His eyes felt heavy and watchful. She shrugged and cast around, then picked up a weighted net. Without training, it seemed just as likely to tangle her as foes, but maybe it’d buy her a moment in the…whatever it was. Anything that a group of mask-wearing people with a room of axes called the Trial couldn’t be good.

She did get tangled as she was trying to attach the too-long net to her belt, and eventually threw it over her shoulder. Faol was watching her with...pity? His mouth was drawn down, but his eyes were contemplative, not narrowed in anger, and those were the only cues she had. Surely he hated her. Maybe he just hoped she’d die honourably instead of too fast.

She hoped so too. That seemed a good sort of thing to hope for.

The Wolf nodded, and strode out of the room. She followed. He pulled the door shut with one arm, paying less attention now, though it grated and shrieked against the floor with weight.

“You people are augmented,” Orfeus said.

Faol set off again. “Most of us.”

His tone didn’t invite conversation. She said nothing else until he stopped in front of a smaller door than the last one, and waved at it. This one didn’t have a lock, or at least not a doorpad. “Get some rest, if you can,” he said. Orfeus nodded. Faol didn’t move.

“Anything else, Wolfy?” she said. “Waiting to kiss me goodnight?”

He bristled, shoulders bunching up and eyes going fierce and hot. Then he let out a long, deliberate sigh, releasing some of the tension with it. He grumbled a growl, scratching at the plating on his arm with his other hand. “What’s your game?” he said.

Orfeus waited a moment, rocked back on her feet, pursed her lips` considering which answer to give. “Why does there have to be a game?” she said. His eyes narrowed. Orfeus shrugged. “This is just about surviving.”

Faol folded his thick arms. “Is it?” he said. “Because this is the worst way to do that.”

He had a point. Orfeus said nothing.

He took a step forward, and Orfeus very deliberately held her ground, even though he was closer than she’d like. “Why are you here?” he demanded. “What trick is this?”

Orfeus met his eyes as calmly as she could. “No trick,” she said. She stepped forward in turn, getting into his space instead, glaring him down. “Didn’t you promise Luga you’d help prepare me?” She waved at the door. “Interrogations before bed do not help.”

Faol took two rapid steps back, almost a flinch. “Information,” he said suddenly, perhaps remembering the lengths she’d gone to try to get the client’s name out of him. Was that just today? Honoured Earth, so much had happened. At least the world still spun. “You want information?”