanding of why the prisoners in the Maubergeonne tower had put so much effort into carving their names in the walls. There was fuck all else to do here.

I’d only just come back from dinner, but I’d already changed into my white nightgown. I’d fall asleep as soon as I could.

I did have a nice view of the courtyard, though. The maze of hedges snaked across the landscape, and its shadows grew long in the evening light. It was a vast landscape of budding plants and golden stones. Above some of the hedges, I could see the arcs of water from a fountain spraying into the air, catching in the light of the setting sun like honey drops.

I bit my lip, imagining what this place could be like if anyone ever managed to extract it from the crushing grip of the Order. In the old days, maybe music played here, and young women met their lovers among the thorn fences. Maybe, once, people danced among the statues and fountains like in the tapestry the Baron loved so much.

I walked back to the bed, plucking the gold pencil off the table—my little glittering gift from Maelor. In the reflection of the pewter mug, I traced gold beneath my eyelashes. Out there, I had to go unnoticed. But in here, what difference did it make? Eyeliner or not, I was already the center of attention.

I lifted the pewter cup and blinked at my reflection. Leo would be delighted if he saw this on me. A pang splintered my chest at the thought of him, and I dropped the cup.

Sighing, I lay back on the bed.

When a knock sounded on the door, I rolled onto my side. “Yes? You know I can’t open it.”

I heard the sound of a key clicking in the lock, and the door creaked open. Maelor stepped inside. A lock of his dark hair fell down by his sharp cheekbones. His mouth quirked in a half-smile. I truly hated how much I liked seeing him, and how my heart started beating faster just at the sight of his beautiful face.

The door closed behind him, and he lifted a little bottle of blue liquid. “We’re going to practice for the next trial.”

I sat cross-legged on the bed. “You’re very much breaking the rules, Raven Lord.”

“The Archon guides me.”

Sure he does. “You could help all of us, not just me.”

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