“Your Player left the Playhouse,” Eleni says firmly, but there’s a condescending grin in her voice. “He’s to stand trial—”
SIL: “He’sreturned. What damage has been done?”
JUDE: “Alistaire, please go inside—”
TITUS: “Well,lookwho’s home!”
The Playhouse doors burst open again, and the remaining Players file out. There’s something in Titus’s clutch, a person held like a wild animal struggling something awful under his grip. “We got you both a welcome-home present. Justlookwhat we found running around inside!”
MATTIA: “It isn’t enough for you people to storm our gates; now you’re sending moles inside our doors?”
TITUS: “Give our love to the council and tell them this is pathetic.” He grunts as the figure fights his grip, jolts in our direction.
“I’m not leaving,” the man shouts. “I’mnotleaving without—”
I see his face and forget everything else in the world.
Galen.
Intermission: Scene XII
For a fleeting moment, relief crushes my chest at the familiar sight of my brother’s face. The same rushing reassurance that calmed me as a child when Galen woke me from vicious dreams full of golden eyes. He’s come to rescue me from a long, waking nightmare.
Except this time, it’s Galen who’s surrounded by golden stares. Something in me twists, sharpens as my attention falls to the place where Titus’s arms are keeping Galen’s restrained.
“Let him go.” My voice escapes my throat like a crackle of torchlight.
Titus raises an eyebrow. “Is that you, Al?”
JUDE: “Alistaire,don’t—” He stalks toward me but isn’t fast enough. I shed my Mimicry swiftly, my own face feeling the cool night air as the false flesh simmers away.
Galen watches me, his expression blank, bruised,tired. I see the word “Riv” form on his lips, like he doesn’t believe what he’s seeing.
RIVEN: “I said let him go.” I look to Jude for help and am stunned to find no sympathy on his face. He watches Galen with the cold indifference I would expect from a Player, but not what I’ve come to expect from Jude.
When he looks at my brother, anger courses through his expression. Throat tight, he utters, “There are consequences, Titus. For hurting a marked of the council’s.”
TITUS: “Well, lucky us! He isn’t.”
RIVEN: “What?” The word comes out like an accusation.
Galen fights and curses as Mattia forces his collar down from his throat.
There, under the torchlight, is a dark slash through the seal of his mark. Something twists in my chest as I wonder at all the awful things he’s done to bring me home.
He won’t look at me, eyes hard on the ground. And I can’t tell if he’s ashamed of what he’s done or if he’s ashamed of me.
If he’sscaredof me.
“Release him.”My voice drops to a biting growl ready to cut through Titus’s flesh.
Titus pauses. “I’ll make you a trade,Alistaire.Did you kill Marigold?”
The words catch me off guard, and I pause. “Yes.”
Heartbreak dawns over Sil’s face. “Alistaire—” he begins, but Titus shoves forward, dragging Galen.
TITUS: “And Jude. Did you kill him, too?”
