Jorah raises his hand, and the ludus is replaced by the arena. On one side of the arena, two floors deep beneath the ground, a cluster of dots are so close together they’re almost on top of one another.
Jorah follows my gaze. “Prisoners,” he says. “They’re kept separate from the gladians.”
As fascinating as this is, I can feel time racing away from me. I need to leave before I’m missed. Jorah gestures at my swollen hands.
“I can show you how to get to the healers without needing to use the main corridor. So you can avoid the Primus and the other gladians.”
“Thank you.”
I follow him down a dim hall, my every sense alert and on guard. “Who else knows about this place?”
“I don’t know. I only have access to half of it. There are others who know more of its secrets.” He gestures to our left.
“There are gladians everywhere right now. This will lead you to the healers without anyone seeing you.”
I shouldn’t trust him. I’ve just blackmailed him. If anything, this could be his revenge. But … I do.
“Thank you, Jorah.”
His cheeks turn pink, and he gives me a surprisingly sweet smile. “You should go, or you’ll be late. This corridor will take you to the outside.”
I stare at him. “The outside?”
“You’ll see. Just … don’t linger. No matter how tempted you are. Use the handle in the wall in the next place, and you’ll find yourself directly outside the healers’ quarters.”
I don’t understand.
But more importantly, how much does Jorah know about what goes on in the ludus? And are there hidden corridors like this in the imperial palace?
“How do I visit this place again?”
His brow creases and his eyes turn sad. “You don’t.”
Jorah gives me a surprisingly strong shove in the back, and I’m suddenly blinking against the brighter light.
The healers’ quarters are positioned to the far left when entering the gladians’ quarters. No doors punctuate the other side of the corridor, so I’d assumed this was the outer edge of the emperor’s underground labyrinth.
I was wrong.
I’m staring at a garden. No … a forest. It’s dusk, and the air is humid, fragrant with earthy scents. Towering, ancient trees stretch above the walls of the ludus, which are open here, allowing me to catch tantalizing glimpses of the night sky between branches.
The trees I’d caught a glimpse of when we’d approached the ludus. The warning glare Leon sent me when I opened my mouth to ask …
I’ve stepped into something that shouldn’t exist. How can this place possibly thrive here? How is it that I’m hearing the gentle bubble of a stream from somewhere to my right?
My cheeks hurt, and I raise my hand to my face. I’m grinning for the first time in weeks.
I can’t help it; I step farther into the garden, mesmerized by the riot of colors and scents. Leaning down, I suck in a greedy inhale, the scent of lilies and roses and jasmine warming my lungs.
A vicious roar cuts through the burble of the stream.
I flinch and drop to the ground. Leaves rustle as I bury myself in the undergrowth, ignoring the sharp sting of my abraded palms.
Despite my terror, I inhale another heady breath. It feels as if it has been years since I breathed in fresh air. Since I felt greenery beneath me.
Movement to my left.
My every instinct screams at me, and I freeze. Slowly, I turn my head.
