Act II Scene XVII
The Player who cursed me, who doesn’t exist, has been right in front of me all this time. Just with his own face now.
“News spread about the markings, that the North had begun marking children, too,” Jude admits, too calm. “Sil sent me out to the District to verify if it were true. Obviously with a different face.”
“Why?” I press, even though I’m certain I know the answer. “Why a disguise?”
“Because, as I’m sure you’re aware, I could not go as Lead Player,” he says, sounding bored with the conversation.
RIVEN: “So you can leave.”
JUDE: “Players are not kept in the Playhouse by your human laws; they’re kept in by Sil’s. Lead Player already has more freedoms, and my contract was…amended.”
RIVEN: “You were taken away. I saw the sentries take you.”
Jude shrugs in response. “Congratulations. You witnessed their very last breaths.”
“You spoke to me!” I try to keep my voice steady, but my tone is falling off its hinges, shaking with anger.
“That,” he says, “you’ll have to forgive me for. I have no idea what you’re talking about. There were a lot of people around.” He raises a shoulder. “I’m honored you’ve kept your first sighting of me so close to your heart, of course.”
“You cursed me!” I shout, rage roaring in my head. “Do you have any idea what my life has been like? Tell me what you did to me—”
“Nothing! Nothing,” Jude insists, moving closer and freezing when I raise my crossbow. “I swear, Alistaire. I didn’t hurt you.”
He’s so convincing, I almost want to believe him.
But I don’t. I remember every sleepless night, and I remember every lonely day, getting weaker and weaker.
“You attacked me,” I hiss through my teeth. “Tell me why.”
“Me? Cause a scene? Unimaginable!” Jude rolls his eyes. “I was probably bored, Alistaire.”
The padding of footsteps and chatter parade outside. The other Players heading down to the stage door. The lights fall around us, candles hushing out one by one.
I pull the arrow back farther. “Call for them and you’re done.” I cock my head at the mirror. “Portal. Outside. Now. Before they notice we’re gone.”
Questioning him will have to wait.
At last, Jude looks uneasy. “We’re in the North. I don’t know where the closest mirror will be. It could take us anywhere.”
“Guess you’ll just be risking it,” I hiss.
Jude stares evenly at me and my arrow for a hard minute before abruptly turning to the ornate mirror hanging over the lattice red-and-gold wallpaper. He brushes a hand over its frame, then brings his palm flat against the glass, uttering a few words.
I grab the cloak off the hook and hurl it at his feet. “You’ll need that,” I say as the glass opens up. His shoulders shake with laughter.
He turns a look back at me, the surge of Craft making his eyes glow like candlelight. “We’ll be needing a lot more than that to survive this, Alistaire,” he mutters and steps through the portal with me close behind.