But all I see is confusion. She shakes her head. “You’re mistaken,” she says. “Caitoman is one of our targets.”

I take a step closer to her. Then I write another phrase on the paper. You and Raina have different plans.

The truth seems to hit her then, at the same time it hits me.

The two women had always been at odds.

“Tell me when you saw the sun ring on the Chief Architect,” the mayor says slowly.

I struggle for the right Karenese words before I write a date down. The date I’d returned to the capital with Constantine.

Mayor Elland searches my gaze, as if questioning for a moment whether I’m the one who shouldn’t be trusted.

I do the same, but what I find is genuine surprise. Then I write, You never knew.

Her expression gives me all the answers I need. The mayor didn’t know that Raina was working with General Caitoman. Raina had been planning behind all our backs this entire time, had told us she was working as part of the rebellion while helping to install Caitoman as the new ruler. And it makes sense. Why wouldn’t he try it? General Caitoman has control over significant parts of the Federation’s military. He’s the son rejected for being a bastard. And he must have promised Raina the safety of her own family.

Raina had always worked for herself instead of a greater cause. The mayor should’ve known. I should’ve known.

Raina had been the one to inflict pain on us in order to protect her family. So had I, of course—I am willing, after all, to be Constantine’s Skyhunter in order to save my mother. But Raina had purposely withheld Caitoman’s name. She had told me it was to protect each of us from the other, that if one of us were discovered, it would not mean the end for the others.

Maybe she had withheld his name all along because she knows what I would think.

What do we do? I want to say to Mayor Elland. Instead, I hold my hands up at her and shake my head.

She’s silent for a moment, thinking rapidly. Then she looks at me. “Stay the course,” she says. “Constantine insists that the arena’s game will go on. You will attend and wait for my signal to act against the Premier.”

I start to sign before I remember that she can’t understand. What’s the point of continuing with our plans if they were compromised from the start?

But Mayor Elland looks like she knows what I’m thinking. She puts a firm hand on my shoulder. “Listen to me, Talin,” she says firmly. “Stay the course. Do you understand?”

I scowl at her and start shaking my head again. But she squeezes my shoulder tightly. “There are too many pieces in place. I have a plan.” Her eyes are dark and resolute now, filled with some grim sense of justice. “You will see your mother again. You just have to trust me.”