Page 48 of Ironhold, Trial One

“Oh, it’s far worse than that,” Alaric says. “Even in Ironhold, there are factions. The free gladiators and those forced into it,the nobles among the free and the lower born trying to gain favor with them. Those with particular sets of abilities learn together half the time, teaching one another tricks, while always trying to hold something back, of course.”

“Why ‘of course?’” I ask.

Alaric raises an eyebrow. “So that you have something in reserve if you’re ever forced to fight. Tell me, how would you fightme?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “Pander to your ego until your head swells so much it explodes?”

He laughs at that, but then his expression turns serious.

“It is worse, being known as one of the best. There will always be those trying to use you for their own ends. You will have to watch out for poison in your food and other tricks to slow you down. Oh, and you should be careful about making it too obvious that you have affection for any one person. That can be used against you. Sleeping with Rowan puts both of you in danger.”

“I’mnotsleeping with him,” I say. Although the only reason I’m not is because he’s been too injured.

“Really? That’s not what the rumors say.”

“Then the rumors are wrong,” I snap back. “Just as I’m not giving myself to Lady Elara between bouts, or whatever they’re saying.”

“Oh,” Alaric says with mock disappointment. “And there go some of my more torrid imaginations.”

“Why do you evencare, Alaric?” I ask him. “Why do you care what happens to me?”

He moves in close to me. “Well, youareincredible and beautiful, and I suspect your presence will change plenty of things around here."

“Is that the reason?” I ask. I can still smell the blood on him, and the sweat, but then, those things are on me too.

His lips brush mine, sudden and gentle, but then he pulls back, with another of those teasing looks he does so well.

“They’re all good reasons. But who said I cared? Remember, caring can get you killed.”

He moves back from me, offering me a sweeping bow.

“I would rather not see you killed, Lyra. You’re so much more interesting alive.”

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Eventually, I head to bed. Around me the sounds of celebrations within Ironhold are continuing. Tomorrow, our training will resume but for now, people are just happy to be alive. Some are singing, some are sneaking into one another's rooms. I know that plenty are dancing around a fire in one of the practice yards.

I have decided to sleep instead. I don't feel as though I have much to celebrate. People are dead because of me. I know I've only done what I had to in order to survive, but the guilt of it is still there inside me.

A knock comes at my door. I briefly wonder if it might be Rowan, although it seems unlikely when he’s still recovering from his wounds. A strange part of me even wonders if it might be Alaric. What did that kiss mean? Maybe it means nothing. Maybe it was just Alaric being his usual infuriating, confusing self.

When I get up and go to the door though, it's neither of them. Instead, to my surprise, Lady Elara stands there.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “How did you even get into Ironhold?”

She smiles. “That is not as hard as people think. It is a place designed to contain you, not to keep out visitors such as myself. There are plenty of people slipping in on nights such as this. A small bribe, and the guards think I have simply decided to visit one of my favorite gladiators for the evening as a patron.”

It's a continuation of the ruse she used back at the Colosseum to speak with me. I wonder if she has heard any of the rumors that have come out of it, of this just being another noble dalliance with a gladiator. I wonder if she cares.

“If you can slip in this easily, does that mean you could get me out?” I ask. I must ask it. If Ironhold is not the fortress I believed it to be, perhaps I can leave without having to kill anyone else.

Lady Elara shakes her head. “You will have seen what happens to those who escape. Even getting you out into the city for a brief while is… not easy. As for escaping, they would hunt you down relentlessly. I am sorry, Lyra. There is nothing I can do for you in that regard. But I can still help you.”

“You and the spectral covenant?” I say.

She puts her finger to her lips. “Shh. There are some things you do not say in a place like this. If someone overheard the wrong things, it could be bad for both of us. But yes, we can help you. You have seen that you have power. You have seen just how much you can achieve in the arena with that power.”

“And I've seen the cost of it,” I point out. “The shadow cat I summoned is severely injured, Finn is dead. So are two of my opponents.”

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