Page 26 of Ironhold, Trial Four

“Spoilsport,” she says, with a pout. “I only wanted to see.”

“You wanted to see every way she was describing wanting Lyra here,” Zara says.

I flush with embarrassment at the image but maybe that helps to persuade them that this was just a lover's note, rather than a warning about a deadly organization.

Is it possible that Callus is a member of this Order of Hunters?

The prospect is a frightening one because it means thathe has a reason to hurt me that goes beyond merely being paid to do it. It means that he won't slow down or give up, that he will await any opportunity he can get in order to kill me. Although the fact that he hasn't struck at me so far suggests that he wants to do this in a way that will allow him to live afterwards. He doesn't just want to kill me he wants to get away with it to be able to goon and kill elsewhere. That means that I have some protection as long as I'm with other people.

But I know that can't last forever. Sooner or later, he will be able to isolate me, and I have already felt just how deadly it is if he gets his hands on me. Worse I don't have any powers with which to fight back against him now. With the way my dampener has been tampered with, I don't even have enough power to send the raven back to Lady Elara. I must wait until it fires away of its own accord.

The combination of my own helplessness and Callus’ potential membership of the deadly orderfills me with fear. Not just fear though, anger too. Because there are so many things going on that seem bigger than me, so many situations in which I have little say.

I don't just want to hold back andwait to see what happens. I'm not sure I canwhen the emperor has commanded me to find out who sent Callus. I don't want to go back into the colosseum without having found out more. Not when the emperor might decide to punish me in any number of ways.

As far as I can see, I only have one choice now. I need to know more. I need to try to find a way to persuade Callus not to kill me, and I need to get something I can give to the emperor.

I need to confront the man who is trying to kill me.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“You want to dowhat?”Rowan asks as we sit together at breakfast.

“I want to talk to Callus,” I say, explaining myself again. “It's the only way I will find out why he's doing this, and if there's anything else behind it.”

“If Alaric were here, he would say you’re being foolish,” Rowan says.

“But he isn't here,” I point out. Alaric must have taken breakfast in his rooms, because he is not in the communal dining hall. “And this is not as dangerous as it sounds. You’ll be nearby. If he tries anything, you can intervene.”

“Unarmed against someone who can kill with a touch?” Rowan says. He sounds doubtful and afraid. Although I suspect the majority of that fear is for me rather than for himself.

“You just have to disrupt things long enough for the guards to get involved,” I say. I look over to Zara, who has her usual vials of water nearby, and who could presumably do something with the water and wine served at the tables as well. “I'm sure between all of you, you can do something if it comes to it, but it won't.”

“You can't know that,” Rowan says. “What does it matter why he's doing this, or what his reasoning is? All that matters is that he's trying to kill you.”

I see Rowan glare across to the spot where Callus is sitting. The new gladiator sits alone, with space all around him. That is a rarity for any of us when they are crammed into the space, but for someone so new to Ironhold, it is unheard of. Everyone seems to be keeping their distance from him because they don't want to get within touching distance. They've seen what he can do, and they're afraid, even though many of them have terrifying powers of their own.

Well, some of their powers are terrifying. I must remind myself thateven among the gladiators, the majority have only minor talents. Rowan’s control over earth and Zara’s over water give them an edge but only in very specific ways. No one here has the general control over multiple disciplines of magic thatsomeone like Selene Ravenscroft possesses. Even Lady Elara’s control over both beasts and illusions would mark her out as a rarity if she were here rather than in the city.

Even if there is nobody that powerful here, though, I believe that Callus won't dare try to attack mein the middle of the dining hall where everyone can see him. If he were prepared to do that he would already have done it.

So I get up and go over to him. He sees me coming because he's looking my way. He always seems to be looking my way, as if he fears that if he takes his eyes off me for a moment I will do something deadly towards him.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask, sitting opposite him.

He lookssurprised that I'm doing it, uncertainty then hatred flickering over his face. For a moment or two I think I might have miscalculated, and that he might actually reach out to kill me. If he does, I can only hope that the others will be able to intervene in time.

“You've decided to come talk to me, beast whisperer?” he asks. The hostility in his voice is palpable.

“I have a name,” I say. “You might as well call me Lyra.”

“Why? So we can both become friends? Or is it something more than friends you're after? From what I hear, you're sleeping with anyone who wants you, like the animal you are.”

Hatred continues to dripfrom his tone.

“Friends seems better than trying to kill each other,” I say. “As far as I'm aware, I've not done anything to hurt you outside of fighting in a bout. But you act as if I'm your enemy.”

“All your kind are,” Callus says. His eyes are locked on to mine, and there is something predatory in that gaze. It's impossible not to remember that I'm within arm's reach. He could grab me anytime he chose. I know that, and heknowsI know that. I get the feeling he likes my fear.

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