A woman in dark grey leathers and a thick winter cloak stood in our room, a lantern glowing in one hand and a bell in the other.
“Follow me,” the woman said, watching us strip our blankets off. Roman reached for his neatly folded clothes. “No,” the woman said. His fingers paused and he looked up.
“No boots. No cloaks.”
“Sounds fucking freezing,” Riven muttered as he threw his blanket off and stood, stretching with a yawn.
“If you do not comply, you will forfeit this round of war games.”
“That won’t be necessary, Lucy. We will follow you,” Orin quickly rushed out. He gestured for her to walk and she nodded and turned, walking out the door. Nerves fluttered through my stomach. Everyone looked uptight and nervous, except for Riven. He looked the way he always did. Confidentand unbothered.
We wound down the stairs to the common floor, passing the dining hall doors and turning right down a small corridor. An arched door was carved into the stone, two Iron Guards standing in front of it. They nodded at the woman leading us and parted, opening the door for her. I rubbed the goose bumps pebbling over my arms as we wound down a dark staircase. Mildew grew along the stones like veins, and I inhaled a shaky breath. The smell of damp earth and metal flooded my senses. Pure panic shot through me.
A dungeon.My feet faltered, not wanting to continue forward. Someone ran into my back and I stumbled forwards.
“Ugh! Watch it,” Hadley sneered.
I swallowed the lump growing in my throat and forced my feet to take the next step down.
At the bottom of the stairs, the dungeon opened like a maw waiting to swallow us. The other squads were gathered here already, shivering and confused in their night clothes.
Commander Kragthorne stood in the centre of the gathering. An unwelcoming smile spread across his scarred face. “Welcome to the first war game.”
Nine
A Game of Truths
“War is harsh.” Commander Kragthorne’s voice rung with steel as he addressed us. “When in enemy territory, trust among your fellow squad mates is crucial.” He paced in a circle, boots stomping with each movement, gaze piercing through the crowd.
“This game is one of trust. Each squad enters a dungeon and the first to escape wins. Simple right?” Murmurs broke out across the crowd. “Listen closely.” He paused, running a hand over his greying beard. “Only truth can unmake what fear has chained. Answer wrong and beware the price. Answer right and be free tonight.” He nodded, then the Iron Guards pressed in around us, pushing us into a small dark room.
A cell.
Breathe, I told myself.The priest is dead. There are no knives. No chains.
“Sit with your backs to the wall,” Lucy said, blocking the exit to the small stone cell. I sat against the cold, damp stone, a shiver tearing through me. Orin crossed the room,choosing to sit next to me. His eyes gleamed with a hint of concern in the light of a single torch flickering next to the heavy door. I didn’t want it too close, but I knew it would.
“Good luck,” Lucy said, placing her hands against the stone wall. It rumbled beneath our backs as she closed her eyes in concentration. Coldness pressed around my wrists. I gasped, tugging against the restraints that now chained me to the wall.No. No. No. I struggled, thrashing against the stone binders. They tightened, gripping me painfully.
“Lyra! Stop fighting it!” Orin yelled at me. But it was too late, the memory drowning me.
“Stop fighting it, Princess.” The priest ran his knife softly against my bare skin. The chains dug into my wrists. Into my ankles. My blood dripped on the floor. He always bled me first. He liked me weak. He shoved my nightdress above my thighs, unbuckling his belt?—
“Lyra!” Orin’s voice pulled me from the memory.
I stilled, glaring at him through a mess of silver hair that covered my face.
“Psycho,” Hadley rasped. I bared my teeth at her.
“Why are they tighter now?” Roman asked, tapping his foot against the floor. He was right, the shackles were now bruising.
“They are enchanted. If you physically try to break them, they will tighten,” Orin answered.
“And by the sounds of it, if we answer wrong, they are going to hurt us,” Bohdi added.
“Kinky,” Riven said, examining his wrists.
“I wish I could hit you right now,” Dreya said, rolling her eyes at him.
