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Zeph brings me a meal and a fresh change of clothes, as well as a bowl filled with water and a rag.
It's not a bath, but it will do.
I tell him what Himureal has promised with Kon, and he doubles over laughing. "He gave Kon you as a prize for the tournament. He's full of shit."
"The tournament?" I ask, popping a gurdat into my mouth. The savory stuffed toadstool is a step up from most of the rations I've been given, and the salty and fatty filling dances across my tongue.
Zeph looks embarrassed, his skin flushing behind his full beard.He sits on the ground, propped against the opposite wall, elbows folded on his knees. He's not got a varied wardrobe, but he still looks nice in the brown slacks and green tunic. He launches into an explanation of the tournament, why he planned it, and what the events were.
I'm actually slightly impressed that he managed to plan something so intricate with so little time.
I also think I would have easily won it.
"So Kon won, then? And I was the prize?"
"You were not originally intended to be a prize. You were a prize as punishment to me," he says softly. A deep sadness laces his words, and he ducks his gaze from my own.
"What were you being punished for?" I'm not sure if I want the answer, but I think I don't have a choice but to hear it. It feels like vital information to understand Himureal and Zeph.
"Loris was in the tournament," he begins, still not making eye contact with me. "He won, Viola."
Maybe I should ask questions and encourage him to talk more, but I don't. Instead, we sit in a deep silence, the air around Zeph thick with emotions and things he can't bear to say. I am intelligent enough to recognize that Loris' victory was short-lived.
"After he won, he told everyone that they didn't need to follow Himureal, that you were the better option, and that we should all support you and not him." I suck in a breath at his words. Loris met me one time. How could he possibly have more faith in me than I have in myself?
Again, that heavysilence overcomes us. I've abandoned my food, using my hands to tap rapidly against my legs as I wait for Zeph to collect himself.
There is only one way this story ends.
The same way it ends for anyone who has loved me, believed in me, trusted me.
In blood.
"Himureal killed him in front of all of us," Zeph says, to no surprise. "My best friend. Do you know how much blood is in the body, Viola? I suppose you do. You killed Amio. It is so much. I did not realize it moved so much. I didn't know it was so dark. A simple cut doesn't feel that dark, you know? I'm not sure how I never realized what it would be like. I was frozen. I couldn't move. I think my shoes still have his blood on them. My shirt, too. Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of clothing? What am I talking about, of course you do."
"Zeph," I say gently. He reminds me so much of Tulip in this moment, how she spiraled after losing Twig. "Breathe, high priest." I try to imbue my words with Influence and he takes a long, steadying breath. Several deep breaths later, he smiles at me sheepishly.
"Thanks," he says softly. "Himureal gifted you to Kon because he thought I was in on it with Loris. I was, sort of. The plan was to help him win so he could join the Patricians with me, and we'd work to get support for you from the position of power."
"It's a good plan," I say, passing the glass of water from my tray to Zeph through the bars.He takes it and drinks deeply.
"I didn't know he'd rebuke Himureal so publicly. He said it was to show everyone who the God really was."
"Also a good plan," I admit. "I'm sure it changed perception."
"I'm not so sure," Zeph replies, passing the half-empty glass back to me. "Regardless, you were promised to Kon to test if I was loyal to you or to Himureal. It's also why he has me feeding you. It's a way to taunt me that you are not mine."
"I did not realize I was prize livestock to be auctioned off to the highest bidder."
"Your meat would be too tough," he jokes, and I can't help but crack a smile. "So what he tells you about Kon is a lie. He's trying to save face for making a promise he no longer wishes to keep."
"We can use it to our advantage, though. I will let Kon woo me so I can get out of this cage, and as long as you've found the journal, I can return to the group."
He scratches his beard. "How will you know where they are?"
I pause, then throw my head back against the wall. "Fuck. I have to know where I need to go to create a shadow vision."
"I have an idea," Zeph says after a silent moment. "I'm not sure if it would work, and it would require us to tell someone the plan."
