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Aeriz crossed his arms. "I thought it a good opportunity to knock at least one of your vrisha asses down. Seems harder than it looks. He was injured though, I know that."

"Guess not enough since he's not here."

Aeriz huffed. "That's because he's too good for this place. He has his own medical team. He can do what he likes whenever he likes."

Xeda flicked his tail. "What do you mean?"

"He means Kaxek has full control here," the skra said, beside them. "He owns everything."

Xeda glanced at her, surprised. "By everything you mean..."

"Everything," she emphasized. "The games, this city. He runs it. He puts people in place to make it seem like it isn't so, but it is. He and Tazyn have had a partnership for a while. He let the nillium be the champion while Kaxek ruled everything. Then you came along."

Xeda glared at her. "Me?"

She dipped her head. "Kaxek sees everyone here as beneath him. Even Tazyn. The only one he would ever consider a true opponent worth his time was another vrisha. So, that would be you. So, when you show up, he decides to put himself in the games again, for his own amusement but also to show everyone he is still champion of Kingsway. If he can best another vrisha, he proves it."

"The last game, however, messed that plan up a bit, no thanks to you," Aeriz mentioned.

"How so?" Xeda asked. "He beat me down. If anything, he showed them exactly what he wanted to."

Aeriz clicked his tongue. "Except that you showed the people otherwise with your sneak attack. You almost had him. If it hadn't been for Tazyn having to step up, it was clear you had a chance."

"And that pisses Kaxek off more than anything," said the skra. "He wants you and everyone to think you are not worth his time. That you had no chance. But we saw." She shifted anxiously on the bed. "He'll be weakened now too. Which is why we need to take advantage of this moment."

Xeda studied them both. "You're talking about the final game, aren't you?"

Aeriz shook his head. "No. Forget the games. They'll make sure to give Kaxek an advantage. Either he'll make us wait until he's healed, or they'll fix something in the game."

Xeda bared his teeth. "He would cheat?"

"More or less. Why else would they bar us from leaving?" Aeriz leaned against the wall. "Kaxek wants us here to wait until he's planned this out while he recovers. Which is why we strike now. He's too full of himself to think we'll do anything. But there are enough of us now we can do something."

"Who is us?" Xeda asked. "We alone can do little."

"The other fighters," the skra replied. "The ones Kaxek sent in to have us beat up for everyone's entertainment." She leaned forward to eye him sharply. "You don't think they want revenge too?"

Xeda thought of those in the other rooms. They didn't look afraid or defeated. They looked angry, ready to fight again.

"How do you know all this is true?" Xeda asked. "About Kaxek and the others?"

He saw a small spark in the skra's eyes as she fixed him with a sly expression. "My suit, of course." She pointed to it on the chair. "My master has me keep it on most times even outside the games. He wanted me to spy for him. I heard many things. Didn't you think it odd Kaxek never was around for anything but the games? He was planning out his next moves. The last game for instance was all about him having an excuse to hurt or kill some of those who opposed him, by having us hunt those people down. It's all a part of his game.”

“But this time, we are going to have the advantage," Aeriz said softly. "Because I'm not dying here. Not for Kaxek's benefit." His head bowed as his eyes narrowed. "Not after what he did to Vyn."

"I don't want to die either..." the skra added. "Or at least, I'd rather die trying to get out than even attempt winning in that game. I know I have no chance."

Xeda watched them carefully. "What of your trainers?"

"They've checked on us once and won't likely do so again. They do as the wardens say who answer to Kaxek," Aeriz said. "They wait on their orders either to release us or prepare us for the next game."

Xeda thought of Ophilia, and he felt a sinking dread. "I was told that mine was gone. But I don't think Kaxek would allow that. I think...I think they have her here somewhere."

"At this point, no one would be allowed to leave this place, not until the games are over," the skra remarked. "He'd make sure of that. From what I've heard, he plans on culling some of the heads of houses along with those connected to them." She glared back at him sharply. "Especially those who conspired to take him out. Once it's over, those who lost...will lose more than the game."

Xeda clenched his hands into fists, his insides tightening. It was as he feared but didn't want to consider. His actions put Ophilia in danger. Sal wanted him to think Ophilia was gone, but Kaxek would not allow her to leave. He not only wanted Xeda defeated and put down permanently, he wanted to punish her too, believing she had been a part of Xeda's plan to attack him unaware.

"I need to get out," Xeda said.