We moved down the rest of the tunnel in silence and emerged near the room I used to prep for my arena fights.

I caught the vague scent of coconut. Ahead, guards pulled a small figure into that room. A figure with a long braid.

“Latia?” I called. It had to be her.

Her head rose ever so slightly, but as soon as she saw Rodric, her eyes immediately shot down.

But not before I saw her face. Freshly cut lacerations ran down her visible skin. Dozens clouded her face. I didn’t recognize her. Only the eyes betrayed it was the same girl.

“No.” I shook my head.

“Don’t worry,” Rodric said, coming up behind me and whispering in my ear. “Yours won’t be so visible. At least at first.”

I jerked away from him. “What’s she doing here?”

“All part of the show.” He motioned for the guards to take me up a side staircase and into the arena seating area.

The crowd erupted the moment we appeared.

I looked out into the empty arena. I swallowed down the lump that rose in my throat when I thought about the insults I used to toss at the Desert Boys brought here.

Rodric waved to the crowd as if he was a kind, benevolent ruler. What I always thought had been cheers morphed into jeers. Though it was more akin to general screaming because no one wanted to be singled out for disparaging Rodric.

Except for one man.

He jolted forward from the crowd. To my astonishment, it was the Lorian man I’d saved at the well. As he tottered forward I saw his face was flushed, his steps unsteady. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was drunk. He matched Rodric for size, but most of his weight was centered around his middle and not regulated to his muscles. Lister, I think Dimic had said his name was.

“There he is,” Lister shouted. “The desert’s greatest coward.”

“Are you looking to be next in the arena?” Rodric asked. “All that weight would go a long way in feeding the tigers.”

Lister moved so quickly I barely registered it. He crashed right into Rodric, driving him against the railing. The force loosened a section of the railing, sending the metal bars dangling into the arena.

Rodric managed to keep his balance by grabbing onto the part of the railing still anchored and used it to shove Lister off.

All but two of my guards rushed to help as the man attempted to charge Rodric again.

Sievers was one of the remaining guards. Was this his plan? Should I make a run for it?

But then I’d never find out where Rodric was keeping Cion. Nor could I get Latia away.

Then, I felt it.

At first I thought it was just the crowd pressing around us, but it was more than that.

Someone tugged at my shackles. I looked down to find a small figure huddled over my feet. As soon as I’d felt his hand, it was gone. So were my shackles.