Manuela’s wink that morning is my only hint that her plan is still on.
In the last three days, I’ve continued working on potions as usual, as well as doubling my Orizian studies after that loaded conversation with my professor, meanwhile trying very, very hard not to show how anxious I am.
Today, I will meet with Manuela’s “contact” who supposedly knows how to end the games for good. Today, I will put my own safety at risk for information.
I’m thrilled and terrified.
My deal with Manuela involves keeping information from Jarron, but she never said anything about Lola and Janet, so they’re fully aware of my plans for the day and will be waiting for my return before dinner. If I don’t show, they’ll run straight to Laithe for help.
That, at least, makes me feel a little bit better about trusting Manuela.
I might still fall into a trap, but at least someone will know what happened. Cheery thoughts, I know.
So far today, I’ve drunk a bit too much coffee and forced some eggs and bacon down my throat to balance it out. I’ve been parked in an armchair in the sunroom, pretending to read a book on Orizian clans that I very much should actually be reading.
Only Stassi has stopped for chitchat, and that was before he was distracted by a lanky redhead who smiled in his direction.
I’ve been sitting alone for the last hour, and it’s starting to drive me insane. We didn’t ever make any specific plans. Am I supposed to do something? Go somewhere? When exactly will the meeting take place?
No idea.
I’m just sitting here, waiting to learn how I’ll meet with some possible ally and find out if the risk is worth the reward.
So, I’m on edge, leg bouncing eagerly for hours.
Finally, at a quarter till noon, maybe a half hour after my nerves have calmed enough to actually focus on my High Orizian book, Manuela strolls by again. She grins and places a normal-looking key on the chair next to me.
She glances at her watch. “Meeting begins in thirty minutes. I’m curious if you can figure it out on your own.” She winks, and then walks away.
“What?” I exclaim, but she’s already halfway down the hall.
“I’ll be in the library if you need a hint.”
More tests. What is it with this one that I need to prove myself all the time? I huff out my annoyance, but then I grab the key and leap to my first assumption—the bronze doors.
Or maybe I’m only hoping it’s the bronze doors because I’m still secretly desperate to know what’s behind them. At least one holds a portal, which I’m not enthusiastic about, but it would also make a lot of sense for the situation. The others, I have no idea.
So, I rush to the very end of the hall, past Jarron’s room, and stop in the middle of the hall with seven bronze doors.
One is my workshop. The rest are a mystery I’m eager to solve. I first take a long look at the key. It’s got a sort of bronze sheen to it but otherwise looks just like a regular door key. The kind not often used in magical places.
With no hints, I have no choice but to guess.
I start on the left because I have no clue which will be the correct door, and I plan to go one by one until a lock clicks open.
Except, the key doesn’t fit into the slot.
I try all seven doors— not even a close fit.
There aren’t any extra doors in Jarron’s room, so that’s a no-go. I could try Manuela’s room, but the thought of entering it while she’s not there is enough to give me the stress sweats. No thanks. That’ll be a last resort.
Where else could she be sending me?
And why would she test me? There has to be some kind of hint somewhere, maybe in our previous conversations. She mentioned portals. She mentioned there was a portal behind one of the bronze doors. But if it’s not those, what else could it be?
I narrow my eyes. Maybe the clue isn’t the door but the person I’ll be meeting. Though she gave very little information, there is one person that crossed my mind during that conversation.
How could I help someone with my specific influence? Who would be in danger if Jarron knew where they were?
