That was what he considered generous?

Naari’s grip turned bruising, and Kiva realized it was because she was beginning to audibly hyperventilate, and the guard was wordlessly telling her to get ahold of herself. That was difficult when stars were dotting her vision and panic was clutching at her chest, her body going into survival mode without the Trial having even begun.

A jab of Naari’s fingernails had Kiva wincing, the quick hint of pain giving her something to focus on, something to pull her back from her freefalling mind.

“Do you understand your task?” Warden Rooke asked, his dark eyes fixed on hers. As before, there was no emotion on his face, as if he had no preference whether she lived or died. Either way, she was an inconvenience.

Another prick of Naari’s fingernails, and Kiva managed to croak out, “Yes.”

“Good,” said Rooke. “Then follow me.”

Kiva wasn’t sure if she’d be able to move another step. She couldn’t feel her legs, her body numb. Maybe that was for the best if Mirryn’s amulet didn’t work, if Mot’s mixture offered no protection. She didn’t want to feel the lick of flames tearing at her flesh, her skin beginning to peel away, bubbling and melting from her bones, her—

“Kiva,” Naari hissed, her nails digging in much harder this time, enough for Kiva to lurch forward after Rooke and his entourage.

Kiva sent a grateful look at Naari, who she was aware must be able to feel her entire body quaking against hers. The guard looked back with such a confident, reassuring expression that Kiva was able to draw a full breath into her lungs. Naari wouldn’t be offering comfort if she didn’t believe Kiva could survive.

Placing one foot in front of the other and thinking of nothing but the crest dangling from her neck and the wax coating her skin, Kiva shuffled after the Warden, noting that Grendel looked as traumatized by all of this as Kiva felt.

They moved past a large closed door that had an immense amount of heat rippling from it, the acrid tang of smoke mixed with burning flesh and hair sticking to Kiva’s nostrils and making her struggle to keep from dry retching. She held her breath as they continued down a long hallway, refusing to consider what had been beyond that door—or who.

“Here we are,” Rooke said when they reached the far end of the building and came to a stop before another closed door. This one wasn’t giving off any heat, though Kiva knew that was only temporary.