For now, Kiva was more concerned by the whispers about the sickness—and the newest conversation she was overhearing, specifically about her.

“Why would she do somethin’?” replied another man, with only the back of his bald head visible. “She’s too busy spreadin’ her legs for the guards, ain’t she? Havin’ too much fun to be bothered keepin’ the rest of us alive, am I right?”

A guffaw came from his companion as flames spread across Kiva’s cheeks. Neither of them was aware of her presence, and she hurried onward before they realized, but not before hearing the original speaker say, “I’d be up for a bit of fun with ’er, you know what I’m sayin’? What cell block’s she in again? Or maybe I’ll just pay a visit to the infirmary, tell ’er I’m sick and need some good quality nursin’.”

Kiva’s stomach lurched as both men laughed, and she stopped moving forward, instead spinning on her heel, having heard enough. It was just as she’d feared—the prisoners were angry, afraid, uncertain. Word about the sickness was spreading, and there was plenty of unrest because of Tilda. And what those two disgusting men had said—

“. . . they doubled the guards at the outer perimeter. Rumor has it that the rebels tried to come for their queen . . .”

All thoughts of the two men fled Kiva’s mind, and she came to a dead halt, whirling around to find a trio of prisoners whispering together, two women and a man. It was one of the women who had spoken, her words all but stopping Kiva’s heart.

“What did you just say?” she breathed, forcing her way into their conversation.

The second woman and the man both sneered at Kiva, but the first woman only eyed her warily, before sharing, “Some of the lumbersmiths said there was a disturbance where the forest meets the perimeter fence, said it was a group of rebels trying to break in.” She tilted her head to the side and added, “You’d better watch your back, healer. If they get in and you’re in their way, they’ll slit your throat to get to their queen.”

Kiva’s mouth was so dry that she struggled to speak. “Did they— Did they make it through the fence?”

The second woman scoffed and said, “Of course not. No one makes it.”

Kiva’s vision began to blacken, fearing the worst, until the man jumped in and said, “The guards are furious that they didn’t catch any of ’em. That’s why they’ve doubled the watch, in case they try again. They won’t, though. The rebels aren’t fools.”

Kiva couldn’t listen to any more. On shaking legs, she retraced her steps and hastened out of the refectory, her appetite gone.

The rebels had come.

The rebels had come.

And they had failed.