The next day, I sat in the heat of the Great Room, listening to a page drone on about some kingdom or the other. I had hardly got any sleep last night because of the events of the previous day.

Breakfast was subdued, since most of the people had not woken up. I downed my food quickly, revelling in the fact that nothing had put me off breakfast today.

After the page finished, the king stood up. Instantly, I was alert. It was not often Aaron made speeches and when he did it was always related to something important.

He cleared his throat and the court fell silent.

"In light of recent events," he began, his voice ringing clear, "it has been rumored that rebels have begun to spring up again."

The court gasped and my heart lurched. What? What is he saying? I knew there were still rebels out there and now more than ever. Immanuel must have convinced Aaron to conduct a hunt. I cursed silently. The rebels would have found refuge in caring homes, and if we conducted this hunt, then both the rebels and the families hosting them would be killed without hesitation.

"As your king, I have decided it is my duty to put these rumors at rest. At sunrise tomorrow, a troop of my best rebel hunters shall sweep the kingdom and make sure we do not have any traitors on our lands." I clenched my jaws. I doubted he would give me the leading horse. He suspected me, so of course he wouldn't let me go.

"It will be led, by our finest: Lady Arya!" he gestured and my eyebrows raised. The court cheered and I forced a smile. What was Aaron playing at? From what he told Lyon, he did not have any reason to entrust me with this.

"But this time,' the king continued, "I shall aid them."

A hush fell over the court. The king hadn't left the palace for anything in years and now he was suddenly up for a hunt based on a rumor? He turned his beady eyes to me and I said what I was expected to say.

"My Lord, surely you needn't exert yourself on such a trivial matter."

"Trivial it may be," he said, "but this is an issue concerning my kingdom and I will not treat it lightly."

I accepted his offer and he began discussing the manner of which the hunt should be carried out. Lyon shot me a confused look, but I knew why Aaron had suddenly proposed to come along. My loyalty was about to be tested.

...

I had prepared for this day a long time ago, though I never expected it to come in this manner. Testing of one's loyalty was a game the king liked to play with his courtiers, though he had not, until now, bestowed that honour upon me.

After I got back to my room, I decided I needed to get word to Larkin about the rebel hunt. Aaron had made us promise not to tell anyone outside the Great Room, and I was sure the guards would be watching my every move. This was a test I was determined to pass.

I looked around my room. It was spacious and carpeted beautifully. The maroon on the carpets intertwined with golds and greens and blacks to create a cacophony of colours and shapes. My bed was at one side of the room, next to my wardrobe, and a bookshelf stood next to that. An inclination on the floor held a sofa and a glass table. Closer to the corner was a desk and four chairs. The balcony was right opposite the door to my room. Beside the desk was another door that led to the bathroom.

I was chewing my lip in thought when Ella entered, looking dishevelled. She shut the door behind her with a bang.

"Ella, what's wrong?"

"Those hooligans!" she exclaimed. "The guards outside demanded that I empty my bag out," she gestured to the bag slung over her shoulder. "When I was finished, they wanted to search me to see if I was carrying any poison on my person. Really, to think that I would poison you!"

The king really must have been paranoid to inspect those who were coming in and out of my room. Perhaps the test would not be so easy to surpass after all.

I held her arms. "Do you want me to talk to them?"

"No," she shook her head. "This woman can handle herself."

I grinned. "I'm sure. Now, listen, there's something I need you to do . . .."

...

"Well, I don't know what it says!" I could hear Ella scream. I pressed my ear even harder against the door. One of the guards murmured something I didn't catch. "How dare you!" Ella shrieked. "This is private business and you have no authority to read - give me that!"

I smiled to myself. Ella was quite the actress. She could make a fortune doing plays. She had followed my instructions to the dot and without question. I knew she was curious, so I told her that King Aaron disapproved of my interest in Lord Leonardo and would not let me see him. She needed to deliver this message to him and if she found herself being stopped by the guards, she was allowed to - no, encouraged to - shout as much as she could. Just not to let them read my message.

While that was happening, I stuffed my dagger behind a stack of books. I could not risk them finding that on me.

I waited until the ruckus in the corridor outside had died down and let myself out. Two guards who had been leaning against the wall outside stood stock straight. I shut the door and ignored them, walking down. I reached Lyon's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," he said, and I let myself inside.

Lyon looked up in surprise. He put down the quill he had in his hand and stood up. "What are you doing here?"

I cast a glance at the wardrobe that blocked the vents. I needed access and I needed it fast. "I was wondering if you would like to go hunting with me."

Lyon frowned, puzzled. Why? he mouthed.

I gave him a look that said humour me.

"Of course! I do not mind. Shall we leave?"

He walked to the door and held it open. I placed my hand on the door and shut it. I pressed a finger to my lips, ordering him to stay quiet. We stood silently, not even daring to breathe loudly. I kept my eyes on where the vent would be.

A soft shuffling and scrapping, followed by footsteps made me sigh in relief. Lyon opened his mouth but I cut him off with a sharp look. Not yet.

A few more minutes passed before I deemed it alright to speak.

"What are you doing here?" Lyon asked.

I wedged myself in the small space between the wardrobe and the bed. "Help me out here," I said, pressing my back against it.

The both of us pushed until we cleared it off the vent.

"Why?" asked Lyon.

I hesitated. I trusted Lyon wholeheartedly, but I wondered if he would take issues concerning the kingdom lightly. He wasn't like Ella to not ask questions.

"I have to get a message across," I said. "The guards won't let me out of sight."

"Is it about the rebels?"

Now I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Are you going to warn people about the rebels? I think they would like to know that there are rebels around and that they should protect themselves."

"Yes," I said, trying not to let my relief show. "Please do not tell anyone."

"Fast. I cannot cover for you forever."

I yanked the ventilation shaft open and it gave away easily. I used the bed to hoist me up. It was a tight squeeze, but I managed to get in.

"Give me your sword," I whispered. Lyon handed me his weapon and I pulled the shaft shut.

The tunnel was narrow and smelled damp, but it was dry and dust-free. If I remembered the plan of the palace right, then Larkin's room should be to the left.

The corridor was illuminated by lights coming from different rooms. I didn't pause for longer than it took me to check whose room it was. Most were empty and I was glad I didn't meet anyone else on the corridor. I wondered where they were before remembering it was just beyond lunch and most of the people would still be at the dining hall.

I heard the faint swish of a sword and spun around, but there was no one there. The sound came again and I glanced down. Yellow light streamed in from a ventilation shaft, and I crouched down to look.

It was Kirin's room and its occupant was practicing stances. The blade of his sword whipped through the air, slicing imaginary foes. He was facing the balcony so I could see half of his very shirtless body. His muscles were taut and he glared at an invisible opponent while holding the sword just so. His torso twisted slightly, exposing a very toned stomach. Sweat glistened on his body and he was panting lightly.

The tunnel was stifling in the heat of the afternoon. I found myself going red in the face. You have seen him shirtless before! a voice in my head screamed. How is this any different? Besides, you have seen far more muscular men shirtless before and they never made you blush.

I was about to move on when there was a knock on his door. Kirin pulled a shirt over his head before asking for the person to come in.

Sasha came in, smiling slightly. "Did you have a satisfactory lunch?"

Kirin smiled easily at her. Sasha had such a maternal aura that it was easy to believe she actually was his mother.

"I did, thank you. And you?"

Sasha shut the door behind her and sat down on the bed. "It was pleasant. I believe there was a book you wanted to show me."

Kirin's eyes brightened. "Yes!" He placed his sword down and pulled out a book from under his pillow. "This."

I recognized the cover. I had spent days pouring over that book and I felt my heart flutter with the undeniable happiness that consumes you when a person truly enjoys a book you gave them.

"An Ode to the Dead," Kirin proclaimed. Sasha turned it over in her hands.

"Where did you get this from?"

"The library." He hesitated, "Thalia recommended it."

Sasha's head snapped up, but she was facing away and I couldn't read her expression. "I finished it last night," he continued. "I was awake most of the night to finish it. It is brilliant." I felt warm all over. He had actually forsaken sleep to read it! "I do not know if it is to your taste, but you were the only person I could talk to about it. Nobody else reads, and I could not very well tell Nicole. She is not very . . .," he searched for a word, "literate." I smirked. "If this were normal times, I would go back to Thalia, but I can't do that, either."

"Why not?" asked Sasha.

"She made it very clear she does not want to see me again."

My shoulders drooped. "Kirin," said Sasha, "she is as confused as you are."

"You do not know that."

"I am a woman, and I think I am adept enough to know how another woman feels. Trust me when I say she dislikes this animosity as much as you do. I have only observed you for a day, but I am no fool. Anybody can see that you still like her, and anybody can see that despite her harsh words, Thalia still cares for you."

"Well, what am I supposed to do?" Kirin's voice bounced inside the tunnels. "Every time I try to talk to her, we always end up screaming at each other."

"That is because anger is a far more welcome emotion than sorrow," she said. "Next time, perhaps, keep things simple."

"If there is a next time," Kirin muttered.

Sasha stood and placed a kiss on his forehead. "There will be."

I left with Sasha, not wanting to know what happened next. I didn't know if knowing his thoughts would be a curse or a blessing, but I didn't stay long enough to find out.

The next shaft was Larkin's. He was resting on a chair and reading. The right half of his face was twisted beyond repair, the skin melted off many years ago, along with his right eye. The half-mask sat on the table in front of him. 

I was about to pull the grate off when there was a knock on his door.

It must be Sasha.

I gave the grate a tug and Larkin had finished securing his mask when the door was flung open.

Aaron strode in, a menacing look on his face. "Come with me."