and scribbled a list. “The peddlers could use more ghostlight for their mechanicals. Conjure them some, would you? And help Ryo inspect the horses.”
She placed the end of her pencil against her bottom lip. It was like she was trying to wound me with her adorableness.
Grig tapped my shoulder. “Are you going to be sick?”
“No, I’m fine. Why does everyone think there is something wrong with me? I’m completely normal.” Why was my heart beating so quickly? “I’m going to go look at some shields for a moment, excuse me.”
Why was I overreacting?
I’d been told this world was an arpeegee, whatever that was. I’d seen a split in the sky, I’d died five times, and not one thing had made me flat-out panic like this.
She was only a girl. Not a monster. Breathe, Ryo, breathe.
So I liked a girl. That was not the end of the world. I was fine.
“Your Majesty,” a peddler with moon-rimmed glasses said. “There is of course the matter of payment.”
“Of course.” I inspected the swords and drew a few breaths. “Lady Tomlinson will handle our trading. Including that jeweled sword, if you please.”
The peddler’s eyes lit with greed. But if he thought a girl quartermaster would mean a higher profit, then I’d looked forward to seeing Dagney trade him silly.
I tilted my head to the side. “May I ask about the ring the lady traded for information?”
“Heard that, did you?”
“I’d rather she not lose her property as she is in my aid.”
“That’s right gentlemanly.” The peddler held out the ring.
I inspected it. It wasn’t anything fancy, a simple band of silver with a small black stone. “Never mind about the jeweled sword. I’ll take the plain one and this ring instead.”
The peddler gave a nod.
Static shook the sky, and the Historian stepped out of charged air. She was the only Historian I’d seen since before we’d entered the catacombs. She wore a mask again, even though I knew Dagney had already added the one she’d lost to her bottomless bag.
“Bluebird!” Grigfen dropped the reins in his hands and ran toward her.
I pocketed the ring.
The Historian removed her mask. This time she had a face. Big brown eyes, warm dark skin, and hair the color of a spring rose.
“Hi, Grig,” she said.
I reached for my hilt. I’d never heard a Historian speak.
“Are you all right?” Grig asked. “Where is your player indicator?”
“I’m outside the game. My parents wouldn’t sign the permission slip.”
“You’re outside the game?” Dagney asked.
This Bluebird person rubbed at her arms. Her neck corded. Something was wrong. I could read the pain on this stranger’s face from ten feet away. I stepped forward.
Dagney’s concerned eyes met mine. Stop looking at me, woman.
“How’d you get in?” Dagney asked. “I thought the game was locked.”
“Ms. Takagi helped me.”
“Can you send her a message?” Dagney asked, but she didn’t wait for a response. “What on earth were you thinking? Why weren’t there more fail safes?! HOW DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?” Her cheeks flushed red and her fists clenched. “That’s it, end message, press send.”
I brushed her shoulder with my own. “Do you feel better now?”
“A little. I may think of a postscript.”
I faced Bluebird. “What’s gone wrong?”
Dagney sighed. “I’ve told you, the—”
I held up a hand. “No. There’s something new. Out with it.”
Bluebird drew a shaky breath. “Five of the twelve players are dead.”
Grig pressed his fist into his mouth and swore.
Dagney narrowed her eyes. “Five? Which five?”
Bluebird rattled off a list of names I didn’t know, but which seemed somehow familiar. “And Ryo is next.”
I swallowed. I definitely recognized that name.
“What can we do?” Dagney asked.
“He needs to drink the seer water. Players who have the game vision seem to be doing the best. The doctors think the game vision helps your brains realize the pain isn’t real. Psychosomatic or something. The competition is over. It doesn’t matter who wins. Once someone claims the victory, everyone is freed, no matter where they are on the game map or what side they are on. So long as they survive.”
They glanced at me with faces lined with worry. But it didn’t matter one fig. “We’ve discussed this. I’m not going to drink.”
“Shut up.” Dagney clenched her fists and faced me like I was her opponent.
I held out my hands. “Now, don’t—”
She lunged for me and tackled me to the ground. Both her knees pressed against my shoulders.
This was unfair. “Not that I don’t enjoy—”
She grabbed at my necklace.
I reached for her wrists. “Dagney, stop. People can see