CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

OUR PLAN HAD LASTED FIVE MINUTES. THAT WAS possibly a new low.

I awakened to find myself on a ship. The Chance Encounter, if I had to guess. The sway of the ship on water was unmistakable. Scents of the sea and sweat filled the small cabin, and all around I sensed the groaning of rigging, the thumps of footfalls, and crewmen singing on the decks above.

Four Luminary Guards stood around the perimeter. All had two daggers at their hips. I’d been shoved in the outer corner, among crates and boxes. One leg stung with blood rushing back into my toes. My face ached worse than before; it felt like the stitches had been ripped out.

Elbena stood in the midst of the guards, frowning. “I can’t say I’m surprised,” she said. “Given your performance at dinner, this latest betrayal is far too easy to believe. But I am disappointed. I didn’t think you’d recruit others to your cause and risk their punishment, too.”

Chills swept through me. My wrists were bound and my mouth gagged, but otherwise I had freedom of movement. I could look around.

Hristo was slumped onto his knees to my right, but his head was cocked, listening. Ilina was on my left, unconscious on the floor. She groaned; she’d wake soon.

Guilt wormed through me. Somewhere in the back of my foolish mind, I’d thought maybe they had a chance of escape. I’d thought if I did the right thing, everything would be fine.

Instead, I’d taken them down with me. What kind of friend was I?

A dangerous friend, Gerel would say.

“It’s a shame what has to happen now,” Elbena said. “But I’ve discussed it with Councilor Bilyana and our Bophan friends. We have authority over disciplinary actions for your little adventure. I hope you know this gives me no pleasure.”

She motioned at one of the guards, who removed my gag. Why had they used it in the first place if they were just going to take it away?

For effect, probably. Elbena liked effect.

And—apparently—shoving rags of dubious cleanliness into other people’s mouths.

I resisted the urge to spit the taste of dirt. That would not make me appear strong and capable, and I wasn’t sure I could do it, anyway, what with the gaping hole she’d left in my face. Instead, I pulled myself straight. “Let these two go. They have nothing to do with this.” Out loud, the words didn’t sound nearly as tough as they had in my head. But my throat was dry. My mouth was dry.

My cheek burned with the gash sliced through. And in the back of my head, all I could hear was Mother’s voice: What if it scars? What then? She’s ruined. Useless. Hideous.

I wanted to reach for my friends. Ilina would tell me we could hide it, and though I’d doubt hiding something that felt bigger than my entire head was possible, I’d pretend to believe her. Hristo would tell me it didn’t matter because I was still Mira Minkoba, though he would always look at it and see his failure.

I was the worst friend in the world for worrying about my appearance at a time like this. Because the truth was worse. We were all on the Chance Encounter. The four Luminary Guards loomed over us. And Elbena had a sinister smile that quirked up one corner of her mouth.

“Your friends were here to rescue you, weren’t they?” She phrased it as a question, but it wasn’t one. “I’m almost sorry your plan failed so quickly. It might have been entertaining to watch you run.”

I could imagine the scenario she envisioned: us fleeing the Shadowed City, her sending the Luminary Guards and local police after us, keeping us on the move until we were too exhausted to continue. I’d fall first, no doubt. Hristo and Ilina wouldn’t leave me behind, though. No, they’d carry me if necessary.

It would always be my fault that they were caught.

“Let them go and I won’t run. I won’t protest.” I hated begging, but if I didn’t do something, my friends would surely die.

She prowled closer to me and knelt. Her face twisted into a mask of sincerity and compassion. “Mira. This is not a negotiation. We won’t be making a deal. There’s no hope for you—or your friends. By all the gods, you’re so pathetic that I’m almost sorry to tell you the bad news.”

Dread clutched at my chest, and my fingers twitched—lightning strikes signaling the coming storm of panic. I knew what the news would be. I’d known since the moment I’d realized we were on the ship.

“I’m having you all separated, of course.” Elbena laced her fingers together and looked from Ilina to Hristo to me. “My dear. You’re going back to the Pit as soon as the tide comes in.”

“I know.” My throat squeezed, pinching the words.

“And so are your friends.”